Arthur
Established
I am thinking, particularly, of the Elcan 66/2 which was manufactured for the US Navy during the Cold War.
It is an amazing lens!
It is an amazing lens!
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
But which framelines would we use then?
Roger Hicks
Veteran
But who would actually buy it? A lens with no corresponding frame is likely to be of limited interest to anyone except a collector. The Thambar is another matter...
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
Arthur
Established
I do suspect that the area around the 50 frame on my M9 is pretty close to the view of a 66...
The Elcan 66/2 is simply amazing... a more than competent friend thinks it is even better than the Summicron Apo-ASPH 50/2!?
The Elcan 66/2 is simply amazing... a more than competent friend thinks it is even better than the Summicron Apo-ASPH 50/2!?
Vickko
Veteran
hmmm. Hard to imagine, considering how few 66/2 exist and are in shooters' hands.
Have you seen photos from that lens?
I've only seen a few photos "of that lens" in books.
Apparently one sold in Ottawa years (decades?) ago.
Have you seen photos from that lens?
I've only seen a few photos "of that lens" in books.
Apparently one sold in Ottawa years (decades?) ago.
Arthur
Established
Have you seen photos from that lens?
*****
Yes.
The MTF is remarkable.
*****
Arthur
*****
Yes.
The MTF is remarkable.
*****
Arthur
Richard G
Veteran
Have you seen photos from the DR Summicron? Like a simple rose? Extraordinary. Use it on my digitals even.
Arthur
Established
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Arthur, I found that at a distance of around 12 to 15 feet, the 50mm frameline on my M6 matched the field of view of the 60mm Macro-Elmar on the R6 I had at the time. So it covers only 0.833 of the width or height covered by the lens. And area-wise, that translates to .833 x .833, or 69.44% of the area! That's a big enough error to make me avoid using a 50 on my M6, M7, and MP. I might bring my M2 along just for that focal length. For fans of the 50mm lens, that is enough to justify having an M2, M3, or M4; or if a meter is needed, an M5.
Rob
benmacphoto
Well-known
I'd like to see Leica re issue the 35mm pre ASPH Summilux.
Or another classic lens with some character.
Or another classic lens with some character.
kiemchacsu
Well-known
Simple, then what else the current optical designers in Leica can do?
We all know that old lenses of Leica are amazing but someone have to make something new.
We all know that old lenses of Leica are amazing but someone have to make something new.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
The 66mm f2 Elcan lens would be a great lens to a a well heeled Asian collector of all things Leitz, but other than its rarity it does not have anything of great interest, unlike the Thambar lens.
E. Leitz no longer exists.
But Leica Camera AG did release a Summaron-M 28/5.6.
zuiko85
Veteran
Do you mean like that 28mm f5.6 Summaron they announced a year ago that's perpetually "new item, coming soon" at B&H and "out of stock" at the Leica store?
If they ever had any interest in that lens from Leica users I'm sure they have killed it by now.
If they ever had any interest in that lens from Leica users I'm sure they have killed it by now.
bayernfan
Well-known
reissues mean special production line, new tooling, and so on. if they could mass market it, i'd be willing to bet the price would be roughly in line with current leica offerings. unique vintage designs are not mass-marketable, and we can therefore expect the price to be exorbitant for what the lens really offers.
james.liam
Well-known
IIRC, it has to be ordered through the dealer. Not generally available otherwise.
In re: 66/2, does it resolve better than the 50/2 APO?
They are separated by 50 years of tech evolution.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
The optical properties of old classic lenses won't likely be replicated in the near future or ever, for that matter. Lead, Lanthanum and Thorium glass production was halted as of 2001. For example, the 38mm Biogon in the SWC underwent a slight formulation change due to the new glass restrictions. Most of the heavy metal glasses were phased out in the late 70s and 80s due to environmental and workplace hazards.
So there's one reason.
But as far as Leica goes, they have staked their claim into the digital realm. They can't reissue older designs due to the restrictions of the digital sensors and the very short lens registration. 27.8mm. DSLRs don't have this problem nearly as much since their lens designs force their lenses shorter than about 55mm to be retrofocal, which is a completely new lens design. Leica is heading this direction these days because their superwides on the new digital bodies are no longer flag vignetting. Yes, this is partially a function of computer correction via lens coding but it is also due to Leica designing the nodal point of their new fleet of lenses farther forward so the light rays are more perpendicular to the sensor. Look at that new "21mm Super Elmar f/3.4." They even made the maximum aperture the same as the classic Super Angulon, probably just for nostalgia but the lens is in a completely different class with regard to design. The rear element doesn't project nearly as far and the formulation forces light to leave the lens very perpendicular, as opposed to how the corners of the superlative Super Angulon behave with light rays projecting at very sharp angles onto the film plane. That just doesn't work on digital very well. The same goes for all of Leica's past lenses shorter than 50mm. Without coding, you'll see flag vignetting. If you want the same excellent design, like the Mandler 28mm Elmarit. Version 1 has the same rear element problem, so you can't use that amazing lens on what Leica sees as their future, without workarounds and image compromise.
A 66mm ELCAN could certainly be done but it was a special, rare, niche lens which never was intended for use by the general population. Design, raytracing, tooling, sourcing glass, all would be very expensive and the sales wouldn't pay for the investment.
Phil Forrest
So there's one reason.
But as far as Leica goes, they have staked their claim into the digital realm. They can't reissue older designs due to the restrictions of the digital sensors and the very short lens registration. 27.8mm. DSLRs don't have this problem nearly as much since their lens designs force their lenses shorter than about 55mm to be retrofocal, which is a completely new lens design. Leica is heading this direction these days because their superwides on the new digital bodies are no longer flag vignetting. Yes, this is partially a function of computer correction via lens coding but it is also due to Leica designing the nodal point of their new fleet of lenses farther forward so the light rays are more perpendicular to the sensor. Look at that new "21mm Super Elmar f/3.4." They even made the maximum aperture the same as the classic Super Angulon, probably just for nostalgia but the lens is in a completely different class with regard to design. The rear element doesn't project nearly as far and the formulation forces light to leave the lens very perpendicular, as opposed to how the corners of the superlative Super Angulon behave with light rays projecting at very sharp angles onto the film plane. That just doesn't work on digital very well. The same goes for all of Leica's past lenses shorter than 50mm. Without coding, you'll see flag vignetting. If you want the same excellent design, like the Mandler 28mm Elmarit. Version 1 has the same rear element problem, so you can't use that amazing lens on what Leica sees as their future, without workarounds and image compromise.
A 66mm ELCAN could certainly be done but it was a special, rare, niche lens which never was intended for use by the general population. Design, raytracing, tooling, sourcing glass, all would be very expensive and the sales wouldn't pay for the investment.
Phil Forrest
james.liam
Well-known
They seem to have reformulated the 28 Summaron for digital without issue. Doesn't seem to be an impossible task. And Leica did imply they were going to release other historical lenses.
mpaniagua
Newby photographer
In a statement, economic reasons.
Doable? yes
margin for profit?
Outside the collective items market, not really much profit to be expected.
Leica could probably do them, but as a collective, high price item, not intended for general public use, but for it to remain unused for generations just like the commemorative Leica M6 sets.
Just my thoughts.
Regards
Marcelo
Doable? yes
margin for profit?
Outside the collective items market, not really much profit to be expected.
Leica could probably do them, but as a collective, high price item, not intended for general public use, but for it to remain unused for generations just like the commemorative Leica M6 sets.
Just my thoughts.
Regards
Marcelo