Leica 50 APO in SILVER? Yep.
How about this guys? Leica has announced today that they will be making and shipping the fabulously crazy good and expensive Leica 50 APO in SILVER. If you want one, best bet is to e-mail Ken Hansen at khpny19@aol.com to get on the list! You can also order at PopFlash.com HERE. They also have it up and available at B&H photo HERE. $7995. Yep, $7995 for a 50 f/2 APO Lens. See my review here AND here!
Press release below..
LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-M 50mm f/2 ASPH.
Sharpest ever standard lens now available in silver anodised finish
Leica Camera has today announced that the APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH. is now available in a silver anodised version. Thanks to its meticulous optical design, high quality materials, and sophisticated manufacturing and finishing process, this high-performance lens is considered to be the reference lens among standard focal lengths.
With its combination of exceptional sharpness and imaging performance that captures and resolves even the finest details, the APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. is characterised by extremely high contrast rendition from corner to corner of the image – at maximum aperture and throughout the aperture range. The use of a floating element in its design ensures that this is also maintained at close shooting distances.
Eight lens elements are employed to achieve this outstanding optical performance. Three of the lenses are made from glass types with anomalous partial dispersion or apochromatic correction, and two have a high refractive index. The specially-formulated glass employed is based on original developments from the former Leitz glass laboratory, and the use of this particular glass requires extensive effort and many years of experience. Thanks to continuous advancements in optical technology, processes have since been refined and perfected to achieve the best possible image quality.
As with all other Leica lenses, the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. was designed and developed by Leica specialists in Wetzlar and represents the perfect combination of optical and technical expertise. Exceptionally reliable with enduring value, and with the ‘Made in Germany’ quality guarantee, the lens is manufactured from the finest materials and is meticulously assembled by hand. This combination of cutting-edge technology and precise manufacturing procedures ensures consistent excellence at all times.
Pricing and availability
The Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. (silver anodised) is scheduled to be available at the end of July 2016 at a suggested retail price of £5,900 including VAT.
BH website shows the weight is the same as the black version. But i thought the silver would be much heavier than the black due to more brass is used. Any comments Steve?
Leica no longer makes the silver all brass like the past.
Oh, man!! any changes made to be less flare resistant? my copy has issues in certain conditions with flaring
I bet you meant “more” flare resistant.
correct. Was the lens tweaked to be more flare resistant or is this simply a different finish?
It appears to be optically identical to the black version.
Jorge
You are correct, this lens was reported to have significant flair in certain conditions. There is a good write up about this at Lloyd Chambers website (www.digilloyd.com); though this information is in the subscriber section.
Though I do believe Leica has issued a recall for these lenses for this reason. So I suggest that you contact Leica to see if your lens is in the affected serial number range, and send it in.
Unfortunately, most Leica lenses do have veiling flare when there is a bright background even if the source is not in the field or view. The telephoto lenses are know for this. So what you are experiencing may not be part of the recall.
Good luck.
PaulB
Yep, but Leica fixed this issue very quickly, and there have not been new production lenses with the issue for a long long time.
Jorge should still contact Leica as suggested to ensure his lens is not one of the original lenses produced with the issue.