Re: [Leica] Elmar 2.8/50 Collapsible and Boowu

[Steve Hickel <smhickel@x2.alliance.net>]

Bob,

Here I thought I bought the lens because it was the only new leica lens
that I could afford and thought I would have preferred the Summilux or
Summicron to the Elmar. The more people tell about the Elmar the happier I
am with my decision. I am still amazed at the blow up of my daughter to
8x12 plus taken with Kodak 400CN and the 2.8/50Elmar on an M-6. This
photograph shows virtually no grain at this magnification. To put that in
perspective, I actually had three lint marks or dust spots that I touched
up. These spots were rather large as I must not have blown underneath the
negative properly or they clinged to the negative at the very last moment.
The combination of the three, the film, camera, lens simply amazed me.I
just sold my Nikon F4s. I had purposfully taken similar shots with it and a
35mm F2.0 Nikkor (a nice lens) under the same lighting conditions. Note the
2.0vs2.8 here as the difference in lens speed between the nikkor and the
leica lens, the leica being slower. Yet, the leica m6 with no mirror and
smoother shutter performed what would appear to me to be two f-stops lower
than the Nikon F4s. This is because I shot the photographs with the Leica
at 1/15th to 1/8 of a second. The Nikon at 1/30th to 1/15th. The Nikon had
noticeable blur. The Leica had some blur on a hand, on a pen, but otherwise
hands down beat the Nikon. Obviously this is not a solid test but I must
say the preliminary indications are that the above combo is a winner.

Thanks again.

Steve

At 10:55 PM 12/19/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear Colleagues,
>
>I use the older version of the 2.8/50mm Elmar collapsible for the M mount. It
>has a remarkable shade that clips onto the lens by depressing two buttons on
>the ferrule. The ferrule was also threaded to take different types of hood.
>It also permits the shade to be reversed. The ferrule also accepts the Elmar
>lens cap.
>
>While meandering in a midtown NY photo shop I also found a collapsible metal
>shade that had the same thread as the Elmar. It contracted into a flat ring.
>I now use them both. I've never been able to figure out how that metal shade
>worked. It was made by an outfit I never heard of; altho I was told that this
>outfit made an entire line of similar hoods for almost all lens threads. 
>
>Incidentally, the 2.8 50mm Elmar is custom made for the great Leitz Boowu
>fixed focus close-up stand that is designed for flat copy in three very
>useful sizes. The studs at the back of the Elmar lens tube fit into the
>bayonet mounts of the Boowu's three collars. And, of course, the stand
>supports the camera and is very stable. It ensures absolute alignment.  
>
>The Boowu itself is usually disassembled until actual use; therefore it's
>very easy to carry in a briefcase. That 2.8 Elmar is one of the most useful
>lenses Leitz made. 
>
>Bob  
>
>