SLR Magic DISCONTINUES 50/0.95 and all RF lenses

This company was 100% dependent upon free web advertising, when they put out a product with supposedly good optics and bad mechanics the only thing that would save them would be their ability to rectify the issues quickly and without a hitch. They were unable to fix anything, and on top of that they took in way too many preorders. Instead of concentrating on fixing the lenses that where already sold, they continued to make more the same way to fill their orders (they could have taken a page from Miyazaki San and made a limited run of 300 and gone from there, but more money is a strong driving force).

So when you are depending on word of mouth in a very small and relatively close knit community (like the online Leica community), you can't send out a product that isn't ready for sale and then have no solution to fixing the issues that arise.

It's too bad it didn't work out, because competition is always a good thing, especially with Leica lenses as expensive as they are.
 
bugmenot said:
A 35mm T/0.95 is happening, but won't have RF coupling for Leica M mount. You can probably use it on the new Leica M with the EVF or using LCD for live view 😀
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I doubt it would be in my budget, but I moved to Leica Digital for the RF, why would I step backwards?
 
bananasplit said:
I am sad that SLR Magic abandon the production of the 0.95 lens in 50mm and now also in 35mm and guess what they also abandon their project to make a 24/1.4.
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From the link: "We -- -- cancelled all rangefinder coupled lens projects due to too much effort in defending our brand from Leica community attacks."

And here I am considering their 12/1.6 for my OM-D. Do they want my money or not?
 
Often some things are more trouble than they're worth and easier to cut your losses and run.

I recall a lot of nasty and personal negative reaction elsewhere on the interweb when the build and design problems became apparent.

Not nice to observe at the time.
 
jaapv said:
Certainly a bit nasty - but even at the first trouble a slightly more professional reaction could have defused the situation - defensiveness leads to conflict.
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At the time I think their best option would have been a full refund of monies paid and back to the drawing board. Sadly, that didn't happen.

Maybe they feel their reputation in the Leica market has been too badly damaged and now no longer worth risking any further investment.
 
We're looking at a (highly volatile) niche of a niche of a niche of a niche here. Who ordered these lenses to make money with them? Very few, if any. Ordering a completely unknown lens, sight unseen, from an unknown manufacturer, is going to be a whim from a hobbyist. Such buyers are fickle, or even hysterical? Gosh, surely not...

Cheers,

R.
 
jaapv said:
There were problems with calibration and doubts about the mechanical stability (use of locktite). The resulting internet kafuffle was not pretty from both sides. I think this is the only forum left that does not close SLR Magic threads as a matter of routine...🙄
In use I found the lens too heavy (1 kg approx.) and large and it needed to be supported with the left hand to avoid it leaning in the bayonet, which affected focussing accuracy.
I did not test it extensively, but the optical quality appeared to be quite good. As it should be @ 5000$.
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For 5K, I would rather have the Noctilux.
 
if they had made a low cost 300 dollar semi fast lens and started to build a follower base first it woulda been better off..

seeing copied names , a ebay seller , a security cam manufacturer all seemed sketchy.
 
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