Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>------------------------------ > >From: Erwin Puts <imxputs@knoware.nl> >Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 15:20:25 +0200 >Subject: [Leica] Photokina news > >The date of secrecy is over. For us Leica users we may note a new 2,8/35-70 >ASPH, original Solms compututation. It is heavy and big, and uses 11 lens >elements. After a series of introductions of standard zoom lenses this one >will be able to define the norm for this type of lens >The new 3,4/135 APO is a very elegant looking lens, 460 grams and as its >predecessor will not improve on stopping down. Its wide open performance is >claimed to be much better. It is a five element lens, as is the >predecessor, but a totally different design. >The new 2/90 ASPH and APO is quite short (78mm) and thick (64mm),and again >of pleasing design.It is a five lens element design, again very different >from the 5 element design of its predecessor. Its weight is 500 grams and >close ups go to 1 meter. The performance is claimed to be very high. It is >however too soon to claim a performance superior to the 2,8/100 R sibling >or the normal 2,8/90 Elmarit-M. (it will be much better that the >discontinued Summicron 2/90 at full aperture, but that is no big feat). >It is interesting that the 2/90 is not available in R-mount as is the 135/3,4. >I do assume (no background knowledge implied here) that the R line will >concentrate on vario-optics and the M-line on high class fixed length >optics. Which is a sensible strategy. >The new M6 TTl is a standard M6 with a 2mm higher topcover. The speed dial >has a OFF position (the dial is larger in diameter and now there is space >for a OFF postion), and turns in the direction of the exposure arrows in >the finder. The OFF position shuts of the electrical circuit,a function >that the B position had in the standard M6. >The finder has the familiar silver/white lining in the bottom and the >standard version now has the small 0.72 engraving, that is taken over from >the HM version, which of course has the 0.85 "logo". >Biggest change in front is a second silver/white lining in the top of the >finder window. In fact the height of the finderwindow is a bit larger than >the now discontinued M6. Let speculation begin about the significance of >this 2mm of enlargement of the height of the finderwindow! >Some M lenses will be in chrome (21 and 24) and the 2,8/90 in titanium. >The new 2/90 and 3.4/135 will be available from the beginning of next year. >A new flash unit (SF20) is announced for use with the TTL measurement of >the R8 (where it is automatic) and the M6 TTL (where the fillin flash ratio >has to be set manually). The unit can be put on the camera directly. Other >(non Leica) flash units need an adapter. Again availability in Q1 of 1999. > >Erwin > > > > >------------------------------ >