Why so many Leica lenses on the market yet no lens hoods?

guangong · Dec 25, 2016

Leica IIIs lens hoods seldom intruded into viewfinder area. Most of the snap-on M hoods were vented to reduce obstruction, except for fater 90 summicron and 135 2.8 elmarit, which had built in hoods. Unless one is excessively finicky and must have a "Leica " hood, replacements are relatively cheap on eBay. Still, keeping the snap on hood and my 1969 35mm summicron together has been a challenge for me since then because the hood does not reverse onto the lens when not in use as on the 50 Summicron.
To refuse to take advantage of a lens shade because of misplaced vanity is just dopey.

ciniframe · Dec 25, 2016

Talk about hood crazy look at the new Leica 28mm f5.6. It comes with a large sq. hood (for $2500 you would expect an included hood). Thing is, the lens front element is small and deeply recessed. One of the selling points is that this is a tiny lens, making for a very compact rig. Then they go and put this giant hood on the lens, destroying the compactness.

chip j · Dec 25, 2016

Like I said earlier--Leica PERFECTION my A**!

Helios 1984 · Dec 25, 2016

So Leica is the Apple of the optical industry?

Ai Print · Dec 25, 2016

chip j said:
Like I said earlier--Leica PERFECTION my A**!

Why are you so bent on bashing Leica over and over again?
I used to bash Leica too and then I then I tried it and it *is* every bit as good as it is made out to be.

I just don't get it, it has the reputation it has for a good many reasons, why bash what you don't understand....constantly?

chip j · Dec 25, 2016

I UNDERSTAND-had 2 new M4s, 7 new lenses, & a beautiful M3. I like their enlargers & 5X loupe, and that's about it. It irks me that something should be so well-built and I don't have much use for it-it's the stuffiest act going. My Nikon Fs, and Contax Gs, however, are another storey--ME LIKE!

Sirius Glass · Dec 25, 2016

Stuffiness act? It makes your nose and sinuses are clogged? A good nose spray would relieve that.

I like the smoothness and feel of Leicas, but I prefer slrs of all sizes.

Ko.Fe. · Dec 26, 2016

Helios 1984 said:
So Leica is the Apple of the optical industry?

I'm not the expert of optical industry and only use Apple for simple tasks. Actually, all of the broadcast equipment I have to deal with for couple of decades is Apple free. Except AV editing.

I like Leica lenses because their optics made in Germany. Apple is MiC now, but I don't need spare phone with me. Nor I need second Leica. If it is -10C and bellow, MiC Apple with firmware written somewhere between California and India, will shut itself down with message - "It is too hot". What's right it is cold, but Apple phone is shutting down because it is "too hot".
And my MiC M4-2 went with me on skating on the Rideau Canal at -28C. After one hour film broke on advance... But Leica did functioned, including lens made in fifties focusing helicoid.

Huss · Dec 26, 2016

chip j said:
Like I said earlier--Leica PERFECTION my A**!

You are lucky to have a perfect A**

Sirius Glass · Dec 26, 2016

All it takes is a hemorrhoidectomy.

chip j · Dec 26, 2016

Yes, when I was young some guys said my ass was more beautiful than a girl's.

Huss · Dec 27, 2016

chip j said:
Yes, when I was young some guys said my ass was more beautiful than a girl's.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Truzi · Dec 27, 2016

chip j said:
Yes, when I was young some guys said my ass was more beautiful than a girl's.

"Beautiful" is is not the same as "perfect."

chip j · Dec 27, 2016

Technical perfection is DULL. Who says Leica is perfect anyway??!! I paid $310 for my 5X Leica loupe years ago and that sucker ain't PERFECT! Bad ergonomics, leaks light around the edges and is far less beautiful opticaly than my 5X Zeiss. AND the long-time Leica dealer that I bought my Contax G1 from said that it "was better than Leica in every way!!!!

CropDusterMan · Dec 27, 2016

Leica bashers are usually those that secretly dream of owning them.

Huss · Dec 28, 2016

CropDusterMan said:
Leica bashers are usually those that secretly dream of owning them.

