Why It's Expensive - Tiny Leica 50mm Lens! - Leica Summicron-M 50mm F2 (Ep. 10)

[@6rimR3ap3r]

The focus ring moves Leica dream... ;-)

[@mariowanagat1412]

So true I love the .95 but the cron V5 is still the fastest and easiest to focus. I own quite a few M lenses

[@6rimR3ap3r]

@@mariowanagat1412 only ones I've got are Summicron R 50 and Elmarit R 35, so no Ms. But the build quality after all these years is spot on.

[@chakpuia]

Do "why it's expensive" for cameras for season 2... Could be cinema cams, hasselblads etc... Would be interesting 😁

[@justincapalbophotography]

Great idea! I would love that

[@FarizTGK]

I think camera prices are very easy to understand, whereas lenses are very elusive, but either way I'm not complaining. You got anything camera related? Im interested! Whether I know it or not! Doesnt hurt to engrave it into my brain! Because, the brain itself doesn't have pain receptors, even though the meninges do (basically the membrane around the brain, yes I googled it to make sure this is legit) heheh, I'll take my leave now. Btw I'm really fortunate to have google by my side.

[@melvinchiew4331]

@@FarizTGK some ppl just like to listen to ZY talk i guess. i wouldnt mind listening to a podcast from this guy honestly.

[@FarizTGK]

@@melvinchiew4331 me either, guy knows his stuff. Idk what I was on when typing that comment. So random.

[@GodfreyMann]

This type-5 is one of my favourite lenses. I love the way it renders images wide open. It's so light that it nearly always ends up in my travel kit. And, I managed to buy it mint secondhand for £850.

[@Fjalll]

I bought my 50mm Summicron V5 for $1200 a few years ago. People called me crazy back then.

[@Wadidiz]

I bought a 50mm Summicron in excellent condition for around $175--with a working Leicaflex and "open purchase", from a shop! (Couldn't resist bragging.) It isn't the most sought-after version (which I don't understand) but I can instantly spot photos taken with it on my Sony A7RM3. Biting sharpness, colors that pop, zero distortion and near-3D roundness. I think we both did well, just on opposite sides of the value spectrum.

[@its2amandstillonyoutube542]

Steve Wadidiz Morris could you tell me wich adapter you use to connect it to your a7r3? Pls

[@bwest6275]

I own this very lens for work on my M240, and it is simply incredible. I performed comparison testing against what I thought was my sharpest Canon EF lens - the EF 50mm 2.5 Macro, and it blew that out of the water in terms of contrast, color, and sharpness. Of course the Leica is way more expensive, but it was eye opening at how fantastic it really is. I was just glad there was a tangible difference to help justify the cost lol.

[@soothsay3r588]

Love this lens. Been shooting that lens on my Leica M6 for years. Ran through hundreds of rolls of films on it.

[@seto007]

So in other words, the reason it's so expensive is because it's kept artificially scarce by means of inefficient manufacturing techniques. Got it.

[@navigator1383]

Doctor Dankeston All finer things in life are “hand made”. Guns, cutlery, clothes, purses/bags, watches, jewelry, cameras, cars, furniture, art, etc...

[@funkychicken2119]

Good debate. Would you rather have hand polished optical elements of Leica glass which experienced craftsman produce in small volumes with high prices, or machine made optics at higher volume but stricter QA?

[@funkychicken2119]

K.D.P. Ross But you are mistaken in thinking Leica is a tool. It’s man jewelry. It’s the man version of a LV handbag. If it were simply a tool I would only half way agree as well. Even tools themselves have wide range of price points. Craftsman screwdriver vs. Snap On for example. .

[@navigator1383]

@K.D.P. Ross There is a lot of hand fitting, assembly, and polishing that goes into a Rolex. Sure they use machine tools and some modern manufacturing techniques. But the human touch is definitely there.

[@Funnygamer22]

Best comment because it safes me precious time watching the vid

[@Bighi4]

This series is so nice, congratulations! i am really looking forward to season 2!

[@matthiasf.1577]

I love the micro contrasts of the lens, the glow and the 3D-Pop. You can get it used, with still the stunning image quality for around 1-100 - 1.200$. Der previous model with exactly the same optic even for 800$. And you hardly loose any money when reselling it.

