View Full Version : Notice to all Leica lens owners
kshapero
10-19-2008, 03:36
To those of you who occasionally place a Leica lens for sale on the RFF classifieds: Please don't be snobby or whatever and not list the specs of your lens for sale. I have often considered purchasing a Leica lens on the classifieds but there are almost never any of the simplest specs included in the description. I assume in your elite fraternity you all know what f stop a Summicron is but I for one have no idea. I would guess that the majority of RFF'ers are not Leica owners so won't you want the rest of us to consider purchasing your lens also?
Rubbish I say! Why even my house boy knows a Summicron is f2!
Al Kaplan
10-19-2008, 03:47
That sounds fair enough! The Japanese lens companies don't tend to give names for their lenses. It seems to be a German thing. The new f/2.5 Summarit line is very different than the 50mm f/1.5 Summarit of fifty years ago. It can't be that much of a hassle to just say "f/1.5" or "f/2.5".
Nobody should beat their house boy, or even send him to bed with no supper, just because he refuses to spend the obligatory four hours a day memorizing Leica trivia.
kshapero
10-19-2008, 03:50
Rubbish I say! Why even my house boy knows a Summicron is f2!
Perfect example of my point. Snob.elite. Shall I get your paper and robe, Massah?
Al Kaplan
10-19-2008, 03:53
Don't forget his pipe and slippers.
I assume in your elite fraternity you all know what f stop a Summicron is but I for one have no idea.
Not to be rude or anything, but if you don't know the widest f stop of a Summicron, I find it hard to believe you're in the market for one.
Roger Hicks
10-19-2008, 04:15
Not to be rude or anything, but if you don't know the widest f stop of a Summicron, I find it hard to believe you're in the market for one.
Fair point, though I'd not thought of it until you mentioned it.
Certes, I'd want to know as much as possible before I started laying out large sums of money for anything -- including names, apertures and dates of production, so I'd know that Summars came before Summarits and Summitars, or Thambars before Summicrons, so I didn't end up buying an ancient uncoated lens instead of a modern coated one. Or vice versa.
After all, how much information should appear in an ad? Name; ok. Focal length; yes (though the Thambar is ONLY 9cm); Speed; well, it doesn't take much research to learn that. Filter size? Weight? Number of glasses/groups? Type of design? Year of introduction? Year of manufacture?
I know most of the Leica lenses, because I'm interested and have been for over 40 years. With FSU lenses, I can't always remember which Orion, Jupiter or Industar is which, but if I were in the market for one, I'd make it my business to find out. I certainly don't regard it as 'snobbish' that someone assumes I know which is which.
Cheers,
R.
there is plenty of information easily available on the net. A simple search for "Summicron" in goolge will give you all the answers within seconds...
johnastovall
10-19-2008, 05:09
May I suggest you get a copy of Puts "Leica Lens Compendium (http://www.amazon.com/Leica-Lens-Compendium-Erwin-Puts/dp/189780217X)" and start learning these things for yourself. Why be dependent on others for doing your homework?
Also a 2nd edition of Laney's collectors guide should be at hand. (http://www.amazon.com/Leica-Collectors-Guide-Hove-Books/dp/1874707383/)
If I were *Selling* a Leica lens (which is unlikely at this stage, since I don't have one), I'd put at least the focal length and maximum aperture in the ad, besides the name and approximate age, and certainly details of its condition. Making things harder for even some of your potential buyers is not good marketing practise. Whenever I *buy* lenses (Leica-mount or other), the most basic specification of my quest is not the brand, it's the focal length, maximum aperture, condition and price. I do have the Leica pocket book, but I only use it for reference, and don't plan to memorize it.
photomoof
10-19-2008, 05:43
I find it bizarre when sellers put in history, specs, etc in a sale, as though the buyers just fell off the turnip truck.
I second those who express -- you should not be buying expensive lenses based on the descriptions in an ad.
You should know what a summicron is before plunking down $2000 plus for a lens.
kshapero
10-19-2008, 05:44
Not to be rude or anything, but if you don't know the widest f stop of a Summicron, I find it hard to believe you're in the market for one.
Snob elitist you are.
kipkeston
10-19-2008, 05:49
ah yes good point! We should all include the number of blades, elements/groups, diameter of elements, lens length (with and without hood and at near and far focus distances) and really all specs for each lens we list.
What's a Summicron?
Yea!...and we also wan't to know from now on if it's a M mount or a screw mount. I think there is racism going on around here against us screw mount owners.;):D
kshapero
10-19-2008, 05:50
If I were *Selling* a Leica lens (which is unlikely at this stage, since I don't have one), I'd put at least the focal length and maximum aperture in the ad, besides the name and approximate age, and certainly details of its condition. Making things harder for even some of your potential buyers is not good marketing practise. Whenever I *buy* lenses (Leica-mount or other), the most basic specification of my quest is not the brand, it's the focal length, maximum aperture, condition and price. I do have the Leica pocket book, but I only use it for reference, and don't plan to memorize it.
Agreed, is it so hard to say f1.4? For those of us who are measly low life and don't know all about Leica lenses, maybe you might want to help us in the door.
In my occupation I am a pension administrator. Could you imagine if a client asked me a question which I could answer in 2 seconds but instead I said go look it up in Google. How long would I have a job?
