Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/12/07

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Re:
From: SthRosner@aol.com
Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 23:27:54 EST

In a message dated 12/7/01 8:42:17 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
pablokolodny@mac.com writes:

> Honestly I think that the DR is the best 50 I've ever had.

Agreed. I've said so in LHSA Viewfinder. And it's not just the optical 
performance. The mechanical functioning is like a Rolex.
 
>  manufacturing cost ? no, I don't think that's a reason. 

....a major reason, Pablo. I recall Walter Heun of both Leitz New York and 
Wetzlar telling me almost 30 years ago that if Leitz were to introduce the DR 
Summicron at that time, it would probably have to sell for over $1,000. or 
more than the hand-made first aspheric 50mm f/1,2 Noctilux (1973 list = 
$960). The last DRs (11318) still in inventory were then in the catalog at 
$261. and the successor 50/2 Summicron (11817) was listed at $222. It was a 
much simpler lens and a good deal less expensive to manufacture.

As you know, the DR mount was, and is, very complex. Tooling would have been 
very expensive to recreate at that time. Equally important, the optical 
design of the DR required highly skilled factory personnel who had 
apprenticed over many years and received exceptional training to assure the 
accurate assembly of the seven lens elements with very sensitive calibration 
of the air lenses between each of the two front pairs. Leica people from that 
era have conjectured that the DR could not be made today at any price since 
it would be prohibitive, if not impossible to find and train personnel 
adequately to assure Leica quality. 

I can hear some soft rumbling.

Best regards,

Seth       LaK 9
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