Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Pascal wrote: > = > Friends, > = > I am back to talking about the Fisheye-Elmarit-R 16mm f/2.8 (posted som= e > questions about comparison between this lens and the Elmarit-R 19mm f/2= =2E8 > some month ago). > = > The Fisheye is an old Minolta design from the beginning of the seventie= s > (it says "made in Japan"). I am not sure about its optical qualities. I= n > a recent test by the French magazine R=E9ponses Photo several Fisheye > lenses from all the big names were tested (Contax, Canon, Minolta, Niko= n, > Pentax, Vivitar), but not the Leica Fisheye. > Conclusion of the "test" was that all Fisheyes were more or less > optically the same with not much output difference. The Minolta Fisheye= > tested was the AF version of the older non-AF with the same number of > lens elements and groups as the Leica one (they are both exceptional in= > this regard - the others have noticeably less elements). This lens got > good results but it was said to be of an old design in need of an > overhaul. It has the same filter revolver as the Leica. > = > Upon enquiry at the Leica customer service, it was confirmed to me that= > all Leica Fisheyes still have the inscription "Leitz Wetzlar" on the le= ns > barrel. Also the "presently sold" ones. There seems to be little demand= > for this lens according to Leica. So "old" stock from Leitz (Minolta) i= s > still used, but retrofitted with the ROM contact strip for additional > electrical functions with the R8. This lens is sold for around 2,000 US= D > over here. > = > I guess not many LUGgers use this lens or have access to it, but could > those who do please tell me about their experience with it in terms of > optical quality? How is center/corner sharpness? The Contax fisheye > apparently is much softer on the corners than in the center, which coul= d > be a nuisance for the large image produced by a fisheye. A Fisheye imag= e > demands even sharpness in my opinion. > = > Anyone knows if Leica is preparing a recalculated version of the Fishey= e? > Or is the present one already so good that there would not be much poin= t > in it? Should I be hesitant in buying it? > = > In Leica brochures it is said that this lens gives high contrast alread= y > wide open and "good" sharpness for the entire aperture range. Note that= > "good" is not the same as "very good" or "excellent", which are often > used in Leica brochures to describe the resolving power of some other > lenses. > = > Any info would be gladly welcome! Thanks. > = > Pascal > Belgium > = > -------------------------------------------------------- > t h i n k d i f f e r e n t a p p l e c o m p u t e = r > -------------------------------------------------------- > <<< PGP public key available on request >>> I use the Fish-Eye Elmarit 16mm, for several years. When possible I always carry this lens in my photo-case. I use this lens more often aspected when I bought this lens. I work as a photojournalist and natura-photographer. This lens is very usefull for dramatic effects especialy in B/W. = I took pictures of industrial landscapes and in public-demonstrations, which turned out to be very powerfull. In nature-photography this lens is very helpfull (when you don't owe a Super-Elmar 15mm) to capture largely scaled landscapes. As long as you keep the horizon in the middle of the picture you almost don't see a lot the distortion caused by this type of objektives. The optical perfermance is -to my opion- within the margins of what you shoult or might expect of a LEICA-lens, althougt it is made by Minolta. Full opening gives allready good results, 1 or 2 stops closed gives best results (as usual). It is rather compact, lightweight lens, a minor disadvantage is the fact that you cannot use all the programms of the R-Leica's with this lens. Regards. - -- = Fred Hess Den Haag / the Hague Nederland / the Netherlands (NL) tel + 31 70 325 83 12 fax + 31 70 325 86 34