[Leica] R lens comparison

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

> Jack, I recommend two books for you.
> Erwin Puts Leica Lens Compendium is an excellent source of information. For
> Leica fans, I think definitely worth owning the hard
> copy. Erwin's site reports that there may be a new book in the future. The
> current one was published by Hove, no longer in business,
> but I think the book is still commonly available. You can download the most
> current version of the book (sans pictures) from Erwin's
> site with a donation requested. http://www.imx.nl/photo/site_map.html
> The smaller "Leica Pocket Book" also from Hove has good information too,
> including the MTF diagrams. I think that the 7th edition
> from 2004 is the latest. One point that Erwin makes is that a number of 
> more
> modern M lenses share common design and performance
> attributes with their R cousins. Amongst the macros and telephotos for the 
> R,
> some designs are apparently unsurpassed by any other
> optics. People like Doug Herr and other owners and users of these here on 
> this
> list will be able to attest to that, I think.
> 
> Cheers
> Hoppy
> 


Ewins book reads better than a 25 cent paperback thriller. You cant put it
down.
Shame he doesn't make any money on it I don't think when you buy one.
The publishing company went under and its a mess so I read.

Hope it gets picked up again and updated.
So the very latest stuff is in there. Like the new tri Elmar.
Love to hear about what he'd say about that.

He raves about the old tri Elmar to an extent which is one of the few things
I don't see eye to eye with in the book. Though I've never used one. It kind
of leaves me cold. A huge f4 trying to be three lenses.
I think of it as a "try Elmar".

But a 
16
18 &
21!

That's two focal lengths Leica had not made yet.
And an ultra wide not quite zoom but varifocal lens might be not such an
incorrect term.

Or 21-24-28

Mark William Rabiner
rabinergroup.com