[Leica] Ashpherical element production: costs

[John Collier <jbcollier@home.com>]

The first version used older methods to make the two aspherical surfaces.
This involved a great deal of hand work and a high number of defective
elements. The second version was the first to use Leica's new methods of
aspherical lens element production. This new method is more cost effective
and results in far fewer defective elements. There is no quality difference
in the final results of the two different methods, just that the second
method is much more automated and cost effective than the first.

John Collier

> From: Austin Franklin <austin@darkroom.com>
> Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 11:59:11 -0500
> Subject: RE: [Leica] Whoops, rant mode again
> 
> [Austin]  The purpose of the original question was to find out why the
> first version price was 2x the second version, it had nothing to do with
> fine distinctions.  It appears that because it has some features that some
> people like (such as a focusing band, as opposed to only a tab, which may
> make it much easier to use than the second version..which I was unaware of,
> not having seen both lenses), or because of it's limited production (to a
> collector), some people are willing to pay a premium for it.  Optically, I
> do not believe it justifies the 2x price tag, and is, for the most part, a
> moot point.  That's basically what I wanted to know.