B&W digital....

[Village Idiot]

I'd rather spend the money on something cheaper and some good lenses or some additional lighting. I personally could justify the price for a digital B&W range finder camera.

 

[gsgary]

If i had the spare cash i'd have one

 

[Derrel]

Well, the B&W Leica was unveiled today! british Journal of Photography has a write-up on it. BJP is the oldest "magazine" devoted to photography.

British Journal of Photography

 

[bhop]

I do love using my Leica, but their pricing is straight up insanity. New 50mm f/2 Summicron is nearly $9k

 

[Derrel]

For that almost $9K, I expect two better twin, conjoined buzzwords, like "eff-one-point-four" and "aspherical"...you know, to soften the blow!

What the heck happened to the mere $3995 fifties of days of yore???

 

[usayit]

What the heck happened to the mere $3995 fifties of days of yore???

I don't believe the new APO Summicron 50mm is going to replace the old Summicron 50mm.. priced at a bargain price of $2300USD (ok not a bargain but still lower than your $3995).

Lets not forget... the "really cheap leica M lenses" the Summarits in which the 50mm f/2.5 Summarit costs $1500USD.


Look up the Double Aspherical 35mm....

 

[Derrel]

This one???

 

[usayit]

Yup...

IIRC, it was on sale through his website and he worked it out with the seller to borrow it a while to help drive up interest. It is/was a optically outstanding lens for its time and was very expensive to manufacture... two hand ground Aspherical elements. I can't imagine how many they ground, tested, and failed to the trash bin.

My viewpoint on the new APO Summicron 50mm /f2 Asph ($7200) versus the (non-APO) Summicron 50 f/2 ($2300) is similar to that of the Double Aspherical Summilux 35mm f/1.4 versus the Non-Aspherical Summilux f/1.4 of circa 1990. Its kinda like being given the opportunity to buy a concept car with features that push the envelop yet not really intended to replace the current model. Just like the Double Aspherical, I bet this new lens will have limited availability and manufacture run. They stopped the double aspherical after a few short years (remember Leica's product runs typically run a long time) and replaced by the current Summilux f/1.4 ASPH (note: the lens is not marked with "Aspherical" written out in full). Both the "non-ASPH" and the current "ASPH" versions of the 35mm Summilux are less expensive than the double aspherical even before you factor in the collectibility of the limited run double aspherical.

I was just yesterday trying to explain to some that the names "Summilux", "Summicron", etc do not necessarily translate to "levels of quality" as in Canon's non-L versus "L" lenses. Those Canon terms are marketing inventions to make it easier for the general public to identify "good", "better", "best". Often a Summicron will be more sought after than a Summilux or Noctilux depending on what the photographer is trying to achieve even though both are faster and more expensive. As such, there is confusion as to whether the APO Summicron is intended to replace the Summicron... after all they have the same "name". If you look at the Leica website, there are 5 50's listed.... different renderings for different people.

As to whether or not this is the replacement for the Summicron in the near future... I hope not. My answer has little to do with the pricing too.... (well not really.. that is very expensive price point) The Summicron 50mm f/2 is one of the most popular current lenses for Leica. Its what many describe as a classical rendering as opposed to the Summilux f/1.4's ASPH more modern rendering... a look that I feel has more to do with the aspherical versus spherical designs rather than the max aperture that the rest of the photographic world seems so hung up on. Its a wonderful place to be in to have two choices of a standard lens each with their distinct look. To loose this choice would be a HUGE mistake in my opinion. Of course, many say that the newish Summarit 50mm f/2.5 can fit in nicely as it is also a spherical design but the build is just not up there with the Summicron. Summarit and the previous version of the Summicron are often compared due to their similar pricing new vs used. At "just" $1000-1400 they make a good entry point for new users.

btw.. This is the same reason why not all shooters were excited to see the Noctilux 50mm f/1 (spherical) get discontinued for the current Noctilux 50mm f/0.95 (Aspherical)... .. some feel that it lost its character... one of imperfect beauty. Hence the Noctilux f/1 retaining and actually climbing in value even after being discontinued/replaced.



Here is my other point:

Leica M9-P = $7995USD (BHPHOTO)
Leica M9 = $6995USD (BHPHOTO)
Leica Monochrome (announced on Friday) = $7995USD

Its a speciality camera for the same exact price of the camera it was built on (M9-P). This is from a company that chargers a super premium on the same camera of a different paint job (albeit limited run). Canon made a speciality 20Da camera that was more expensive than the 20D. Nikon and practically every other manufacturer have done something similar...

and there are complaints? they didn't raise the price.... for something somewhat unique.


For a dedicated B&W shooter considering an M9 (or already shooting one) can now decide to get a Monochrome instead with its (supposedly) better ISO, dynamic range, and detail for the EXACT amount they have already saved in the bank. Its like someone offering you a better still camera (of any brand) if you had to sacrifice video..... its a no brainer for someone who could care less about video. AND for the SAME PRICE! If you have anything to say about price.... its not really directed at the Monochrome but the M9 in general... and as such.. its OLD NEWS... get over it.

Common .. what's the problem?


I'm not buying (I would if I could.. maybe) but my bank account needs an M9 color or monochrome like it needs a bankruptcy.