It really blows me away that someone who wants to sell something would only position it to his own kind only. That IMHO would be the definition of "not smart".
BTW CV and Zeiss sellers always say the f stop. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....
Snob elitist you are.
Honestly, if you feel that way, I can live with that. But what does that make you? Someone in the market for a $1000+ lens, with no knowledge of even the most basic functionality?
I have often considered purchasing a Leica lens on the classifiedsWhy? Because you like the colour of the lens? Because you want to be part of our elitist group? Or because it fills a certain function? But how would you know that, without knowing what you're looking at? Since you have contemplated purchasing Leica lenses without knowing the most basic functionality, I can only conclude that you are a wannabe and a poser.
kshapero
10-19-2008, 06:04
Honestly, if you feel that way, I can live with that. But what does that make you? Someone in the market for a $1000+ lens, with no knowledge of even the most basic functionality?
Why? Because you like the colour of the lens? Because you want to be part of our elitist group? Or because it fills a certain function? But how would you know that, without knowing what you're looking at? Since you have contemplated purchasing Leica lenses without knowing the most basic functionality, I can only conclude that you are a wannabe and a poser.
Cirque, you continue to make my point for me. Even Rolls Royce ads say how much horsepower the engine has.
breathstealer
10-19-2008, 06:16
Agreed, is it so hard to say f1.4? For those of us who are measly low life and don't know all about Leica lenses, maybe you might want to help us in the door.
In my occupation I am a pension administrator. Could you imagine if a client asked me a question which I could answer in 2 seconds but instead I said go look it up in Google. How long would I have a job?
It really blows me away that someone who wants to sell something would only position it to his own kind only. That IMHO would be the definition of "not smart".
BTW CV and Zeiss sellers always say the f stop. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....
Ah, but your clients are asking you for information that you may be able to easily find, but they cannot. Lens information is easily found by all. Suggesting there's an elitist fraternity of Leica owners is absurd, considering you don't have to be an elite to look things up on the Internet. In fact, you don't even have to own any Leica lenses!
photomoof
10-19-2008, 06:17
It really blows me away that someone who wants to sell something would only position it to his own kind only. That IMHO would be the definition of "not smart".
Here is why we do it.
When I am selling I do not want to sell a lens to anyone who does not know EXACTLY what they are buying, because I do not want it back. I want a knowledgeable buyer who knows what questions to ask me. "Has it ever been collimated?" What year did you buy it? I don't want to sell it to newbies.
As for pensions -- it is too bad that many of my working professor friends did not go on Google or somewhere when they were allocating their TIAA-CREF accounts. I have had two close friends tell me that they are down 45%. One who retired, is now looking for part time work.
navilluspm
10-19-2008, 06:18
Ya, you snobby Leica elites. Take that! By the way. I have a Yashica-mat for sale if anyone want it. I also have two broken GSN's and a lost Xa ofr sale. great lenses on these puppies!
(BTW - this is a little sacrasm. People who sell GSN's, Yashica-mat's and XA's don't always put the type lens in the description either, so it has nothing to do with "Leica Elitism, rather just poor marketing. And I am also one of those poor marketers at times).
kshapero
10-19-2008, 06:26
Here is why we do it.
When I am selling I do not want to sell a lens to anyone who does not know EXACTLY what they are buying, because I do not want it back. I want a knowledgeable buyer who knows what questions to ask me. "Has it ever been collimated?" What year did you buy it? I don't want to sell it to newbies.
As for pensions -- it is too bad that many of my working professor friends did not go on Google or somewhere when they were allocating their TIAA-CREF accounts. I have had two close friends tell me that they are down 45%. One who retired, is now looking for part time work.
Luckily I work for a Pension firm that only places funds in fixed interest accounts. They thought it would save headaches for later. I guess they were right.
RITskellar
10-19-2008, 06:49
To those of you who occasionally place a Leica lens for sale on the RFF classifieds: Please don't be snobby or whatever and not list the specs of your lens for sale. I assume in your elite fraternity you all know what f stop a Summicron is but I for one have no idea. I would guess that the majority of RFF'ers are not Leica owners so won't you want the rest of us to consider purchasing your lens also?
Perhaps you just decided to be an agitator for the sport of it, on this otherwise pleasant Sunday morning. Normally, I would ignore threads like these, but I guess I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and have little patience for such nonsense. Sheesh! If someone wants to sell their lens with no information what so ever, what gives you the right to berate them for doing so. Don't buy it and move on to someone else's lens for sale that is more agreeable to you. Lead by example, not condemnation.
SNOB = someone who holds themself in high regard simply by the lenses they use
FOOL = someone who buys expensive lenses without knowing anything about them
ARROGANT = someone who feels the need to go around telling people how to live their lives
photomoof
10-19-2008, 06:55
Luckily I work for a Pension firm that only places funds in fixed interest accounts. They thought it would save headaches for later. I guess they were right.
They were right. Most investment advisors are working too hard to increase capital rather than properly preparing people for retirement. I am nearing retirement, and having no debt, seems to me to be far more important, than earning an extra imaginary 3% on my money.
back alley
10-19-2008, 07:01
akiva, this looks like the post of a troll.
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