Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/05/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Dans un courrier dat=E9 du 09/05/01 16:45:06 Paris, Madrid (heure d'=E9t=E9)= ,=20 imxputs@ision.nl a =E9crit : > There has been much discussion about the compatibility of Leica lenses=20 > with the Hexar RF body. Most people, including all of the magazine=20 > writers have assumed that the study of the bayonet mount (that is does=20 > the Leica lens fit onto the Hexar bayonet) is sufficient to declare that=20 > lenses and bodies can be safely intermixed. Problems have been=20 > encountered and have been discussed as tolerance issues. As far as I=20 > know, no one has extended the analysis to the most crucial part: the=20 > back focus or the distance from bayonet flange to film plane. After=20 > measuring it and checking with the Konica people a most surprising fact=20 > emerges. > The back focus of the Hexar RF is 28.00mm with a tolerance bandwidth of=20 > 0.06mm! > The Leica data are: 27.80mm with a max tolerance of 0.02mm. > The first observation is this. Leica tolerances are 3 times as narrow as=20 > the Konica ones (0.02 versus 0.06). Wonder why the Leica is expensive?=20 > This small difference in tolerance is a hefty task in production=20 > engineering. > Most importantly however is the conclusion that Leica lenses cannot be=20 > used with any degree of confidence or performance on the Hexar. The back=20 > focus difference of 0.2mm and that is much too large for even a modest=20 > demand on optical performance. It simply means that the leica lens=20 > focusses 0.2 mm short of the film plane. A distance that is wide enough=20 > to kill any idea that we are talking about precision optics or=20 > engineering. > Nor can we use Hexar lenses on leica bodies, now the Hexar lenses will=20 > focus behind the film plane by 0.2mm. > =20 > Why then are many users of Hexar bodies with Leica lenses happy? > Pick anyone of these explanations. > One happens to have a Hexar where the max tolerance all are in one=20 > direction, which might bring the effective back focus to about 27.90 and=20 > when stopping down or using a wide angle the difference is covered by=20 > DoF. > The expectations about optical quality or the demands on the picture are=20 > quite low. > The topics photographed are quite tolerant for uncritical focussing. > =20 > I find it remarkable that this topic has not been discussed as it is the=20 > key to understanding the Hexar/leica compatibility issues. > =20 > =20 > Erwin > =20 Anyone having bought a TRI-ELMER along with an Hexar RF can contact me for selling his 3E at a low price . Come on guys , let me deliver you from hell .=20 JO GOODTIMES -FRANCE/ AIRBORNE RADAR TECH / LIVE FREE OR DIE