Re: Ricoh 28 mm LTM Lens

[pcb@iac.co.jp (Paul C. Brodek)]

Both Konica Hexanon lenses are LTM (like Leslie says, "L-mount" in
Japan).  The 35mm/2.0 hit the market in 4/96 and sold out soon
afterwards.  The local magazines don't consider it to be a stellar
performer.  The 50mm has a 2.4 maximum aperture, hit the market during
July-August '97, and I've seen new ones in shop windows as recently as
last week.  One magazine called this lens "an Elmar on the outside, a
Summicron on the inside" since its 6-element/4-group construction is
very similar to the 50mm Summicron-M.  This lens fared a bit better in
the magazine tests.

I think Tom Abrahamsson has used many of the recent new-generation
Japanese LTM lenses, and posted some reviews and comments recently.
IMHO they can offer good performance for less money than Leica glass.
Some are also a lot more compact then comparable Leica-M lenses
(especially the Ricoh 28mm/2.8).  I think if I had a Leica screw-mount
body (called a "Barnack Leica" in Japan) I would be even more
intrigued by these---a crispy new, designed and made in the 1990s lens
for your 30yr old+ body.  As it is I'm trying to decide whether to
save my money and get a 28mm Elmarit-M or use the same money to get
the 28mm Ricoh plus a used 135mm Tele-Elmar.

PB


On Thu, 20 Nov 1997 10:48:09 +0800 (CST), lhtseng@math.fcu.edu.tw
(Li-Hsin Tseng) wrote:

>> ... The 50/2.3 lens of theirs (Konica)
>> looks v. similar to a collapsible Elmar...
>> Jem K
>
>As I know (from Japanese magazines), this lens is marked as 50/2.4.
>
>> a German Camera dealer (Brenner, Weiden) offers two Japanese LTM =
Lenses,
>> an Avenon L 3,5/28, and an Avenon L 2,8/21. ...
>> Gerd
>
>I saw in a Japanese magazine not so long ago that Avenon also
>makes air lenses (pinhole) for M or L mount.  (Japanese usually
>call the LTM as L-mount.)
>
>/Leslie Tseng

Paul C. Brodek/Trek Japan
E-mail: pcb@iac.co.jp
Tel: 078-413-6606 (Int'l: 81-78-413-6606)
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