[Leica] This here fancy 50

[bdcolen at earthlink.net (B. D. Colen)]

I think that in some ways Solms had to produce this lens - the current
line of M lenses includes a 21, 24, 28, 35 1.4, 75, 90 f2, and 135, that
are arguably THE best lenses available - for any type of 35 mm camera,
in their focal length. And then, in the middle of that incredible
line-up, they have this mangy old hound called Summilux. With the
release of the new Summilux, they have completed the redesign of the
Leica M lens lineup, and they can honestly and believably say that
pricey or not, this is the world's best 35 mm lens line up.

Now, will it make a damn bit of difference to the ultimate bottom line,
given that the release is coming as late in the history of film cameras
as it is? I seriously doubt it. My reaction to the release, and I'm sure
it will be shared by many M owners, is "Damn! Why didn't they do this
five years ago. I'd LOVE to have this lens; but at this point in my
shift from film to digital, there is no way I can rationalize spending
this kind of money on a piece of film equipment."

Now a 35 or 28 Noctilux, that comes close to the 35 Summilux ASPH or 28
Summicron ASPH? That would be another story entirely, because it would
allow me to get shots I can't get with digital, and would therefore be
worth my buying.

Ah well....

B. D.

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Robert Palmieri
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 9:48 AM
To: lug@leica-users.org
Subject: [Leica] This here fancy 50


Feli wrote:

>THIS WEEK:

>Good grief, the current Lux is 40 years old! It is soft,overpriced and 
>useless! I might as well be shooting with a Nikon! I'm buying a
Nocton!
>
>
>NEXT WEEK:
>
>Good grief, the new Lux is cold, sterile, has ugly ASPH bokeh and lacks

>that Leica glow! I'll never sell my old Lux! Never!

>;-)


Certainly one of the funniest things I've ever read here and, as is so
often the case with such things, contains more than a little bit of
truth. 

This release of the new 'Lux is quite an interesting event, in that
Leica is calling many people's bluffs.  They've actually put into
production what could prove to be the best fast "normal" lens ever
(we'll soon see...). Also, I believe, the priciest. A $2500 "normal" is
one heckuva nervy proposition.  Yet the idea of a manufacturer putting
that much effort into what most companies see as a somewhat pedestrian
piece of gear (while a few of us really appreciate its value) is one of
the very things many of us hope that Leica will continue to do.  

That, and whatever the heck else they need to bring to market to keep
the company viable.

'Cause as much as I cheer on the idea, I just can't afford to point that
much cash at that piece of gear.  But I certainly hope there are enough
snappers of better heel than me to generate the kinds of sales numbers
that will make Leica continue to exhibit this kind of radical behavior.

'Course, as Feli said, there's still this "signature" issue to the
imaging...

Bob Palmieri
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