Usually. My M7, recent serial # with latest everything, started to give me that bogus flashing led in the vf yesterday. I had to fiddle with the iso dial for it to go away. I have never had iso setting issue in any camera I have used, from cheap jobbies to stuff like an F6. Leica is notorious for this stuff, which I am not happy about. Good thing I still like the camera.
And this is why I think their film cameras peaked at the M5. I like my M5 more than any other Leica camera, then my M3 and M4-2.

Helinophoto · Apr 21, 2017

I have an original hood that came with my Summicron dual-range. (I suppose you get what you pay for, even on the 'bay, mine came in from South Africa and was in great shape, to a great price ).

This hood will also fit my LTM collapsible Summicron, but on the IIIf, the hood not only blocks the viewfinder, it also blocks/half blocks the rangefinder-window. This makes the lower-half of the double-image disappear/become weird.

The vented hoods from china are actually great products, cost nothing, all metal and you can get them in silver too.

But on my IIIf, they still muck with the rangefinder-window.

So, when I was away during Easter, I used two strips of black electrical-tape, stuck together so that parts of the (long) sticky ends, were exposed.
I then clipped off one of these ends and used the remaining end to secure the tape-combo around my lens, thus creating a lens shade of about 0.5cm - 1cm.

Perfectly good shots, no vignetting and no flare-issues from the sun.

No, you don't need a lens shade that will cost you $300, but it's nice to have one that actually fits the camera/lens combo.

Leica IIIf, Leica Summicron f2.0 collapsible with tape-shade.
Kodak Visiion3 50D in c-41.
No visible vignetting, but very cold, -6 and winds up to small gale-force.

guangong · Apr 21, 2017

I use the Leica lens hoods that came with new lenses I bought long ago. Most of these are snap on so be careful not to loose. I prefer screw in lens hoods to snap on or push on, so for used lenses I prefer getting lens hoods from China. The one lens hood I am most careful is for my 3.5 50mm Elmer, because it not only functions as a shade but also provides a convenient way to change aperture. Special care for my Rollei 2.8F hood since replacements are expensive.

fstop · Apr 21, 2017

CropDusterMan said:
Leica bashers are usually those that secretly dream of owning them.

its like the kids who tells me my Corvette is a pos but they can't afford a Prius.

faberryman · Apr 21, 2017

CropDusterMan said:
Leica bashers are usually those that secretly dream of owning them.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that.

Sirius Glass · Apr 21, 2017

CropDusterMan said:
Leica bashers are usually those that secretly dream of owning them.

Not the Hasselblad and Rollei owners.

Helinophoto · Apr 21, 2017

The problem with Leica has always been price.
Great cameras and lenses, but priced to make them more exclusive and unobtainable for the masses.

And, there are a lot of snobs with no photographic knowledge that has and still do flaunt their cameras as jewlery instead of tools, fueling the silliness.
Off-course it will get hate and deservedly so.

But the cameras and lenses are great.......just not so much greater than anything else, that is a fact.

I own Leicas, Hasselblad and Rolleiflexes and there is nothing at all that can defend the Leica-prices and the cult-following and stupidity that comes with it.

Sirius Glass · Apr 21, 2017

The price of Leicas got driven up when the Japanese started collecting them as a symbol of wealth. Those collectors put them in display cases and never planned to use them. It is a pity of anyone interested in owning and using Leicas.

miha · Apr 22, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
The price of Leicas got driven up when the Japanese started collecting them as a symbol of wealth. .

Reference ?

Pioneer · Apr 22, 2017

I prefer to use lens hoods, even with my Leica lenses. I don't believe there is anything magic about any lens without a hood unless the front element is recessed enough to make the hood redundant or I need flare in my photo.

Top of the line cameras are usually more expensive and Leica is no different. They are very nice cameras and I enjoy working with them. I fail to see anything wrong with that. If you don't like them yourself or do not believe they provide good value for your dollar (or yen or pound or euro) then don't buy one. It is a big world and there are lots of nice cameras out there.

Why so many Leica lenses on the market yet no lens hoods?

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