Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I examined a sample of this lens at the dealer, comparing to my late-model Tele-Elmar f4. The aperture ring on the APO is indeed quite loose feeling, so the short answer is, your sample is "normal". The Tele-Elmar's feels very precise and silken-smooth. Looking inside the rear of the APO, it can also be seen that the elements are mounted in what appears to be a poycarbonate (plastic) assembly with light baffles, which in turn is encased within the (hopefully) brass helicoid. This may account for some of the 85g weight difference. In all, the Tele-Elmar feels much more solid and well-constructed. There were also a few small bare spots in the black paint inside the APO, visible whilst peering into the front element. From the test slides I shot on K25, there is no difference in actual performance. I would have to be engaged in the business of photographing test targets like Erwin to appreciate the gains the $1000 dealer trade difference would have bought me. Regards, Nigel On Fri, 18 Dec 1998 15:12:54 -0500 "John P. Koch" <jpkoch@telerama.lm.com> writes: >I just received my new ApoTelyt M 135, and it seems that the aperture >ring is very loose, with very little resistance to moving from one >f-stop to another. The diaphragm is expanding and contracting >appropriately and the ring does click on the full stops. I am >wondering if this is normal on this specific model or on other "long" >M telephotos. > >Won't see the first chromes back till Monday, so I don't know if there >is anything optically wrong or not. The lens certainly looks and >feels Leica-like with the butter smooth focusing. > >Am I worrying over nits, or should I be concerned about the loose >aperture ring? > >Thanks for the help. > >John Koch > > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]