An appeal to Voigtlander: Re-releasing Lenses?

[jljohn]

I don't know if this has come up before, and if it has then I apologize. I recognize that there may be manufacturing issues involved, but why doesn't Voigtlander remake their earlier successful lenses with an M mount? They did it with the 15mm Heliar, so why not the discontinued 28mm f/1.9 Ultron, 35mm f/1.7 Ultron, and 50mm f/1.5 Nokton? Heck, remaining new copies and nice used copies probably sell for more than Voigtlander could offer new lenses for. Sure they "upgraded" the 28mm and 35mm, but both have focus shift issues and the older versions were so very good. I know I would be very interested in at least two of those three if they were re-released.

 

[kutting]

I'm sure they would if there was a healthy profit to be made.

 

[jsrockit]

did it with the 15mm Heliar, so why not the discontinued 28mm f/1.9 Ultron, 35mm f/1.7 Ultron, and 50mm f/1.5 Nokton?

They did... they just tried to make them better (faster) i.e. 35mm f/1.4 Nokton and the 50mm f/1.1 Nokton. The 28mm Ultron f/2 is the 1.9 replacement.

They will not remake them exactly.

 

[jljohn]

They did... they just tried to make them better (faster) i.e. 35mm f/1.4 Nokton and the 50mm f/1.1 Nokton. The 28mm Ultron f/2 is the 1.9 replacement.

They will not remake them exactly.

I think that may beg my question. Voigtlander tried to make them better--they succeeded in making one faster (35mm f/1.4) and one smaller (28mm f/2), but both have a serious performance issue, in my opinion, in the focus shift. So why not go back to the first generation with proven lenses in a new mount?

The 35mm f/1.2 and the 50mm f/1.1 are different beasts altogether so they don't factor in to this discussion I think.

 

[jsrockit]

I would think it may have to do with parts not being available anymore.

 

[PatrickONeill]

there were rumors a few months back that they might have a 50mm ƒ1.4 in the works. someone claimed that they saw a photographer testing the new 35mm ƒ1.2 and 50mm ƒ1.4 with an M9.2.. sooooooo... 🙄 who knows.

If they were to release a new 50mm lens, I doubt it would be asph like the ƒ1.5, I'm willing to bet that it'd be a "character lens." This is speculation on my part, so ignore my babbling and buy minty used lenses and forget about it.

 

[The Meaness]

I don't understand the complaint about focus shift. What's wrong with buying the LTM version?

The only four lenses that don't have an M eqiv. are the 28/3.5, 35/1.2, 50/1.5, and 90mm. I think we all expect an M version of the 35/1.2, but would any of these other lenses in m mount sell better than a 2.8 or faster lens that is 25mm or wider? CV could corner the market with an 18mm faster than f4. Even if it isn't very small or good, I think it would sell. It would be popular with R-D1 users (equiv. 28mm), M8 users (equiv. 24mm), and it would become the widest 2.8 available besides the ZM 15/2.8.

 

[bobkonos]

Simple equation here that many of us know : LTM-mount + adapter = M-mount. So if you are Mr. K., you must wonder "why bother offering M-mount versions?"

There is a lens they could re-release and make a fair sum with, especially here at RFF: the LTM-mount 28f3.5 Skopar. It is sharp, light, and well-made. I'd sell almost any other lens I own before selling this one.

 

[mwooten]

I hope they don’t re-issue them. My 50/1.5 & 28/1.9 are about the only things in my portfolio that have risen in value. 🙂

 

[jljohn]

I don't understand the complaint about focus shift.

What don't you understand about this: what focus shift is, or why one might not want it in a lens?

mwooten makes my point for me, in part. How many of us own lenses that we could sell for more used than they would cost new if they were still being manufactured. (example--you can sell a used 35mm f/1.2 today for more than the new price as of 4 months ago. So many of Mr. K's lenses are like this, including the ones I mentioned in my OP.) Why not reissue them in LTM or remake them with M mount? The market seems to be there.

 

[Krosya]

The only four lenses that don't have an M eqiv. are the 28/3.5, 35/1.2, 50/1.5, and 90mm. I think we all expect an M version of the 35/1.2, .

CV 35/1.2 is already an M-mount lens.😀

 

[Krosya]

I don't know if this has come up before, and if it has then I apologize. I recognize that there may be manufacturing issues involved, but why doesn't Voigtlander remake their earlier successful lenses with an M mount? They did it with the 15mm Heliar, so why not the discontinued 28mm f/1.9 Ultron, 35mm f/1.7 Ultron, and 50mm f/1.5 Nokton? Heck, remaining new copies and nice used copies probably sell for more than Voigtlander could offer new lenses for. Sure they "upgraded" the 28mm and 35mm, but both have focus shift issues and the older versions were so very good. I know I would be very interested in at least two of those three if they were re-released.

I dont think that they would re-release those great lenses . Why? Because it would be like admitting that they screwed up with the so called replacement versions - 28/2, 35/1.4, 50/1.1. I think they may come up with some yet "new" versions, like 35/1.8, 50/1.4, etc, but they may not be aspherical and that may or may not be a good thing. I'm just glad I got the Original Asph lenses before they got to be so pricey and I have no need for a newer "upgraded " versions. Well, I do have 2 "upgraded" ones CV 21/4M and CV 15/4.5M as I like handling and RF coupling for 15mm lens , but otherwise - thats it. Using ltm-M adapter is just fne with me, plus I still have Leica IIIC , so having more LTM lenses is a plus for me anyway.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

I don't understand the complaint about focus shift. What's wrong with buying the LTM version?

The only four lenses that don't have an M eqiv. are the 28/3.5, 35/1.2, 50/1.5, and 90mm. I think we all expect an M version of the 35/1.2, but would any of these other lenses in m mount sell better than a 2.8 or faster lens that is 25mm or wider? CV could corner the market with an 18mm faster than f4. Even if it isn't very small or good, I think it would sell. It would be popular with R-D1 users (equiv. 28mm), M8 users (equiv. 24mm), and it would become the widest 2.8 available besides the ZM 15/2.8.

you are waiting for an m-mount version of the 1.2/35? I've got a prototype right here, for only 4999€ it is yours! 😀 :angel:

 

[kshapero]

I think first off that Mr K has reinvented the rangefinder business. Leica should love him. The trend is definitely towards M Mount, but if you are patient CV LTM lenses will pop here and elsewhere. I love the slight rarity of the whole thing.