[@tiziocaio8657]

True

[@mindbuzz4670]

4:22 The focus ring rotates "Leica" dream ... :D

[@laidbacklifestyle389]

1979 design... 2079 price

[@SourPlanet]

For those also bumping into this video way late: please note, the corner performance on Sony lenses is a result of the thicker sensor stack on the Sony. This causes smudging, vignetting, and loss of detail in the corners. Check out reviews from Phillip Reeve to see about 20 separate lens reviews where he compares cropped in shots on the A7Rii and M10 side by side. Leica lenses actually have stellar corner performance on Leica bodies!

[@lalabella7357]

you should do a sub-episodes, "why its cheap", featuring the people hero, yongnuo 50mm f1.8..

[@jkerman5113]

@@lalabella7357 Happy 4th birthday.

[@Fjalll]

Made by people who doesn't get payed and uses materials that deteriorate over time

[@TucsonBillD]

An truly excellent lens… in fact I used to own one… but I sold it to help pay for it’s replacement… a Leica Summicron APO 50mm lens. That lens (purchased some years ago) set me back around $6 grand (US). Today it’s hovering around $9K. As for it’s performance? The only lens that can touch it is the Leica (yup) SL Summicron 50 APO. Peter Karbe, head of lens design at Leica designed this lens (and all that were designed after the 50 Summicron APO) to work with 100 megapixel lenses. Eat your heart out, CanNikSony.

[@tiziocaio8657]

I use Leica R lenses on mine GFX, and they are incredible

[@Deetroiter]

Love my TL 23mm Summicron lens.

[@matthiasschnapka6498]

I have visited the Leica production facility in the Town of Wetzlar ( near Frankfurt / Main ) once;.....this Lenses are that expensive, because they are built mostly by hand and out of bronze and Alloy ( black version ) or even bronze only ( silver version ); all lenses will be built under laboratory conditions space rockets are normally built ( all rooms have air over pressure, so no dust could get inside of the facilities, every lense will be checked for every single step in production and assembling line, it will last for decades and still working perfectly, and its value will get up instead of tank down as Asian lenses will do. Before 12 years or so you had to pay arround 3.500€ for the 1:1/50mm new. Now you have to spend 6-8.000€ for the same lense......USED !!!! Try this with a Canon or Nikon ! Yes this price tags are insane, but when you could get the chance and hold such a film or digital M Camera and a Leica Lense in your hands.......THEY ARE AWESOME and REALY fun to shoot.......and tiny compared to the Asian Monstrosity's........so very good for traveling or street shootings. Cheers

[@user-cj9fk8un3i]

I love it! Best series on youtube

[@satansearwax5374]

Craftsmanship Workmanship... I like those words more than “mass produced”

[@msbrownbeast]

They make them in small batches because they are so expensive so that very few people can afford them. The Japanese (in particular Nikon) really put a number to Leica back in the 60s when the Nikon F took over the professional market.

[@richardmichalak]

Great video. You have excellent presentation skills. Thanks.

[@franzjosefstakes]

Really enjoywd this show, still hoping for a second episode! :)

[@theraven6836]

I own a 1999 Type V as well. It is a joy to shoot and worth every penny.

[@Sqeezy3]

I live far, far away from Malaysia, but when I one day will visit the country, this is my first stop there.

[@noenken]

The current summarit outperforms the old crons by a good bit and costs less, even brand new. It is half a stop slower but if that is the deciding factor I don't know what to tell you. ;) Also the Loxia is submitting data and the Sony cams do stuff in software, even to RAWs. The output from the Leica lens is straight optical quality.

[@SantiagoArraga]

well no. Tests on Adox CMS 20, wood tripod, etc and looking at the negative at 325x magnification showeth the summicron V5 at 166 lp/mm f/4, and my summarits at about the same. And the summicron did vastly better at f/2 - while having a bit of the soft-sharp classic leica.

[@Dstonephoto]

“Hand made” needs to be taken with a grain of salt. The way their lenses render is impressive, but Leica truly does a spectacular job of both marketing and misleading their customers. Slap a lab coat on a laborer and suddenly hand-made takes on a whole new meaning.

