New Suimmarit Lenses...Comments Please

[whitecat]

What does everyone think about these? Yes, they have the engravings and the lower pricing, but what about any sacrifice in quality or anything else. If pricing is to be about 1495, just how much has been sacrificed?

Read Erwin's report also on these.

 

[Ken Ford]

I'm moderately interested in them. I'd like to replace my C-V 75 with a 75 Summicron some day, but with current pricing being what it is a Summarit may be more likely.

 

[sepiareverb]

Saw them over the weekend- first impression was that they were Leica lenses- had that look and feel. Cost savings is from using the same parts in the 75 & 90 and in the 35 & 50- many parts are shared and thus the ability to purchase pieces in larger quantity. Short throw for focus ring, which is rubberized not metal. That seemed to be the main difference. I am ordering the 75, as the Summicron is 1) hard to get and 2) still a little too much.

 

[Ken Ford]

Not too fond of the rubberized ring concept...

 

[back alley]

i'm interested in the 75 but will still likely go with the cv 75 because of cost and probable infrequent use.
they are aimed to compete with the zm lenses but are priced at considerably more than the zeiss glass so i'm not sure how that will work out in the end.
my guess is the summarits are going to be well made and fell nice in the hand. they are handsome to look at in pics so far. leica is using similar manufacturing practises to cosina as stated above, using the same barrels for different lenses etc. this does not cause there to be a lesser quality but a savings in cost that is passed on to the consumer.

 

[swoop]

Rubber? Eww.

I have not even seen one in person so I have no experience with it's handling or performance. But the concept to me seems to be budget lenses for those who spent the cash on the M8 and now want Leica glass to accompany their new toy.

 

[whitecat]

Seems to me it might be a budget made lens with Leica glass. I can't picture the rubber ring. Sounds like a Vivitar concept. Does anyone know if they are available?
Thanks

 

[aizan]

rubber's nice. eloxal wearing off of aluminum never appealed to my eye.

 

[Lance]

As far as I can see the rubber focus is only on the 75/90 not the 35/50.

 

[john_s]

A large part of the cost reduction comes from modest apertures. It costs a lot to make a wide aperture lens with very good optical performance. That can be only part of the story of course, since the 90mm Summarit is cheaper than the current 90mm f2.8 Elmarit-M. The latter is a very heavy lens, so I think that there could be significant cost savings from using less metal and some economies of scale (both from using common parts and also they're expecting to sell them in greater numbers). I'm very interested in the 75mm myself.

 

[Hephaestus]

What I am most interested in is how the Summarit 90mm 2.5 compares to the Elmarit 90mm 2.8. The new lens is both faster and physically smaller than the well regarded Elmarit.

If this line was aimed at the M8 user, I am surprised that there are not wider offerings to compensate for the sensor crop.

Ryan

 

[Kim Coxon]

I may be cynical, but it is far more difficult to make less expensive wides, than less expensive normal or long lenses due to the distortions. 😉

Kim

If this line was aimed at the M8 user, I am surprised that there are not wider offerings to compensate for the sensor crop.

Ryan

 

[Kim Coxon]

The rubber on all of my Pentax lenses from the 70's are still good so why should they come apart? I have a couple of Fujica lenses from before then that the rubber was a bit loose so I just replaced it. So it is not "traditional" for RF, but then again, nor is digital. 😉 Personally, I prefer the rubber grips on the SMC Takumars to the metal Super Multi Coated versions.

I suspect another reason is cost in manufacture. You can hide the screws under the rubber covering which you can't do on an all metal lens. everybody seems to want some less expensive glass but at the same time wants the exactly the same quality. 🙄

Kim

How does rubber hold in the long run? Will it come apart in 10-15 years?

 

[alexz]

......That can be only part of the story of course, since the 90mm Summarit is cheaper than the current 90mm f2.8 Elmarit-M. The latter is a very heavy lens, so I think that there could be significant cost savings from using less metal and some economies of scale (both from using common parts and also they're expecting to sell them in greater numbers). I'm very interested in the 75mm myself.

Xmm, I own current 90mm Elmarit, certainly it is anything but "very heavy"...perhaps you meant for 90mm Summicron though...
I personally do not last for new lens line, albeit most certainly they are expecetd to be up to Leica quality. I'm quite satisfied by Elmarit (in particular bearing in mind used mint copies of such (current version) can be had for around 800-900 US$)..
Similarily for 35mm and 50mm FLs..
Having said that, chances perhaps there was no Elmarit in my reach, I'd certainly target that new 90mm Summarit...(given not much pricing difference though...)

 

[swoop]

I dont want any of the lenses at all. I am just wondering about the quality of the rubber😉 I could have been tempted by the 75 if I wanted a 75mm, but I dont🙂 IMO Leica is extremely overpriced as it is and I would rather pay less for a faster lens from Zeiss since I only use 50 or wider. I wouldnt mind a 50 Lux Apsh though😉

Money would be better spent on the Zeiss 35 f2 and 50 f2 than the new summarits. Strictly in a price/performance point of view. But still, I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a new summarit 35, 50 and 75 just to try them out.

With hope, Leica will pull in some new M8 sales now that people have affordable lenses to pair with them. And all the revenue will go toward development of Leica's next product.

 

[Captain]

If this line was aimed at the M8 user, I am surprised that there are not wider offerings to compensate for the sensor crop.

I think they are a great idea. Im hoping that something wider like a 21 f4 to compete with the popular Voigtlander lens. Im also hoping all those Minilux's with electronic errors that could not be fixed have their lenses resurrected into a Summarit 40 in M mount!