Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A 12:45 21/03/98 +0100, vous avez =E9crit : >Hello friends: > >I was looking in a brochure on both high-end Leica zoom lenses: the=20 >Vario-Apo-Elmarit 70-180 f/2.8 and the Vario-Elmar 105-280 f/4.2. >How do these two lenses compare qualitywise? I heard that the Apo is=20 >truly outstanding and in line with the prime Apo teles. Is this also the= =20 >case for the Elmar although is not called Apo? > >Apart from optical quality, how do these lenses behave in practical use?= =20 >The both weigh almost 2 kilos, and together with R8 and winder, that=20 >would be around 3 kilos. Is it still possible to handhold these "beasts"= ,=20 >or are you practically obliged to always use a tripod? Are they a joy to= =20 >use or a burden to take? If the latter were the case, there would be not= =20 >much use in getting either one of them (I would be using them especially= =20 >for holiday-travel purposes). > >Would it be wiser to go for a prime lens like the new Apo-Elmarit 180=20 >f/2.8 or the Apo-Telyt 180 f/3.4 which is now somewhat discounted,=20 >instead of one of both zooms? >If a zoom is the way to go, which one would suit me best: I have at=20 >present following R lenses: 28 f/2.8, 50 f/2.0, Macro 60 f/2.8 and 80=20 >f/1.4. It would seem I could either sell the 80 f/1.4 and get the 70-180= =20 >f/2.8, or keep it and go for the 105-280 f/4.2 which will give more rang= e. > >Thanks for any advice on the matter. >Best greetings, > >Pascal >Belgium > >P.S. The Belgian importer could not help. Can you believe it, but they=20 >said they don't have even one sample of these lenses in stock, and they=20 >added that no dealer in the country had such lens!!! How could you=20 >reasonably be expected to spend such big money on a lens (they are among= =20 >Leica's most expensive ones) without even trying or holding them? I quite understand your importer. The price of these items is absolutely foolish and having one in stock is too costly if he aims a good managemen= t of the stock.