Leica announce new 'budget' lens line

Sumdigit.

Summaslowit or Elmapokie

<i>"Poor choice of names. Traditionally, a Summarit is a f:1.5 lens (minicams not withstanding). Maybe they should call them "Summarecheap."</i>

 

<p> If it is anywhere near as good as the Summarit 40mm f/2.4 on the Leica CM then there should be no problems.</p>

Hektor would be the closest.

There as a pre-war Hektor 2.5/50. Leica's first 'high-speed' lens.

Supposedly it was named after Barnacks dog.

 

In LTM and M mount Summarit has always been associated with f1.5 lenses.

Fuggedaboudit.

Now on Leica's own (USA) website....

 

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/m_system/summarit/

1. As to the name - Summarit transitioned to meaning f/2.4 or thereabouts a decade ago

(Minilux). It has not been used on an f/1.5 lens since before 1960 (at which time Leica was

not linking names to aperture, since a 1.5 lens could be either a Summarit or a Summarex;

Hektor could mean anything from f/1.9 to f/5.6, etc).

 

2. As to the prices:

 

A) The Euro prices include tax - they cannot be converted directly to US prices (which do

not include tax) via the exchange rate. I would have thought we'd have figured that out

after going through the same confusion with the M8, and with the 75 'cron, etc.

 

B) speaking of which, the 75 'cron street price these days is $2,795, so the 75 f/2.5 comes

in at about 40% the price of the cron. About the same for the 90 'rit compared to the 90

APO/ASPH.

 

3) as to discount wides, there is already the 28 f/2.8 ASPH, which is in the same price

ballpark as the 'rits.

 

Technically, with the superwide Tri-Elmar one gets 3 focal lengths for $3800, or about

$1266 each. I get the feeling Leica is still figuring out how to handle the wide end as

regards primes (a 16mm f/3.5?, an 18, 21 or 24 f/4?). I suspect they may reveal

something in that range come PMA next winter.

 

I'm already covered for most of the focal lengths in this first Summarit batch, so not in the

market myself, but it will be interesting to see how they perform, in optics and in sales.

Anyone know what the lenshood arrangement is with these new lenses, built in or clip on, included in price or accessory?

One reason to carry the Leica is size. The optics should be small with a f/2.5 lens speed, 1m focus range, and classic 6/4 lens design.

Budget range is a relative term.

"Alex Shishin , Aug 03, 2007; 10:51 a.m.: I love "Larva in Germany." "

 

When I read that in the Google translation I blew coffee through my nose.

Just had a look at the sample on Leica site. Quite disappointed at bokeh.

 

Stephane

http://www.lumieredargent.com

The 90 is particularly interesting to me. It's the only one that is not only smaller by 1 cm than the current Elmarit, but it is slightly faster at that. I've found the crons a bit big for me, and had bad luck with a 90 TE, so I've been happy with a 90-C. Although this new 90 is fatter, I believe it's only about 1/8" longer than the C.

"Just how much difference are we likely to see between the new 75/2.5 Leitz and say the C/V 75/2.5? I mean this in all seriousness."

 

I mean this in all seriousness too. It'll say "Leica" and that matters most to the people who will buy them. It shows that the company is finally figuring out who its customers really are, which means they'll have a chance to survive. Trying to sell 10mp cropped bodies that need infared filters, and $4000 lenses to professional photographers isn't going to get them to the bank and good they are realizing it.

How about a CL or CL-D type body to go with these?

wunderbar!

Would love the Summarit 40mm in M mount too and a 21mm f4 would hit the spot.