Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Arne Helme wrote: >I have for time wanted to purchase a wide angle lens for my R8, and the current Elmarit-R 2.8/19mm seems to a good choice for the kind of photography I do. In prior postings on this list several of you have praised the current 19mm for its high level of performance. I am just curious; when was the lens recomputed, and can I with it expect the same level of performance with it as with the current Elmarit-M >2.8/21mm ASPH.? Arne, I was one of the first users in Holland of the current 1991 version of this lens. Using the lens and following testresults and commentary over those years convince me that is may be the best lens in this area of focal lenght ever made. It is virtually flare-, distortion-, and vigneting free. The filter-turret is a joy to use. It is not possible to attach filters on the front, as there is no thread. I have never seen it being compared to the 2.8/21mm-M ASPH, but i suppose they are in the same league. It is, however, of retrofocus design and therefor big and rather heavy. With the sunshade it is an even bigger bundle. As with all of these very short focal lengths one has the tendency to underexpose. Also, I must confess that I made little use of it next to my 24mmR. I found it a difficult lens to make good pictures with. Strange, as on my R, I used the 24mm almost as normal lens! May be the vast amount of visual information it creates gets lost in the the reflex-viewer. On balance, it was a heavy investment in view of the limited use I made of it. Never regretted buying it though! Sander van Hulsenbeek Amsterdam Holland __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com