[Leica] Re: Leica Elmarit-R 90/2.8

[K K Hui <kkhui@netvigator.com>]

Thanks for the response and the insight. Sounds like that Leica development priority for a replacement R-90/2.8 is slim at least for the time being. Assuming that I can still find a Elmarit-R 90/2.8 or Summicron-R 90/2 new (old stock). Which one is better in absolute terms of optical performance? Or should I be looking at a Summilux-R 80/1.4 instead?


> On Fri, 29 December 2000, K K Hui wrote:
>
> >
> > I understand that Leica had stopped the production of the Elmarit-R
> > 90/2.8 already.  Is the Summicron-R 90/2 that much better (optical
> > performance) so Leica is still producing it??  Or is there a replacement
> > in the pipe line?
>

Doug Herr wrote:

> I think the 90mm Summicron-R has also been discontinued.  The Elmarit's optical performance is superb, but sales of new equipment at Leica prices is in the fast (f/1.4) and APO (100mm Elmarit-R) lenses.
>

Pascal wrote:

> A replacement seems likely since the Summicron-R 90/2.0 sticks out like a
> sore thumb in the R lens range, in as far as it does not have a ROM
> contact, and cannot even be retrofitted with such contact.
>
> But a new Summicron like the M counterpart (APO ASPH e.g.) might
> cannibalize sales of the Summilux 80 and Macro-Elmarit 100... and it is
> far from sure whether Leica will want to spend money in R lens
> development, apart from e.g. a new vario and a replacement for the
> out-of-stock Super Elmar 15, especially at the risk of hurting sales of
> other prime R lenses of almost identical focal length...
>

Tom Schofield wrote:

> My opinion about R sales is that new introductions are what expands sales.
> People talk about slow R8 sales, but in its first year or two sales were
> very strong.  I think that in Leica's market segment, there's an element
> that many of those who are going to buy something new will buy it in the
> first year or two.  So, IMHO, to a large extent, those who desire 80
> Summicrons and 100 APOs have them, and by now, there are sufficient numbers
> available used that used sales substantially cut into new sales, and do so
> more and more as time goes on.  The 80 and 100 have been around for what, 20
> and 12 years, respectively?  It's time they brought in some new blood, like
> a 90 Summmicron APO, 28 Summicron R, to spur sales.  But, then again, this
> is only lay opinion, as I am not privy to their demographic studies.
>

Pascal wrote:

> Your reasoning is, of course, basically sound.
>
> But the issue is that Leica's R&D money is, regrettably, (too?) limited
> and they have already emphasized several times during the last year or so
> that investments will be made selectively and that they will focus on
> areas of particular strength...