[@TannerGrandstaff]

Really great video! Love it!

[@vstev3472]

I’ve been using the old one with Leica M2 and NEX-6 and it is so damn good that now I want to buy the new one for myself

[@JamesClark1991]

Bring on season 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D

[@kalealee3675]

Will come visit you when pandemic subside 👍👍👍amazing Malaysian KZbin channel

[@carlosoruna7174]

Was a leica retailer in the 70s and 80s, visited their factory in wetzlar in the early 80s, they were and are the best, they even test their lenses on a projection base that rotates it , leica was steady, nikon and canon and others the image fluctuatted .

[@chubs2312]

Right now I can't afford just a Canon 50mm f1.8 but this thing... Eish.

[@barrycohen311]

I bought a really early version 50mm rigid. (1958). $675. Looked like someone vomited inside the lens barrel. I had it CLA'd, and Youxin Ye got most of the vomit out. No impact that I can tell on IQ. The thing shoots like a MoFo. Not quite the contrast of modern Summicrons and it is more susceptible to lens flare. Other than that, it rocks. Great retro look to it.

[@JimiCanRead]

Me: hmm I need to stop lusting after expensive gear I’ll never afford on KZbin. Also me: binges series specifically on stuff that’s too expensive

[@alexandercarder2281]

I paid £400 for this lens on eBay in 2008, with original box 📦 and perfect condition.

[@tiziocaio8657]

Good deal I think. Do you like it?

[@alexandercarder2281]

@@tiziocaio8657 wow 2 years ago I sent this 😳 yes it’s the best lens I’ve ever used apart from the 50mm f2 Zuiko Macro lens.

[@Noealz]

really enjoy this series man

[@MB-or8js]

I am using the 50/2 version V lens since five years both on film and digital. One thing I don't like is the expandable hood which tends to retract itself easily while walking. Certainly one of my sharpest lenses but with moderate bokeh performance normal for a Summicron lens. Alternatively, I would now look at one of the newer CV 50 mm options.

[@julienxie1110]

Ae86 spotted!!!!!

[@Calvinwiresner]

I have the same configuration you have there: a A3 camera, the Voigtländer VM-E adaptor (bloody expensive). a summicron and summilux pair of lenses, plus other lenses. The Leica ones are well made, their size and weight are their attractiveness.

[@Shahaaim]

3:21 wait.. is that IOI Mall!??!?!

[@zy_cheng]

Yes it is! Lens Library is right across!

[@Shahaaim]

@@zy_cheng I just found out you guys are Malaysians. I used to stay in Setia Walk.

[@TheSakzzz]

Its not just the production cost of a lens, they also need to factor in their research and development costs.. Staying ahead of the competition is not cheap.

[@squiddymute]

For the same reason a monitor stand costs 999$.... vanity

[@mateusalves9436]

Nowadays Leica is the only brand doing full frame rangefinders, they can charge what they want and you have no option, you can get an xpro2 wich is a crop sensor and thats it really, and for film cameras you have the security of knowing Leica still offers services for cameras, even M3's made in 55, honestly it sucks enjoying rangefinders nowadays. The Voigtlander lenses are nice specially for the price but they dont have the same quality as Leicas, specially the build quality.

[@oliverrose5482]

I had one of these, but sold it because I thought it wasn’t quite up to par with the other Leica lenses due to flaring in weird conditions. Bought a Zeiss 50mm f2 instead which is a better lens. Eying up a Summilux though.

[@bngr_bngr]

oliver rose I still use a Leica 50mm from the late 70's. I love the rendering of the lens. With digital I think these lens even looks better not to produce a digital looking image.

[@oliverrose5482]

I totally agree, it was a great lens and I miss it. It just would not perform in situations that I needed it to, and it would flare only when it was cloudy which put me off as it was so unpredictable. Loved it on film though, and on an M8, didn’t seem to be as good in an M240.

[@bngr_bngr]

oliver rose I also used a Summarit from the 50's. People report that it flares. But my copy had perfect glass and I didnt get flare. I know people now love flare ;) or at least they like to reproduce it in post.

