M Lenes, Why are they so hard to get?

[eric23]

Good Day All,

I ordered a 35mm 1.4 over a month ago from my local dealer and he has no update for me yet, I am thinking of getting the 28mm F2.8 instead (the only one they have in stock).

I just check on B&H Photo site and they don’t have one lens in stock, does anyone know the story? Why are they so hard to get?

 

[chrishayton]

High demand, Slow supply. Stock runs low fast.

 

[Tzelet]

I would assume that B&H are backordered on a lot of items. Have you tried smaller dealers?

For the record, these lenses were all available (on the shelves) here in Norway today:
- 35mm Summilux-M ASPH FLE
- 50mm Summilux-M ASPH (black and chrome versions)
- 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH
- 21mm Summilux-M ASPH
- 35mm Summicron-M ASPH
- 50mm Summicron-M
- 18mm Super-Elmar-M f3,8 ASPH

I must admit, it felt weird looking at a 50mm Summilux-M ASPH, all there for the taking (if one forgets the price 😀 )

 

[majid]

In 2004 or so, Leica almost went bankrupt and had to lay off a number of skilled technicians. It is taking them a long time to rebuild the human capital in the firm since their fortunes turned around with the introduction of the M8. Because so much of their lens production involves manual steps by skilled labor, lens production is lagging badly behind demand.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I would suspect that it might also have something to do with their now making motion picture camera lenses for the multitude of digital motion picture cameras out today. They make lenses for the RED cameras as well as the new ARRI Alexa and its ilk.

Folks in the motion picture camera world don't bat an eye at spending tens of thousands of dollars on glass, and I think Leica has finally figured that out. They can make a 50mm lux that sells to one of us for $4000, or they can make a set of motion picture camera lenses that sell to the industry for $50,000.

Reading the post above, I need to get myself over to Norway. I'd piss my pants and take a second mortgage on the house if I saw all those Leica lenses in stock.

Best,
-Tim

 

[splitimageview]

When I worked at a dealer a year ago January, I ordered 20 copies of the 35/1.4 FLE.

In the ensuing 15 months, the store received two...

Unless your dealer already had one of the 35s on order many months ago it will be a while before they can deliver one to you.

 

[Araakii]

There are plenty in the classified section now.

 

[eric23]

I ended up picking up the 28F2.8, they also have a 75, I might need to go back and get that one too.

 

[jsrockit]

Get yourself a Zeiss C-Biogon and call it a day. 😉

 

[Richard G]

There's another recent thread saying the shelves are restocked. Here in Melbourne there are a lot of lenses. I've even seen a 50 Summilux ASPH but not touched it. Also at the Leica bar in Michael's there is a 21 1.4, a 35 f2 ASPH a whole lot of Summarits and others.