Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]- -------------------- Begin Original Message -------------------- "The Leica R lens give excellent performance wide open, but I don't think fast action can be handled as well as the AF cameras do. Anyone agree/disagree? Please tell me about your experiences regarding this issue. I'm trying out a R8 outfit now. I'm seriously considering buying it. Is this really an either/or situation or is there a middle ground? Should I stay M Leica and Nikon? Are the Canons much better than Nikon? Please tell me about your experiences with the R Leicas. Thanks, Henry" - -------------------- End Original Message -------------------- Henry, There are a few discontinued Leica-R lenses that I find ideal for active subjects: the sliding-focus 400 and 560mm f/6.8 Telyts and the 280/400/560 lenses attached to the Televit. The Televit 400 is my tripod lens, while the f/6.8 400 is my favorite hand-held lens. The conventional wisdom is that AF is nessesary for wildlife photographs and if you were to compare AF with a rotating-ring focus lens the I'd agree, but I'm delighted with the performance of the sliding-focus Telyts and the Televit 400. These lenses work best with a camera that has an exceptionally bright viewfinder, like the Leicaflex SL. If someone wants to lend me an R8 I'd be happy to tell the LUG how it does with these lenses :-). Disclaimer: I haven't used any long AF lenses. Using the Telyts I don't feel the need for anything better. Doug Herr Sacramento wildlife photos at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/telyt