[@TheJudge064]

@@oliverrose5482It was flaring during cloudy weather only? That's really weird. I wonder what was going on with it?

[@oliverrose5482]

A Random Guy On The Internet it was very strange, took it to Leica and they couldn’t see anything wrong with it when they had a look with it. It was quite old (1996) but the optics were in really good condition. When it was overcast, it would just totally lose contrast and sharpness in the centre of the frame. May have been because it was old, or I might have got a bad copy, anyway the Zeiss seems more reliable in most conditions.

[@evaloGraphic]

I love this series!!

[@Fav0rit]

Just look at the old lenses on the Olympus Om film cameras, which are the same or even smaller in size and their price is more attractive and their quality is simply excellent.

[@kevin-parratt-artist]

Good review ... 👌

[@ductritran8637]

Zeiss lens as good as Leica on optical performance but the built Leica is still the best . I used voigtlander M mount with adapter on Sony and give me fantastic result .

[@GuyVinmara]

3:22 IOI Mall in Puchong?

[@jeffdrew625]

Mark me as Leicaphile and a connoisseur of fine, handcrafted tools. I treasure my grandfather’s Leica 3g and my MP kit. Lots of other choices abound, but Leica precision is amazing for me!

[@m.andre824]

Just some suggestions if you ever get your hands on them: Zeiss Milvus set Leica 50mm f2 Apo (being similar in price, maybe you could compare it to the Otus 55) Contax T3 (going for $3000 these days)

[@DonTheDino]

My favorite Leica 50mm is actually the cheapest the Leica 50mm Elmar-M 2.8 especially for black and white film it’s perfect 👌

[@dharmikwangdu8480]

Hi, Can I use this lens on canon m50 mark ii

[@arsen4ever]

When researching Leica, I found that most of the recent camera gear is made in Portugal and the lower end cams are actually manufactured in China. More importantly, it took a while for me to find where the product was made… Leica seems to be a luxury product that is “German engineered” but manufactured elsewhere, which defeats the exclusive marketing angle.

[@razifraship]

How does it compare to Sony GM 1.2 on Alpha?

[@J2tallrich]

Anything can be expensive if people are willing to buy it

[@krzysztofzwolinski956]

1. Because it's Leica 2. Because it's Leica

[@lamanhnguyen6462]

4. Because It's same as apple with 999$ stand. Jojo's stand is way better.

[@d30gaijin]

And to think that back in 2001 when I bought the same lens as new in original box for $500 I was complaining. LOL And yes, I still have it.

[@thomastuorto9929]

I’m not watching this video but have to say because looking into the Leica eco system lately & this is probably the cheapest ($) lens they have!

[@DFMurray]

AE86 spotted. Eurobeat intensifies

[@Nayson]

Really enjoyed this series. Thanks. Re: the 42 megapixel comment, if its a 35mm film lens then surely that’s a moot point? You’ll get more data in a 35mm exposure than on current digital sensors

[@atarkus8]

That’s simply not true. A modern 42mp sensor will both outresolve 35mm film and gather more data. Its only when you get to large format, and black and white film that you may have a case.

[@mechpade]

Do Leica's ASPH version next!

[@mafiqmawarlan3967]

ayy Malaysia, never thought such place exist here. need to explore more

[@diwanumam1507]

You should've done this on the $8k 50 f2 APO

[@asdkant]

it's be interesting to see you talk about accesories like the Arca cube gearhead

[@DJ.1001]

Ill stick with fd lenses for my vintage fix. For less than 1/3 the price of this lens one can pick up a nice novoflex adapter and a full set of fd lenses including a 28mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4, and an 85mm f/1.8. Really puts into perspective how expensive these leica pieces are.

[@Quetzalcoatl0]

I wanna ask a question, maybe for another type of videos like explaning why it can't be made. Why is there no 24-105 f2.8 ? We have a 24mm 1.4, we also have a 135 f1.8, there's the legendary 24-70 f2.8, but in order to get a 24-105 it has to be an f4.

[@tonycruse3648]

Is it a ASPH lens?

[@Bongo2k]

Still waiting on your Hasselblad video....

