Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1995/12/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]** 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