Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Dr.Richard Clompus wrote: > A floating optic is usually one lens or a lens group that changes position > (forward or backward) as the lens is focussed from distance to near. It is > done to improve imaging performance at closer focussing distances and > usually decreases curvature of field. This lens design is a recent addition > to Leica lenses (perhaps in the last eight years)..... Richard, I think it's more than that. The 24/2,8 is here since 1974. OK, it's a Minolta design. ;-) Because of floating element, I don't think we will ever see an Leica R camera with an AF system 'a la Contax AX'. With that system you loose the quality improvement. Most of the Leica R wide angle lenses may suffer with that AF system: 15/3,5 (1980)- 19/2,8 (1990)- 24/2,8 (1974)- 28/2,8 (1994)- 35/1,4 (1984) Because with the following lenses also, the optical groups are not moving altogether, I think there will be a problem too: 100/2,8 - 180/2 - 180/2,8 APO - 280/2,8 - 280/4 - 400/2,8 - APO Module. Lucien