Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/07/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Oh Marc! >I recommend on both points that you review your copies of Puts'LEICA LENS COMPENDIUM, page 183. Marc's claim might be subject to challenge, but it is hardly "rubbish". I believe that Rogliatti comments in accordance with Erwin, but my copy is not readily at hand. .......Rogliatti makes no comment on image quality of any of these lenses other than to remark that the 135/4 Tele-Elmar "has its best characteristics of resolving power, contrast and colour correction even at full aperture." >Yes, the contrast on the Tele-Elmar is better, but it is less satisfactory on other optical factors. ........The only "other optical factor" where the Elmar is better, according to Puts, is a very slight (0.2 stop) difference in vignetting; in either lens, 0.7 and 0.9 stop represent very low vignetting indeed. Not only does Puts remark on the better contrast of the Tele-Elmar, he adds that "This lens is often qualified as to be of apo quality." Which is why I and others consider it to be optically very close indeed to the APO-Telyt, something no one ever claimed for the 135/4 Elmar until your post, Marc. Yeah, rubbish. As to the Zeiss 135/4 Sonnar, I never commented on that lens which I am certain was and is a fine optic. In fact, Puts says of the Tele-Elmar that "With this lens Leitz equalled and in some areas surpassed the Zeiss Sonnar 1:4/135mm." My negative comment was directed at the Jupiter with which I confess no personal experience whatever. So perhaps it was not entirely fair. Still, I adhere to the belief that to put the Jupiter in the same class as the Leitz or Zeiss lenses, how shall I now say it gently, doesn't wash. >Finally, I have owned multiple copies of all of these lenses and have used them extensively, as the 135 focal length is a favorite of mine. The 3.4/135 APO-Telyt is the finest of the lot, but neither the 4/135 Elmar nor the Tele-Elmar are slouches. ..........an opinion with which I began my first post. Seth LaK 9 - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html