[@williamfitzpatrick6369]

Does the price include your kickback or is that extra?

[@Sams911]

so why does a M50 Noctilux f/0.95 cost $12750?

[@Qlicky]

Regardless how small and nicely built it is, its still a 50mm/f2 lens that costs like a brand new modern full frame camera. And it doesnt even auto focus. A lot of lenses offer same optical quality with an auto-focus ability on top of it, for far less money. But hey, it has "Leica" written on it, that alone bumps the price buy about $1000-1500.

[@timothytin9036]

The circuit board inside an AF lens wont last for decades, but manual lenses do.

[@Qlicky]

And when the AF fails you're still left with a manual lens, just like this Leica.

[@irvingdaniel5310]

I wonder why handmade things are more expensive. other than the obvious fact that it takes more time to produce and everything. I would assume that a machine can do everything more precisely thus creating a better product. maybe I'm dumb idk

[@Ziegeri]

Exactly, they are not more expensive because they are better, it's because of the obvious facts. Machines nowadays do a lot better job than humans ever could when we are talking about precision. But some people just prefer handmade stuff, so they are willing to pay the extra and that is completely fine.

[@akeiai]

Handmade items are expensive because: Expertise on the manufacturing process. Humans make less batches than machines.

[@henryt9254]

My favorite is the 35mm, pre-ASPH, AKA the bokeh king. That is the one I use with my M instead of the 50mm standard lens.

[@batchint]

I find all metal lenses usually feel better on the camera when carried and go through doors ways better

[@OP-sk3vw]

Leica uses for its top lenses the highest quality of silicon(si) that you can find so if the cost of the silicon is double or triple comparing to most of the camera manufacturers and you have basic knowledge of how the pricing of products works you could understand why they are so expensive. This also applies to zeiss

[@MaxLamdin]

the leica lenses are hand assembled, they're still made by machines otherwise the prices would be even more astronomical

[@barrysohn8026]

In the early 1990's Leica made a version of Summilux-M, 35mm f1.4 that was so complex and expensive to make that they made fewer that 2000 of them. It had two Aspherical surfaces and concave front & rear elements. At least in the case of this lens there was a lot more to it than just hand assembly. The impression I have is that the making of the elements was, in the lens business similar to diamond cutting in the jewelry trade. I'd love to try one but most are in the hands of collectors or permanent owner/users.

[@VariTimo]

Side and some black and white film like Fuji Across out resolve even Canons modern L series lenses. And Leica makes a 24MP monochrome sensor without a color filter array delivering resolution at least in the mid 30 mp area when compare to sensors with a color filter. Remember everything that has color has to go through a Bayer filter and loses at least 30% of the resolution.

[@TheHitmanAgent]

"Why It's Expensive?" Leica. The end

[@joris818]

When I bought my M9, it came with the same version of the Summicron. I LOVED the build quality, look and feel of the lens. It balanced very nicely on the M9. However, my copie had a very bad ghosting issue in certain lighting. It was horrendous! I ended up selling it but I do miss it from time to time ;-)

[@raksh9]

What lighting situations caused bad ghosting with the M9 and 50 Summicron?

[@joris818]

@@raksh9 If you'd take a photo with strong sunlight coming in your direction. I now shoot mainly with the F1 Noctilux and it never has the same ghosting !

[@raksh9]

@@joris818 Ah, I see! I will check to see if mine does this, too.

[@joris818]

@@raksh9 I red somewhere that it was to do with internal reflection of the lens barrel. You could send the lens to Leica and they'd coat it with soms dead paint.

[@raksh9]

@@joris818 How old was your copy? Perhaps Leica have made that change in more recent builds. Mine is about 10 or 12 years old.

[@TakatoshiKikukawa]

What a wonderful commentary. It was very helpful. Thank you. I also like Leica on KZbin.

