Marcus Stein wrote:
Just try to be honest here, am I the only one who thinks “Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 Type I APO-LANTHAR in Safari“ is ugly?
I mean really ugly, the two tone color paired with an obnoxious narrow neck look, I can’t even stare at for a minute longer 🤪
Haha, I think this might be one of those "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" cases.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Haha, I think this might be one of those "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" cases.
Ted Forbes said something in one of his reviews that hits the mark here, he referred to a Leica 1.2 reissue as a 1970s show thing something that is trying to emulate vintage but is really a product of much later, he was comparing the more authentic LLL 1966 to the Leica reissue. But it fits here, the apo lanthar looks vintage but is entirely modern in every way including not really being collapsible. For me, where LLL is reproducing classic lenses and retaining vintage in most cases at least to some degree, some LLL I use frequently and waiting for my 35/1.4 AA repro, this 3.5/50 lens is simply giving the vibes of vintage but modern, and in a real sense the dig Ms are doing the same thing, they give the vibs of a film M in appearance but are totally modern. I bet when I am out in public among people who do not know cameras this lens on M11P is going look as vintage as I am to the uniformed eye. In any case camera fashion aside, I have enjoyed my first few days with the lens it has surprised me with what I can get from it, especially wide open to the blazing speed of F3.5. So maybe I will look "cool" with the set up of M11P and 3.5/50 even if it is only in my imagination,
EMH2025 wrote:
Ted Forbes said something in one of his reviews that hits the mark here, he referred to a Leica 1.2 reissue as a 1970s show thing something that is trying to emulate vintage but is really a product of much later, he was comparing the more authentic LLL 1966 to the Leica reissue. But it fits here, the apo lanthar looks vintage but is entirely modern in every way including not really being collapsible. For me, where LLL is reproducing classic lenses and retaining vintage in most cases at least to some degree, some LLL I use frequently and waiting for my 35/1.4 AA repro, this 3.5/50 lens is simply giving the vibes of vintage but modern, and in a real sense the dig Ms are doing the same thing, they give the vibs of a film M in appearance but are totally modern. I bet when I am out in public among people who do not know cameras this lens on M11P is going look as vintage as I am to the uniformed eye. In any case camera fashion aside, I have enjoyed my first few days with the lens it has surprised me with what I can get from it, especially wide open to the blazing speed of F3.5. So maybe I will look "cool" with the set up of M11P and 3.5/50 even if it is only in my imagination,...Show more →
Lot of truth here. I actually found it a bit funny when I took the CV 50/3.5 APO out to shoot landscapes. Aesthetically, it feels like I'm shooting with a vintage lens, which may not be what one would normally want for that kind of work. Yet the results are the complete opposite. It delivers about the best IQ I could ever ask for from a lens. I honestly don't know many lenses that are as well corrected as this one, except for other modern APO designs.
Of course, if someone simply doesn't like the lens aesthetically, there are plenty of other options out there. But for those who do like it, it's nice to be able to have both worlds in a single lens.
I also agree with what you wrote about LLL. The reason I'm drawn to them, more than to other Chinese companies, is that they are attempting something difficult. They're not chasing technical perfection for its own sake. They are aiming for the imperfections that classic lenses actually had. To me, using one feels a bit like a time machine, making images that resemble how the world was rendered in photographs from the past.
Sure didn't last long, seems odd to me with the announcement of the safari lenses just recently, maybe there is going to be a M11 EV1 safari to soak up the new safari lens production. Why produce such expensive green glass without the fashion plate camera - I like my M11P safari, but I didn't and will not dive into the green glass fashion except for the CS green 50 3.5 which looks great, is great glass, and didn't loot the bank account.
If there is a M11 EV1(P) safari and I bet there is on the horizon, they could make it 256 internal memory , slap on the green and charge the 10K.... that is my bet.
why sell a 7-8K camera (EV1) when you can sell a 10k camera (green EV1) for fashion and matching green lenses a set that is what 15K or so, throw in a green half case, and we can all go green! I did a little, bought a green silk strap for my M11P safari my concession to camera fashion without going nuts and getting the lenses. Buy the camera and lenses and others can be green with envy...
