Hi all,

I just read that, but since I don't speak english very well, I just hope it didn't understand the article :-) Any infos about it ?

Tons of thanks in advance

-- Simon (s_alibert@mac.com), April 25, 2002

Answers

28mm f/2.8 Elmarit has been discontinued.

35mm f/2.0 Summicron ASPH in LTM (not M) has been discontinued.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), April 25, 2002.

Thanks you for your info.. I knew it was not possible for the (new) 35 Summicron...

Best regards,

-- Simon (s_alibert@mac.com), April 25, 2002.

I just spoke with a Leica rep from Germany, as well as the Lisle- Kelco rep at a leica Day here in Ottawa. The 28/2.8 Elmarit-M is still in production. It has NOT been discontinued. Everyone seemed very surprised by the suggestion, and the Leica rep said it would stay in the lineup because the Summicron is significantly more expensive.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul@chefurka.com), April 25, 2002.

I think for Leica, like most small manufacturers, it's a lot more cost effective to build, say, 2000 Elmarit 28s in a batch with the machinery (lens grinders, mount lathes, etc.) set up for those specifications, and then quit and build a batch of something else with the same machines set up for new specs (90 f/2, e.g.), and so on and so on. It's more efficient than changing the tooling every 50 lenses or so - even with computer-run machines.

Technically the 28 may be 'discontinued' for up to a couple of years while they make other stuff.

If they happen to misjudge demand they will run out of 28s before the cycle starts making them again. Which can lead to rumors...

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), April 25, 2002.