The Leica 21mm f/2.8 Elmarit M ASPH and 24mm f/2.8 Elmarit M ASPH lenses were already discontinued and it seems that there will be a new 21mm ASPH f/3.8 lens to be announced soon. The new 21mm lens is supposed to be superior in resolution, contrast and geometry.
New lens profiles are probably one of the reasons for the the new M8/M9 firmware update that is currently being beta tested.
Leica already has a 24mm f/3.8 Elmar M ASPH lens that was announced back in 2008. If Leica doesn’t refresh the 21mm and 24mm Elmarit lenses, their product line will consists of only two versions: Summilux and Elmar.
Some Leica distributors were also given a heads up that an updated version of the M9 will be announced later in 2011. The changes will be minor (similar to the M8.2) and will probably include a scratch resistant sapphire glass, new finish and some firmware tweaks.
