Why do you think of the price of the new 50mm Summicron?

[Ben Z]

Don't get me wrong, I would hope my wife would have me declared mentally incompetent to handle finances if I were to buy the new Summicron, but I could believe it's worth $7K before I could believe the current Summicron is worth $2K. The new one is at least a new and tour-de-force design, whereas the current one is the same lens that sold for under a grand a decade ago.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

While the price seems to be wild, I'm surprised that people keep on being surprised at the prices from Leica.

It's like going to Siberia and being surprised at how people don't go to the beach to tan (more often??) just like they do in Ibiza. It points more to a lack of acceptance that Siberia is colder than Ibiza, than the fact that Siberia is cold.

Even crazier would be to read about people in Siberia complaining about how Ibiza is so expensive, and that their beaches could never host ice sculptures outdoors without expensive cooling systems. What's worse, water is really really expensive over there.

 

[KM-25]

I had no idea they were charging 7 grand for this lens, LOL! Mostly due to the fact I got smart and got rid of all my Leica crap, left with a nice M3 and 50/2 ZM, I stopped paying attention.

I am going to wager they are out of business in 10 years, they have completely lost it.

 

[I Love Film]

Possibly a hot one will eventually turn up on Craigslist, a flea market or at a pawn shop. I'd snap that one up if it were a grand or two.

 

[ktmrider]

Leica is NUTS

Leica is NUTS

Price=RIDICULOUS

 

[dreamsandart]

One advantage to getting the new Summicron is when someone asks you about what 50mm lens you are using you can just say its a 50 Summicron and they won't think you're showing off with a Summilux ASPH or Noctilux ;-)

 

[baisao]

"Cash Rules Everything Around Me / C. R. E. A. M / Get the money, dollar, dollar bill y'all"
-- Wu Tang

 

[alan davus]

Am I going to buy the new Summicron?....Nope
Would I like to buy it?....Yep
Do I hate Leica for producing a lens I'll never buy?....Nope
Do I wish them well and hope many do buy it?....Yep
Do I think Leica have lost the plot?....Nope

I've followed too many threads here on RFF over the last few years predicting the demise of Leica for producing products only a few can afford. But all I've seen over the last couple of years is Leica unable to manufacture stuff quick enough for the market to absorb it. Yes the price of the new Summicron is outrageous... but can it be justified??? That I neither know or care.