Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/03/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Two quick points. First, there are two and three element lenses which HAVE received rave reviews. For instance, many of the Leitz Telyts have been two-element designs, as was the 8/500 Zeiss fernobjektiv. And the 4/85 Carl Zeiss Triotar -- the Postwar Contax model -- has been rated by quite a few folk as one of the classic designs of all time, and the older design (Pre and Postwar Jena production) was no mean performer, either. Second, the basic 4/90 Elmar design has four elements and is a Zeiss Tessar clone. There is a variant with three elements, but this is a late development and quite rare -- less than 6,000 were made -- and the lens is a collector's gem and of less interest, due to its price, to users. I was speaking of the collapsible four-element design. It's a neat lens and of no mean optical performance but, obviously, not up to the standards of the 2/90 or 2.8/90 designs. Its virtues are its utility and light weight, and relative low cost, though this IS climbing. Best, Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!