Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have been using this lens for over one year. I have exactly the kit you describe: 21, Tri-Elmar, 90. I find the T-E is my "most used" lens. I bought the T-E to replace a 1958-vintage 35mm f3.5 Summaron. The T-E is 1/2-stop slower, but I get two additional focal lengths - a happy trade. In terms of image quality, the T-E is better than the Summaron in every conceivable measurement. I use the T-E primarily for outdoor daylight photography, and the f4.0 maximum aperture is not an issue. With 100ASA film, I rarely use the lens wide-open. I love the ability to quickly change focal lengths with a quick turn of a ring. Frequently, I just grab the camera and T-E, and leave my camera bag behind. I have shot indoors with available (reasonably bright) window light. In these cases, the T-E is invariably used wide-open, and the shutter speed may be 1/15 or 1/8 of a second. Hand-held, with a little arm bracing, the pics are acceptable. Someday, I may supplement my setup with a fast 35mm or 50mm lens. There is a built-in lens shade, but at the 28mm setting, it is very shallow. I have had some flares when the sun is just outside the angle of view. The downside to adding an additional shade is that it will cut into the viewfinder significantly. One advantage (for me) to the current casing is the 55mm filter size. I can share filters between the T-E and 90mm APO Summicron (55mm). The new case appears to be 49mm, according to some of the other posts. later, Mike - -- Michael Chmilar chmilar@acm.org