The new Leica APO-Summicron-M 35mm f/2 Aspherical lens just got listed for pre-order at Adorama in case you want to get on a fresh waiting list (I think this lens will be out of stock for years):
There is a new book about Leica Summilux and Noctilux lenses by Pierpaolo Ghisetti and Marco Cavina (available in both Italian and English). The book is currently listed for sale on eBay for €40 (see other books by the same authors available on eBay). Here are some screenshots taken from the new book:
The Leitz Photographica Auction is accepting consignments for their 38th auction that will take place on June 12, 2021, in Vienna. The deadline for submitting consignments of unique Leica pieces and/or entire collections is the end of March 2021. Here are some of the Leica items that will be available in the auction:
Red Dot Forum Camera Talk Live will cover Leica Noctilux lenses tonight, Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 8:00 pm EST. This episode will cover all Noctilux lenses – from the first 50mm f/1.2 to the latest 75mm f/1.25 ASPH. You can watch the episode live tonight on YouTube – here is the link:
“Way more than a cosmetic makeover, Leica’s latest incarnation of its marquee lens includes several important improvements over previous 35mm Summicron-Ms, starting with its APO designation, which translates into further suppression of chromatic and spherical aberrations, compared to earlier versions of the 35mm Summicron-M. As an apochromat, this lens features an array of specialized elements, including six anomalous partial dispersion glass elements and a trio of aspherical elements that control color fringing, distortion, and other aberrations for immaculate sharpness and clarity.” (Explora)
“The APO-Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH measures a mere 41mm long from the mount with a 39mm front filter diameter, yet packs an extremely advanced and downright impressive optical design. Comprised of ten elements arranged in five groups, three of which reside in a floating element group, the 35 APO-Cron houses four aspherical surfaces, six lenses with anomalous partial dispersion, and three with a high refractive index. The mix of specialized glass types effectively eliminates both chromatic and apochromatic aberrations, earning the lens its APO designation. And with eleven aperture blades, out of focus areas are buttery smooth. It’s safe to say that when nine out of ten elements are constructed from exotic and specialized glass, this is not your run-of-the-mill design. And we’re fairly sure that this is the first time that Leica has used four aspheres in one optic. The result – a level of performance never before seen in a 35mm M lens. Always on the forefront of optical design, Peter Karbe and his team continue to outdo themselves. “(Reddotforum)
“On the lens, the first 100 degrees of focus throw covers the normal range from 0.3m to infinity. But push past a soft detent on the focus ring and you’ll gain access to another 102 degrees of throw, providing high precision tweaking from 0.3 to 0.7m.” (Reddotforum)
Sean Reid published an extensive (21 page) review of the new Leica M APO 35/2.0 Summicron ASPH based on field testing and full studio tests. The reive also includes side-by-side comparisons with the current Leica M 35/2.0 Summicron ASPH and current M 35/1.4 Summilux ASPH. Here is a sample photo:
The Leica APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH lens is now officially announced. The new lens is the only M-lens with a close-focus distance of just 30 centimeters. The price is $8,195 and pre-orders are now open at Leica stores, boutiques and dealers for $8,195: