Friends,

It's not yet on Consina's website, but I just happened to see it in a camera catalogue my friend at the local photo shop gave me.

Come May Voigtlander will have a 28/3.5 LSM out. It uses the same body as the 21/4, 25/4 and 35/2.5 Classic. It will be about 45,000 yen list price. You can use the 21/25mm hood with it.

Thus, if you are really a nut about saving money and weight, you can get a handful of these lenses for not that much and carry them in your coat pocket.

VC is also coming out with a new "M" 28mm external viewfinder.

They are also coming out with a 40/2mm lens for SLRs.

Now when are those people going to upgrade the 25/4?!

Cheers,

Alex

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), April 13, 2002

Answers

Not quite correct Alex. The new 28 f3.5 will have the newer higher quality body of the new 50 f2.5 which is better than the current series of lenses. Based on this it should also be tabbed like the new 50 f2.5 as well.

-- Joel Matherson (Joel_2000@hotmail.com), April 13, 2002.

Ah, you got me, Joel!

Would be curious about your source and what else you might know.

Things are getting interesting in Voigtlander land.

Best,

Alex

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), April 13, 2002.

This has been all over the CVUG for a few weeks, but I doubt if Topica's archives are working very well, if at all.

I think Mr Gandy should have some info on his website soon.

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), April 13, 2002.

Alex wrote: "VC is also coming out with a new "M" 28mm external viewfinder." I don't understand. VC has had a 28mm external viewfinder for sale for quite some time. Is this a different product?

-- Doug from Tumwater (dbaker9128@aol.com), April 13, 2002.

Hello Alex,

You say that Voigtländer-Cosina are coming out with a 28 mm M external viewfinder. Did I miss something? Why would we need a 28 mm viewfinder? Isn't the V 28 mm RF coupled with the M? I know the 25 mm isn't (I have one) but I expected the 28 mm would be. Also - forgive my ignorance - what does "LSM" stand for in the 28 mm name? Thanks,

Olivier

-- Olivier Reichenbach (olreiche@videotron.ca), April 13, 2002.

"LSM" = "Leica screw mount."

-- Phil Stiles (stiles@metrocast.net), April 13, 2002.

"Why would we need a 28mm viewfinder?"

For using a 28mm lens on: any Leica screw-mount body; any Leica screw- mount compatible body (Canon P, VT, 7, etc.; V'lander Bessa-T, R, R2, L - among others); Leica M3,M2,M4,M6.85x, M6ttl.85x, M7 .85x.

None of these have built-in 28 framelines.

But, yeah, I thought CV already had a 28 finder for a couple of years. Guess we'll see eventually.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), April 14, 2002.

To Andy, Why of course! Should have thought about that. Thanks,

Olivier

-- Olivier Reichenbach (olreiche@videotron.ca), April 14, 2002.

Does anyone have any opinion of the Hexanon 28/2,8? I've heard that the Konica M lenses are sort of collecting dust on dealer's shelves, but haven't heard of any price reductions.

Joe

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), April 14, 2002.

Hi Everyone,

Yup, Voigtlander is coming up with another 28mm finder which is called an M and looks (at least from the photo I saw of it) a bit like Ricco's 28 and 21 finders. Why this finder? I don't know. I did a double take when I saw it. My thoughts were: Who needs this thing? Well, who knows? Maybe we all need it and just aren't aware of it yet.

About the Hexar 28/2.8. It is apparently a great lens. Highly rated (five stars) by Chasseur d'Images. If it is gathering dust it is a pity. I'm sure it'll work nicely on Leicas.

Back to the VC 28/3.5. I am surprised that Cosina has said nothing about this lens and the other I've mentioned on its Japanese website. What can it all mean?

Best,

Alex

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), April 15, 2002.