Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/04/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I think Jim just hit the nail on the head. Don't buy a fast lens unless you intend on shooting it at its maximum aperture most of the time. I like fast lenses because I like the fine grained images produced by slide films. In both nature and sports, that big lrns will allow the use of slower films. I was taking pictures of some snowboad racing and a friend asked if I was using 400 speed film to get high shutter speeds. I told him no, I am shooting at 2.8 on my 400mm and using 100 film. Regards, Robert At 05:38 PM 4/11/99 -0700, you wrote: >At 09:42 AM 4/12/99 +1000, you wrote: >>> >>> Does anyone in this group use the 280mm f2.8 lens? >>> >>> Any opinions would be very helpful. >>> >>> Dave > >I have a 350 Telyt. I've had it since it was introduced. In 1992 I decided >that I wanted a long lens with a wider aperture and APO glass. So I bought >a 280/2.8. After five years of lugging it around, I found that I always >stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8. I also found that the images were no better >than those taken with my 350. I then read that the 350 is made with some of >Leica's "special" glass. Anyway, the bottom line is that I sold the 280 and >have not been sorry. My 350 makes gorgeous, crisp images, and with the 2x >extender is a very sharp 700mm lens. And it is filter (77mm vs 112mm) >friendly. I found that I didn't need the f/2.8, the APO designation had no >advantage over my 350 to produce Leica quality images, and my back is ever >so thankful. > >So evaluate your needs carefully. The 280 is a big heavy lens. But if you >need f/2.8 and f/4, it's all that is available. > >Jim > > > > >