New (?) Leica lenses

[RBecker]

There is the announcement for 2 new Leica lenses.
The 50 Summilux looks like a real new Leica design, just much smaller and lighter than the previous version. Would be interesting how this lens will perform.
But the Macro isn‘t a really new design, it is a copy of the actual Sigma Art Macro. The Sigma is an awesome lens, so not a bad choice from Leica. But as a German I expect a bit more from Leica, not only a new lens body for 3x the price…

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

It looks to me that the macro is different from the Sigma. If you look at the lens construction diagrams of the two lenses (as shown on their respective manufacturer’s website) the diagrams are quite different, despite having the same number of elements & groups. And of course, it’s 100mm instead of 105. Also, the Leica is listed as being APO, which means it could sit with their other APO primes from an IQ perspective. Which, at $2700, would be quite the bargain, LOL. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the LUMIX and Sigma macros, for sure.

 

[RBecker]

It looks to me that the macro is different from the Sigma. If you look at the lens construction diagrams of the two lenses (as shown on their respective manufacturer’s website) the diagrams are quite different, despite having the same number of elements & groups. And of course, it’s 100mm instead of 105. Also, the Leica is listed as being APO, which means it could sit with their other APO primes from an IQ perspective. Which, at $2700, would be quite the bargain, LOL. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the LUMIX and Sigma macros, for sure.

For me the lens diagrams are identical, that's why I said they have the same design! The difference is only, that the focus group in the middle of the lens is in one diagram on the left side, at the other diagram on the right side. So one diagram shows the lens at infinity, the other at 1:1. Nice trick to let them look different, Also in one diagram the outer edges of some lenses are rounded or cut, but that is not changing the shape of the surfaces of each element.
The difference of 5mm at this focal length is negligible, maybe rounded up and down. Also the focal length will become much shorter when focusing from infinity to macro, so for such a lens is a more relative number...
That Leica states the lens as APO is just the confirmation, that the Sigma is a real awesome lens (I own it), but the Sigma is only around 800, so a real bargain

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

For me the lens diagrams are identical, that's why I said they have the same design! The difference is only, that the focus group in the middle of the lens is in one diagram on the left side, at the other diagram on the right side. So one diagram shows the lens at infinity, the other at 1:1. Nice trick to let them look different, Also in one diagram the outer edges of some lenses are rounded or cut, but that is not changing the shape of the surfaces of each element.

Yes, I see now that you are correct. Oh well...

The difference of 5mm at this focal length is negligible, maybe rounded up and down. Also the focal length will become much shorter when focusing from infinity to macro, so for such a lens is a more relative number...
That Leica states the lens as APO is just the confirmation, that the Sigma is a real awesome lens (I own it), but the Sigma is only around 800, so a real bargain

Yes, the 105 is awesome, I have it too.

 

[xaviergut]

The 50 Summilux looks like a real new Leica design, just much smaller and lighter than the previous version

Just to give an idea about the size of the new 50mm one:

It is a screenshot of this video from Leica Australia (min 16:45):

 

[RBecker]

Thank you for the video, nice one.
Interesting fact: In the spec sheet the Summmilux was stated "Made in Germany" in the spec sheet of the Macro there was no mention of production...
So I expect this is not only a Sigma design, the lens will be "Made in Japan" like some others and you can make an educated guess who is producing it (in this case) ;-)