Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/07/03

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Subject: Re: Telyt-R 400/6.8
From: Bill Christensen <kangwei@interaccess.com>
Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 14:58:21 -0500

The 400mm 6.8R lens has an excellent optic that is comprised of 2
 achromat elements cemented together.  According the Leitz, both the
 560mm and 400mm lenses are deliberately designed not to produce a flat
 field.  Around the edges of the frame there is a slight bias toward the
 foreground.  This is particularly useful in nature photography where
the
 lens will render a sharp animal and with the lens' bias, the foreground
 will morely likely be in focus than with a conventional flat field
lens.
 
 When I travel, I carry both the 400 and 560 heads and use the rear tube
 interchangably.
 
 I truly like the slide focusing of the lenses.  It is extremely fast
and
 accurate - particularly for handheld shots with a shoulder support.
 
 The 560 lens is front heavy when mounted on a tripod.  Through Really
 Right Stuff in California, I purchased an adapter plate that permits
the
 lens to be centered on an Arca-Swiss head, thus minimizing the
 possibility of a catastrophe in the heat of a shoot.
 
 Finally, to clean the glass in both the 400 and 506 heads, simply
 unscrew it from the front of the lens.  Initially, I hesitated to do
 this but a Leica representative demonstrated the procedure and it is
 incredibly simple.
 
 Bill Christensen