RoamingScott wrote:
Why does Leica do ANYTHING that they do?
EMH2025 wrote:
why sell a 7-8K camera (EV1) when you can sell a 10k camera (green EV1) for fashion and matching green lenses a set that is what 15K or so, throw in a green half case, and we can all go green! I did a little, bought a green silk strap for my M11P safari my concession to camera fashion without going nuts and getting the lenses. By the camera and lenses and others can be green with envy...
Can't wait for the Official EV1 Safari thread to just be gear pics instead of pics with the camera, again.
EMH2025 wrote:
Sure didn't last long, seems odd to me with the announcement of the safari lenses just recently, maybe there is going to be a M11 EV1 safari to soak up the new safari lens production. Why produce such expensive green glass without the fashion plate camera - I like my M11P safari, but I didn't and will not dive into the green class fashion except for the CS green 50 3.5 which looks great, is great glass, and didn't loot the bank account.
If there is a M11 EV1(P) safari and I bet there is on the horizon, they could make it 256 internal memory , slap on the green and charge the 10K.... that is my bet....Show more →
Two points:
First, if the M11-P Safari is being discontinued this quickly, it likely comes down to demand. Safari models clearly have their fans, but beyond that niche, the appeal is limited. At $10,500 + tax (realistically 11.5k), the price alone makes many people hesitate, even those who otherwise like the look.
Second, Leica just announced Safari lenses while discontinuing the Safari body, which does seem odd on the surface. That only makes sense if the lenses themselves are also short lived, or if Leica has decided that from now on, Safari bodies work better as true special editions rather than regular production models.
If demand really was weaker than expected, it is hard to see why Leica would introduce an EV1 Safari as a standard model. More likely, Leica learned that positioning Safari as an occasional special edition makes more sense than treating it as an ongoing line for such a niche product...
EMH2025 wrote:
Sure didn't last long, seems odd to me with the announcement of the safari lenses just recently, maybe there is going to be a M11 EV1 safari to soak up the new safari lens production. Why produce such expensive green glass without the fashion plate camera - I like my M11P safari, but I didn't and will not dive into the green glass fashion except for the CS green 50 3.5 which looks great, is great glass, and didn't loot the bank account.
If there is a M11 EV1(P) safari and I bet there is on the horizon, they could make it 256 internal memory , slap on the green and charge the 10K.... that is my bet....Show more →
I may or may not be the target audience of the green body/glass fashion...
The M11-P Safari is my first Leica. Green is my favorite color and I was having so much fun shooting the Voigtlander 40/1.2 on my Sony A7CR (first ILC) that I decided to ditch autofocus and sell all my Sony stuff to switch to Leica (and re-buy the 40/1.2 in M-mount). It's been a fun and interesting change. While I am not a great photographer and I'm still learning, the joy the M11-P Safari brings me makes me shoot a lot more often than I otherwise would and has really pushed me into the hobby.
I like green so much I bought the 35mm FLE II Safari while in Japan last month even though I already had the FLE II in the great matching silver. Still debating whether or not I need the 50/1.4, and the 28/2 as I already have the older 50/2 and 28/2. I don't shoot a ton of 50mm and I just picked up the LLL SPII, the MS-Optics Varioprasma (in the green), and the Camera Obscura M-Modified Helios 44 which are more character lenses around that focal length. Then there's the limited Safari 90/2 APO but I keep passing it up because I do not see me realistically using a 90mm...
Long winded way of saying: If Leica releases more green lenses and bodies, people like me will buy them haha
It's just not fair, Leica. Now all those photographers on safari expeditions will be instantly visible to predators. Without the green M11-P, there's zero chance of camouflage. Entire photo trips will be compromised. Lives will be lost!
