Leica lenses and the Classifieds

[kshapero]

Have you ever noticed that when someone lists a Leica lens, they almost never tell anywhere in the ad what the fastest aperture is. like it is some kind of elite club where only the insiders are supposed to know. When someone list a lens made by anyone else they almost always list the aperture. I guess as a former Bessa user and present ZI user, I will never be in. It would seem to me that if someone wanted to sell there lens, Leica or not that you provide the basic specs to encourage the sale. 😕

 

[__hh]

I had that problem when starting out with RFs and Leicas... after a while, I worked out that a LUX is usually f/1.4 and a CRON is usually f/2

... the rest was history

I am sure the above is a gross generalisation, but that works for me

 

[gertf]

elmarit f/2.8, elmar f/4

 

[Rogrund]

elmar f/4

or f/2.8...

 

[Roger Hicks]

Anyone who is really interested in buying Leica lenses, new or old, will probably have done enough research to know the speeds that correspond to the names.

Noctilux: f/1 or f/1.2 (so they'll say if its the rare f/1.2)

Summilux: f/1.4

Summicron: f/2

Summaron: A trick one at 28/5.6, 35/3.5 and 35/2.8, so they'll say for 35mm.

Elmar: This is another trick one at f/2.8 (50mm), f/3.5 (35mm, 50mm and 65mm), f/4 (90mm and 135mm) and f/6.3 (105mm) so they'll say for 50mm.

Summarit: Another trick one. Formerly (over 50 years ago) 50/1.5; modern versions all f/2.5 (35-50-75-90)

Elmarit: f/2.8

There are various older lenses that also correspond to a given aperture at a given focal length: Hektor (28/6.3, 50/2.5, 73/1.9, 125/2.5, 135/4.5) Thambar (90/2.2), Summar (50/2), Summarex (85/1.5), Xenon (50/1.5), Summitar (50/2).

But as cries of 'elitism' go, this one seems pretty feeble to me. If you don't know the difference between a Summar, Summitar and Summicron, perhaps it would not be a very good idea to buy any of them until you have a better idea of what you're buying.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Meleica]

M lens guide
http://antiquecameras.net/leicamlenses.html

SM Lens Guide
http://antiquecameras.net/leicascrewlenses.html

 

[former member]

I've never noticed that.

I'm more inclined to notice when a description lists the focal length in Millimeters, but the actual lens is marked in Centimeters.

 

[kshapero]

All I am saying is that if one puts something up for sale (a Leica lens) would it not behoove the seller to at least list the basics of the item or is that just beneath the Leica owner? Of course, I know all the sources to get the information. But basic marketing says never inconvenience the buyer. Or as my dad used to say, " The customer is always right, unless he starts to hit you." "Gee dad, what if he hits you?". "Son, then you have to beat the hell out of him."

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

like it is some kind of elite club

Oh, please, really? Really?

Here:

Summicron: f/2

Summilux: f/1.4

Elmar: f/2.8

Elmarit: f/2.8

Summarit (new): f/2.5

Does it still feel "elite" for lack of info?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Of course, I know all the sources to get the information.

I hope you didn't need to join an elite club to know all the sources of information.

I think what you're feeling so left out about is that, when somebody who sells a Leica lens, they usually know that others know what the aperture lens.

Like selling film cameras: you don't say "this Yashica GSN takes film". Would you feel somebody is overreacting if somebody says "I feel those film guys are in an elite club, because when they post those cameras they don't say it's film". 😕

 

[awilder]

Any ad posted includes a picture showing the maximum aperture. Also, I feel if you have to state the aperture in the title (except in confusing cases like f/2.8 vs. f/3.5 Elmar), it appears that the seller might not be very savy since Leica tends to name their maximum apertures while Zeiss will use names to roughly describe their optical design. It's not a put down, but Japanese lenses don't usually make much distinction unless it's for special types of function, glass or coating.

 

[kshapero]

I still disagree. How hard is it to say, "50/1.4"? Almost all non Leica lens ads provide this quick information. Almost no Leica lens ads provide this info. Just wondering why.

 

[former member]

It's not enough to list "50/1.4 Summilux" for a Leica lens. A first version Summilux is on par with a Summarit 5cm F1.5, and should go in the $600 range. An Aspheric Summilux or late non-asph Summilux is a much different, and more expensive lens.

Just like it's not enough to say "50mm F1.4 Nikkor-SC". The difference in performance and price between the versions can be huge, 10:1 price difference.

The most important information to list would be some pictures actually made with the lens. After that, the Serial Number or Version of the lens. I picked up a Nicca with a Collapsible Nikkor 5cm f2 for ~$240 on Ebay as the seller did not note the fact that the lens was collapsible in the listing. Would have pulled $800 or so if he had.

But, as with most expensive things, "an Educated Buyer is the Most Pleased Customer".

 

[BillP]

I don't think it's snobbery at all. Laziness, maybe. It also avoids linguistic redundancy. Referring to a "50mm Summicron f2.0" is the same as saying "50mm f2.0 f2.0", or, to European ears, "Venice, Italy" or London, England" I certainly don't feel that I am part of some elite club.

*rolls trouser leg down again*

Regards,

Bill

 

[former member]

Maybe they'll include this:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4605

On the next Ipod manual and Leica Price List...

 

[Roger Hicks]

I still disagree. How hard is it to say, "50/1.4"? Almost all non Leica lens ads provide this quick information. Almost no Leica lens ads provide this info. Just wondering why.

They do provide the info, in the lens name.

They also assume that if you're genuinely interested in the lens, you'll know what it is.

Most of us have to look hard for the money to buy Leica lenses, and we therefore read up on them A LOT before we spend enything. (Some read up on them A LOT and never buy any anyway...)

I really can't understand what you are complaining about. Are you seriously saying that you'd buy a Summar if they added '50mm f/2', or a 105mm Mountain Elmar if they added 'f/6.3'? Surely not: you'd want to know a lot more about what you were buying, and why it cost what it did.

And to borrow your own logic, how hard is it to remember 'Summilux f/1.4, Summicron f/2, Summarit f/2.5, Elmarit f/2.8' which covers all the modern lenses that most people are likely to buy?

Cheers,

Roger

 

[ferider]

For the modern lenses speed and price are directly related. Just look at the tag:

800-1500 US: f2.5-8
1500-2000 US: f2 (CRONicle disease)
2000-3000 US: f1.4 (A LUXury)
Beyond: f1 (In your NOCTurnal dreams)

🙂

 

[Anupam]

I think what you are missing is that many Leica lenses are named, while most other manufacturers do not name their lens. So you will hear Nikon 50/1.8 or 50/1.4 etc. But that information is contained in the name for Leica - Summicron. Summilux etc. I don't think it's elitism in this case. CV lenses similarly have names so I often see things like "28mm Ultron" or "15mm Heliar" instead of the full speed designation.

 

[Pablito]

With the FSU lenses folks just put the name of the lens, not the focal length OR the max. aperture.

Jupiter 8, for instance.

hmm......I might actually buy a Uranus 9

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

hmm......I might actually buy a Uranus 9

Wrong forum 😉