Re: [Leica]M6 vs F100

[InfinityDT@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/22/99 2:17:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
mrabiner@concentric.net writes:

<< This whole Viso thing sounds and looks beautiful to me. I am only one
 lens away from what I feel is a complete M system and this Viso thing
 screws that up for me. I know I'm going to love it and feel like I need
 a working array of those lenses although my longest lens on my Nikon had
 been a 200 for all my professional years. I rented a 300 once. So maybe
 all I'll feel I need is a macro and a 200 or 280. These lenses were made
 far enough back that I am worrying about their competitiveness on the
 modern market. I would think the Viso would be quickly agreeable to
 adaption from all kinds of other glass.
 Mark Rabiner
 
  >>
Actually it's more the other way around.  Those Viso lenses can easily be 
adapted to Leica R mount (there are a couple of adaptors that Leitz made 
which turn up frequently used, and for a resonable price, unlike the adaptor 
for mounting R lenses on the M which sells for $300 or something).  That way 
if you decide to segue into the R system you'll have a leg up in the 
telephoto department.  Of course these lenses do not have automatic 
diaphragms or camming for the autoexposure functions but they will get the 
image to the film, and a sharp one at that.  The 400 f6.8 Telyt (with 
shoulder stock) has a slide-trombone focus mechanism that's quite quick to 
operate, and it's very hand-holdable.  Image quality wide open or at f8 is 
exceptional.  With E200 and good light, mounted on a motorized R, it's the 
next best thing to AF for shooting birds in flight.  This lens (and the 560 
f6.8) was produced in R mount for quite a while after the Viso version was 
discontinued.  The R versions usually sell for less money.  Find one lens in 
Viso, the other in R.  Save some money.  (Both lenses come apart in 2 pieces. 
 The rear tube is the same on both lenses, so you'll have 400 and 560 for 
Viso and R use.)  Don't be shocked when you see these lenses (particularly 
the 560).  They're long focus, not telephoto, so the 400 is actually 400mm 
long and the 560 is 560mm long.  But they're featherweights because (this is 
not a typo) they are 2-element lenses.  Lots of aluminum tubing, very little 
glass.

DT