Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/01/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 12:43 AM 1/12/02 -0700, Greg J. Lorenzo wrote: >Apparently as far as "optical performance" goes this lens is a absolute >dud, quickly dropped by Leitz shortly after it's introduction. Suggest >you look it up in Erwin Puts Lens Compendium. > I did look it up, and that isn't exactly what Erwin said. Lens quality was undoubtedly of some concern to Leitz, but it may be important to realize that the 2.8/180 was introduced at a time when Leitz was contemplating dropping the Visoflex system entirely in favor of the Leicaflex line and when Zeiss had just announced its 2.8/180 Sonnar (the later, West German lens, not the "real" Olympia Sonnar), a magnificent design which exploded earlier views of the limits of moderate long-focus lenses. Thus, Leitz both axed the 2.8/180 but also killed off in its infancy the other avenue being explored, the Canadian 3.4/180 direct-mount "goggle" lens. So, it was less any perceived inadequacy in the Tele-Elmarit's optical qualities than the overwhelming superiority of the main rival's offering which caused Leitz to back off. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bąs fir gun ghrąs fir! - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html