Fred Miranda wrote:
It's just not fair, Leica. Now all those photographers on safari expeditions will be instantly visible to predators. Without the green M11-P, there's zero chance of camouflage. Entire photo trips will be compromised. Lives will be lost!
Yes,..but some intrepid photographer, a reporter no doubt, will record these horrific events with their green "Reporter" Leica cameras using matching Safari lenses. Thankfully they won't be seen since they too are also under the umbrella of green camouflage. Leica obviously has this all figured out!
endergemini wrote:
I may or may not be the target audience of the green body/glass fashion...
The M11-P Safari is my first Leica. Green is my favorite color and I was having so much fun shooting the Voigtlander 40/1.2 on my Sony A7CR (first ILC) that I decided to ditch autofocus and sell all my Sony stuff to switch to Leica (and re-buy the 40/1.2 in M-mount). It's been a fun and interesting change. While I am not a great photographer and I'm still learning, the joy the M11-P Safari brings me makes me shoot a lot more often than I otherwise would and has really pushed me into the hobby.
I like green so much I bought the 35mm FLE II Safari while in Japan last month even though I already had the FLE II in the great matching silver. Still debating whether or not I need the 50/1.4, and the 28/2 as I already have the older 50/2 and 28/2. I don't shoot a ton of 50mm and I just picked up the LLL SPII, the MS-Optics Varioprasma (in the green), and the Camera Obscura M-Modified Helios 44 which are more character lenses around that focal length. Then there's the limited Safari 90/2 APO but I keep passing it up because I do not see me realistically using a 90mm...
Long winded way of saying: If Leica releases more green lenses and bodies, people like me will buy them haha...Show more →
Great collection, thanks for sharing.
Since I also have black paint M bodies, I decided not to go for the green lenses. They look very cool on Safari or Reporter bodies, but they just don't work visually with black paint bodies. Silver lenses on other hand look great on all bodies. (imo)
I have always loved the look of the "safari" editions. If I was a collector it would sit quietly on a shelf for special occasions. I just don't see myself using it as my main Leica camera, too much of a "look at me" factor out in the streets.
things are definitely greener on your side of the collection.... great set, all you need is the extremely rare green M4 or M4-2 made for the German, Israeli and other military, A few have been in recent auctions, but they do ring the bell for cost quite loud. Or you could have Kanto make you a homage green film...... those are not too bad...... there are a few of those out there now, Japan Camera Hunter has one, a M4-2 by Kanto.
endergemini wrote:
I may or may not be the target audience of the green body/glass fashion...
The M11-P Safari is my first Leica. Green is my favorite color and I was having so much fun shooting the Voigtlander 40/1.2 on my Sony A7CR (first ILC) that I decided to ditch autofocus and sell all my Sony stuff to switch to Leica (and re-buy the 40/1.2 in M-mount). It's been a fun and interesting change. While I am not a great photographer and I'm still learning, the joy the M11-P Safari brings me makes me shoot a lot more often than I otherwise would and has really pushed me into the hobby.
I like green so much I bought the 35mm FLE II Safari while in Japan last month even though I already had the FLE II in the great matching silver. Still debating whether or not I need the 50/1.4, and the 28/2 as I already have the older 50/2 and 28/2. I don't shoot a ton of 50mm and I just picked up the LLL SPII, the MS-Optics Varioprasma (in the green), and the Camera Obscura M-Modified Helios 44 which are more character lenses around that focal length. Then there's the limited Safari 90/2 APO but I keep passing it up because I do not see me realistically using a 90mm...
Long winded way of saying: If Leica releases more green lenses and bodies, people like me will buy them haha...Show more →
I was at a Porsche club event last weekend when I saw this guy with a jacked up safari style 1989 Porsche 911-964 with a Rotham livery. As he came out of his car he was wearing a safari outfit 😂 with something green attached to a strap swinging from his shoulder 😂
