Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Kent, Why the heck didn't Leica make their 500mm reflex focus nearer than 4 metres? The primary reason why some lenses have a certain minimum focus point is the lens designer felt that was as close as one could go with that optical formula. Remember, Leica has higher standards of image quality than "brand X". The lens designer wanted to have as few compromises in image quality as possible. Don't send it back, just get yourself a short extension tube! You don't event have to worry about mechanical connections as there is no aperature mechanism on it. Yeah you may not be as happy with the result due to optical compromise, but if you need closer focus, that would be a way to do it cheaply. Professional Camera in NYC has been known to make lenses focus closer than the factory specification. Of course you are talking real money here for such a conversion. If you think the Leica 500 focus is far away, how about if you owned a 500mm f5 Nikkor (their first 500mm reflex) for my F series Nikon? It only focuses to 50 feet, or 15 meters. I wouldn't sell that lens for anything. I think you have to think about how you are going to use it. I do every now and then stick on a short extension tube onto the 'ol f5 and it does focus rather nice and close. gck