[Leica] Monster High-tech 50mm 1.4 from Sigma and everyone else -distortion

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

My Summicron ASPH 35 according to the Leica PDF is
34.5 mm long
53 wide
39 filter size

The 24 2.8 is 10.5mm longer at 45mm
5 mm wider at 58
The 35 weights 255 the 24 290.
55 filter size

I just kind of think of my 55 filter sized glass being a size up from my
39mm little gems I don't know why.

I haven't used the 35 in years preferring the far smaller and lighter 40 mm
Summicron C lens which I have had on my M6 90 percent of the time.
And which I got in the LHSA Williamsburg VA meeting October 2004.

It's the lens shade on my 24 which makes it appear much bigger than my 35
and makes me much more reluctant to have it be on the camera to be hanging
off my shoulder all day.
The 24 or 21 Asph I use when I really need them but I cringe at the idea of
carrying them around all day. The difference to the way my shoulder feels
even after a few hours is evenident even though I tend to also have on my
camera a Rapidwinder or even a Leica Motor. And it just comparative gets in
the way. 
Perhaps a truer comparison to what's happening now in Leica would be between
the 35 Summicron ASPH or the 24 3.8:
To the new 24 1.4 which is quite a bit bulkier and heavier (500g's) than the
2.8.

The new 24 3.8 is is almost exactly the same weight and size as the 35
Summicron ASPH and would be much more likely to be only shoulder all day.

Especially because of 24 * 1.33 = 31.92mm  of the M8 should I ever land one.

Right now my walk around every day camera which I literally have with me
every minute of every day is a D40x Nikon which weights a pound.
About the same weight as an M8 although its tupperware compared to hockey
puck.
The glass is feather light though compared to an M8 bulky as you'd expect in
an SLR vs. rangefinder comparison.

I resist carrying around my D200 as its two pounds to the other cameras one.
It makes me not want to walk very far. Or take the bus.
But my gorgeous crinkle finish monster 28 1.4 really does not work so well
on the little body as focusing manually as you have to do turns out to be
difficult with the non ground glass. I put it on the D200 and that's 3
pounds. Vs just over a pound as many of my DX glass I'd put on my D40x
weights just a few ounces.

Soon I'll be shooting with a D700 which weights just over 2 pounds.
Very slightly more than the D200 a camera I only use during serious shoots.

I'm sure I'll be Lugging 2 plus pounds with me wherever I go so I can shoot
full frame but after 4 months my carrying camera will be a cropped format
again at a fraction of the weight like it should be.
Half frame.

If Leica is stuck with half frame with its M system I'd concentrate on
compactness. Building huge components to be used on a half frame camera
would not be the smart thing.

And film use is terrific in the one tenth of one percent range and
shrinking.


Mark William Rabiner