Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1995/12/15

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To: Leica List <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Subject: Re: vario
From: Eric Welch <ewelch@gp.magick.net>
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 07:40:04 PST

** Reply to note from tys@masadm1.mas.eurocontrol.be 12/14/95 07:48am GMT  
> Let us be fair, even the germans want to make profit :-) 
> Just forget about the zooms!

And don't forget that Leica never made the claim that their zoom lenses - even  
the Angineaux 45-90 - was up to their single focal length standards, and that  
they were a compromise for those who wanted zooms for their Leica. The higher  
price in comparison to their single focal lengths were rather inexpensive  
considering what you get, and the fact they did go through Leica quality  
control and some were mostly assembled by Leica - i.e. the 70-200, and lately  
the 35-70. And that for zoom lenses, they were very good ones. Just not head  
and shoulders above the competition.

Now that has changed. The new 70-180 2.8 Apo Elmairt zoom lens is finally a  
true Leica lens. And it's price is proportional to their single focal length  
lenses. $6,700. And they claim it's every bit as good as their single focal  
lenth lenses, even at 100mm that it's comparable to the 100 Apo Macro. They  
certainly have pointed out its weaknesses compared to their single focal  
length lenses, but if I were buying more Leica R lenses, this would be one of  
them. But then, Leica has always been very candid with the performance  
characteristics - good and bad - of their lenses. Much more candid than any  
other manufacturer.

It looks about the same size and shape as the Canon 70-200L 2.8, which I own.  
But note, nobody else makes this, it's completely made in Germany.



Regards,

Eric Welch
Grants Pass, OR