you got a fast 50?

[séamuis]

this is for all of you zeiss and leicaphiles oh and you few canon owners.

Leica offers World's fastest Aspherical lens: Digital Photography Review

the 0.95 is back and more expensive than ever. can we say bragging rights?

[K200D]

Wow, $12,000 for a fast 50. Gotta give it to Leica for exuberant excess!

[jake.astig]

For doctors, investment bankers, hedge fund managers, etc

[mithrandir]

I figure I will have to live to 160 for this thing to get cheap enough used for me to buy.

[KungPOW]

wonder if it ships with de-centered elements...

[lithos]

Jeez...can someone work out the difference in stops between the f1.0 and f0.95?

I can put it in layman's terms, which is "3/5 of *uc*-all."

Only the biggest ******s will pay for it - a few Beltway lawyers, the odd Swiss doctor, merchant bankers (ha!) as Jake said.

I'll be willing to bet any photojournalist, pro photog or art photographer who uses it will probably get it for free from Leica.

[Damn Brit]

Maybe we should start a thread for serial numbers of bad copies.

[lithos]

Careful, Damn Brit. I hope you're not implying Leica would make less-than-perfect lenses.

You know, because it could get dangerous for you, if you do. Maybe Leicaphiles'll kidnap you, decapitate you, videotape it, and send the tape to CNN and your head to your wife...they can do that, you know. They own Leicas.

[Damn Brit]

Originally Posted by lithos

Careful, Damn Brit. I hope you're not implying Leica would make less-than-perfect lenses.

You know, because it could get dangerous for you, if you do. Maybe Leicaphiles'll kidnap you, decapitate you, videotape it, and send the tape to CNN and your head to your wife...they can do that, you know. They own Leicas.

[Peter Zack]

"Not only this, but the new LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f / 0.95 ASPH also performs comparably with the LEICA SUMMILUX-M 50 mm f / 1.4 ASPH (regarded as the best standard lens ever produced) when stopped down."

I was going to make a joke about sharpenss when stopped down and then read this. For $12,000 it better be friggin' fantastic wide open. I can't imagine spending even half that to get a fast lens that is better when stopped down.

[ftpaddict]

Difference between f/1 and f/0.95 is worth exactly diddly squat.

[Arjay Bee]

Depth of field wide open will be so narrow nothing is in focus.... That's bragging rights right there.

Now if anyone tells me my images are oof I can just say that I'm striving for the "Leica Look".

[séamuis]

Now if anyone tells me my images are oof I can just say that I'm striving for the "Leica Look".

ha! good one man.

[ChrisN]

Originally Posted by ftpaddict

Difference between f/1 and f/0.95 is worth exactly diddly squat.

Actually, Leica had to do this to equal the Canon 50/0.95 rangefinder lens produced by Canon in 1961. There's plenty of those still in use, many converted to Leica M mount, used with the Leica digital rangefinder, and commanding very high prices on the second-hand market. Depth-of-field that narrow is an acquired taste, but they certainly produce a unique look. And the chances are that the Leica is usably sharp at f/0.95.

Come on, admit it. If Pentax made a 50/0.95 we'd be all over it like a pit bull on a pork roast!

[séamuis]

Come on, admit it. If Pentax made a 50/0.95 we'd be all over it like a pit bull on a pork roast!

oh no I wouldn't.