Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/05/29

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Has anyone compared old Leica zooms 35-70,70-210 with any of the Tamron Sp Lenses?
From: "Robert G. Stevens" <robsteve@istar.ca>
Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 20:24:13 -0300

Gabe:

I have the Leica 70-210, made by Minolta for Leica and which is about one
series back from the current zoom in that range.  I also have a Tamron SP
80-200 2.8.  The Tamron is sharper than the Leica zoom and has more
contrast.  It is also a lot heavier.  I am going to do some tests next week
when I get a test chart and compare these two lenses with and without the
2x converter.  

I also have the Tamron 300 2.8 which seems to be a good lens.  I will
compare this to my Leica 400 2.8 and see how they compare.  I believe the
Leica fast teles are very good and I assume the Tamron in this case would
have a little less contrast and may not be as sharp as the Leica
equivalent.  I am also going to compare the Tamron with the Leica 1.4x
converter versus the Tamron with its matched converter.  If the Leica one
will work with the Tamron 300 2.8, it will be one less converter to carry.


I am a member of the Nova Scotia Photo Guild and they have a couple
pictures of  eagles that I took with the Tamron 300 2.8.  The link is:
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/PGNS/Gallery.html

The other thing to keep in mind is that the Tamron Adaptall mount for Leica
is not that cheap and a fairly complicated mechanism.  If you get one, make
sure the aperature closes smoothly and there is no drag on the mechanism.
I have had two adapters that bound a bit and the aperature would not close
all the way when by the time the shutter opened.  This drag is complicated
when you use the Tamron converter as it adds one more linkage to the
aperature system.

Regards,

Robert Stevens


At 11:59 AM 5/29/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Just a curious thought.  I know some Leica users who have a couple of Tamron
>lenses laying around and I don't know much about them.  Do they compare at
all
>to any over the older Vario-Elmar zooms?  Has anyone ever tried them that can
>give some feedback.
>
>Any info would truly be appreciated.
>Thanks
>Gabe
>
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