[@Opsecable]

Kai looks a little different in this vid

[@marktos9791]

Nice ! Maybe you can ad a google map Bitly url of your location inside the video description so user with mobile open the map easily? Just a suggestion. Keep going ! Thanks

[@eftbfl]

canon 50mm fd f1.4 is $40 and i feel like it can hold its own against this lens

[@Falcrist]

Any "Why It's Expensive" episode involving Leica should be a couple seconds long. "Because it's Leica"

[@Fjalll]

I would argue my $12 Helios hold its own against the Canon

[@JeremyBlant]

Try an old Minolta 50mm 1.4 or even the 50mm 1.7

[@Wadidiz]

According to many reviewers, the Canon FD 50mm f1.4 outperforms its Leica counterpart--the Summilux 50mm. The Summilux has typical Leica colors and pop, but the Canon is probably the best performing around-50mm vintage lens, even slightly better center and edge sharpness than the Zeiss Planar 50mm f1.4. And--as you point out--the Canon FD are still an amazing bargain. I can't resist buying them when I find them low-priced. Now have four, of which three will probably get sold with a Canon camera.

[@Wadidiz]

@S Tra Bring a knife to a glass fight? The Canon FD 50mm/1.4 is obsidian compared to any metal-bladed knife.

[@oy7295]

one quick question....why not Leica R 50mm 1/2??

[@gewglesux]

Because you get what you pay for. Quality costs money not just Camera gear in pretty much everything.

[@alexandercarder2281]

Can you do hassleblad lenses

[@abdulkadir1990]

I would love to see a comparison to a Konica M Hexanon 50mm f2

[@claudiosoares8824]

Could someone help me, I have a LEICA SUMMICRON R 1:2 50MM lens Fabr. No. 03840896 the f2 aperture opens only with the R8 Leica Camera in adapters it does not open, can you tell me if this is normal?

[@mysisterskeeper3347]

Even though the lens is very expensive, you save money on those little 39mm filters.

[@nayuki2020]

It performs better without an adpater. Shoot it natively on an M10, the results will be better than same lens on a Sony.

[@quatrical]

Which is another reason one should consider voigtlander ;)

[@Thomas_Geist]

Wonder why they don't make them in silver.

[@10Outta10Baby]

They do

[@_r1nky]

Let's get just bodies for S2 , leicas , blads and alpas

[@MrMilanoLau]

There is no direct causal connection between high cost of production and high quality. However, high cost always means high prices.

[@hynee]

loves it

[@jamiepirie9758]

kai's long lost brother

[@alfredolouiebrian980]

Needs a bit more accent 😅

[@thomastuorto9929]

$2800 Germany (I guess)Now. $2600 if made in Portugal! Have you used /tried any of their more expensive lenses yet? 2nd time watching.

[@bim1537]

Why does this video pop up in my recommendations? I know jackshit about photography. Anyone else experience the same?

[@Harrysayswhat]

Hahahaha, you guys.

[@paulsehstedt6275]

3:25. autofocus on a M-lens???

[@tonyjames5444]

NASA use the Nikon DSLR system, (after switching from Hasselblad). If it's good enough for them then that's justification for me not spending ridiculous money on something like this, (of course if I spent most of my time in trendy coffee shops and had more money than sense.....:)

[@nath-wp7xp]

tony james where did you read this? Seems very interesting.

[@tonyjames5444]

@@nath-wp7xp Plenty of articles online just Google NASA -Nikon. Here's one: www.nikon.com/news/2017/0825_nasa_01.htm

[@TwistedMindTED]

I guess German vs Japanese Camera industry is pretty similar to the car and watch manufacturing industries. You buy Japanese for efficiency. You buy German for the craftsmanship, the luxury and other commodities that wouldn't necessarily improve the day to day use and you probably don't need, but you're filthy rich so you can afford it

[@cameranjoun6420]

Sumicron f2 lens made in 1950's "collapsible " study LEICA history !

[@passcomcompass2623]

What is there to study? He's comparing this particular summicron, which the orginal design did come from 1979, he didn't get anything wrong. the collapsible summicron was NOT an m lens, it was made for screw mount, though transferable, and it includes the infamous 'yellow glass' version with an radioactive piece and a lead piece, and it was the model Bresson used his whole life. Followed by the 'rigid', which is also one of the hottest vintage lenses from Leica. Bottom line, he wasn't wrong, contain your feeling of superior knowledge, your flex failed.

[@Catxslam]

Hi 5 from Malaysia!