Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/09/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I've got one. It is truly apochromatic - it focuses UV, visible and IR light without focus shift. At magnifications greater than 1:4 it displays a strong hotspot rather than even illumination, which you can mitigate by using extension tubes instead of focusing very close. To photograph UV or IR you need appropriate cut filters, and a dSLR with the filtration removed from over the sensor. Without modifications, most current digital cameras are only poorly sensitive to non-visible wavelengths. A few B&W IR sensitive films are still made. Old stocks of Kodak HIE are rapidly losing their IR sensitivity, irrespective of storage; the sensitising dyes store poorly. There are no strongly UV sensitive colour films made any more. Some B&W films are reasonably UV sensitive, but again the best ones are gone. The Coastal Optics lens is great for UV/IR work, but for visible light macro work I'd get a good macro by the manufacturer of your dSLR. A Leica 50/1.4 ASPH is a much better normal lens for visible light work at normal distances. But for non-visible wavelengths, unless you can find a UV-Nikkor, the Coastal Optics lens is pretty much your best bet. Marty On Sat, Sep 1, 2012 at 9:11 PM, A. Lal <alal at poly.edu> wrote: > Has anyone on this list used the Costal Optics Apo Macro lens? > > http://www.jenoptik-inc.com/coastalopt-standard-lenses/uv-vis-nir-60mm-slr-lens-mainmenu-155.html > > If so user impressions would be appreciated. > > Regards, > Akhil > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information