Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/02/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The original f1.2 Noctilux and 35 f1.4 aspherical eash had two hand ground aspheric surfaces. Apparently the scrap rate, and presumably the inspection cost, was horrendous. They made very, very few of each apparently. I have a 35 and prefer the look to the later 35mm f1.4 asph which has one moulded aspheric surface. I have read that the difference in sharpness is minimal. The difference in look is not, IMHO. It is my most used lens by far and most of my favourite pictures were taken with it. Frank On 8 Feb, 2009, at 05:13, Marty Deveney wrote: > > >> Why do you suppose Nikon stopped making it? > > Two reasons: the aspherical element was hand-ground, necessitating a > very high manufacturing cost for a prime Nikkor - the lens thus sold > slowly and required a large mark-up to recoup design and tooling > costs; second one of the high-index glass elements used lead and the > laws changed in Japan, making continuing with this impossible. > Rather than opt to redesign with a different glass, they > discontinued the lens. About 7000 were made. > > I occasionally think about the extremely skilled worker who ground > the aspherical element when I use mine. I'd sure like to know his > or her story. > > It's tremendous in use, but was designed long enough ago (it was > introduced in 1993) that technology has moved on. If Nikon decided > to redesign it they would have moulded elements, better coatings, > newer glass types and a variety of new construction methods at their > disposal. Leica are developing new lenses at quite a clip to keep > their lenses up with technology - and of course their cameras. > > Marty > > > Gallery (New! Supercharged by Brian Reid!): > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene > > > -- > Be Yourself @ mail.com! > Choose From 200+ Email Addresses > Get a Free Account at www.mail.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information