Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/01/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Reg Ronaldson wrote: >Further to this subject, in "Leica Lens Practice .." on page 41 there >is a picture of an STA1 Tripod Clamp designed for the 100mm f2.8 >Apo-MACRO-ELMARIT-R which clamps around the lens to attach to a >tripod. Wonder if this would fit other short tele lenses which don't >have tripod fitting. Is it still available and how much? > I have used my 100 2.8 Macro a great deal, and I own one of those STA1 things. It is worthless--the lens is very wiggly with it on. It's made of cheap plastic. I tested it once, and now it sits. You'll do better just using the tripod socket on the camera. BTW, this tripod clamp thingie is nearly identical to one offered by Tamron, which will fit the 100 Macro. But I wouldn't bother with it. I don't know if they fit any other Leica lenses. What I use for field work with the 100 2.8 (and the Pentax 67) is a focusing slider made by Really Right Stuff (Kirk has a similar thing now, I think). This permits small adjustments in the area covered in the photograph without moving the tripod, and also lets you balance lens and camera over the center of the tripod if need be. This does require you to have a head with an Arca-style clamp; it works by, in effect, sliding back and forth in a slightly loosened clamp. This device is very solid--it's just about as rigid as the Arca clamp alone. Charlie Charles E. Love, Jr. CEL14@CORNELL.EDU