[Leica] Re: Concerns 70-180/2x extender

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

I remember the early ROM 70-180's did not function correctly. They wouldn't
zoom a flash head. I do not know if it was ever corrected. I will ask my
Leica friends next week and get back to you.

Jim


At 09:08 AM 9/26/99 +1000, Alastair Firkin wrote:
>Leica sent me a nice catalog for 1999/2000 as a handbook for the Leica
>system. I've had it a couple of weeks now. The thing I don't understand is
>the utility of my 70-180 mm lens, and my 2x extender. Now I've been using
>the combination without "thinking" for some time, and had wonderful
>results, [so Ted don't jump down on me], but one "failure" of the lens
>itself was not zooming the Metz flash. All my other ROM lenses set the
>flash to an appropriate setting. On the 35-70 zoom, it changes the flash as
>I zoom past 50, but the 70-180 does not do this. I questioned Leica who
>sort of said of course not, and how silly, and nincompoop, but never really
>did explain, then the hand book arrives. In it, it tells me that the 1.4
>extender can be used in all modes, but the 2x "preferably with aperture
>priority or manual". Despite "additional electronic exposure compensation",
>it would seem that my 2x is not so hot on shutter priority or program modes
>-- quid enim?
>
>Despite the 70-180mm lens proudly being "Unlimited use of APO-EXTENDER-R
>2x. Kombination", it tells me that for this lens the extender ONLY works
>with aperture and manual modes, not even preferably [though it may only be
>abbreviated on this page]. There is no such limitation for the use of the
>35-70 zoom [although I note that the f2.8 35-70 cannot be used with EITHER
>extender -- "The use is not possible!" ]
>
>Now I understand that the 1.4 pokes into the lens barrel and so its use is
>limited, but the others are all supposed to be electronic ROM linked etc
>etc. Have they left features out of the 70-180mm zoom ROM that are found in
>the 35-70 f4 version?
>
>Once again, the delights of Leica include the necessity to be well versed
>in the "quirks" of the system. An electronic version of the mechanical fun
>of earlier years? I was "sad" but not heartbroken about the zoom not
>"zooming" the flash, [I do love gadgets] but I've always preferred shutter
>priority with long lenses, and was just getting used to the P mode and
>spinning the shutter dial to set my own preferred settings on the R8 when
>they ask me not to use them. Any thoughts?
>
>cheers
>
>Alastair Firkin
>
>http://users.netconnect.com.au/~firkin/AGFhmpg.html
>