Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 06:59 PM 4/11/98 +0200, you wrote: >a lot of Leica R lenses /15?) are originally Minolta calculated lenses. >Leitz/Leica have "only" the shell modified. Is anybody owner of a complete >list? Thanks in progress You really need to check the facts before saying anything like that. There's enough misinformation about Leica's relationship with Minolta to fill a sleazy tabloid paper. (Notice I said sleazy, there are some good tabloids, like the Rocky Mountain News). The 15 is designed and made by Zeiss. I think the only R lens with a Minolta formula (or direct contribution to the formula) is the 24 Elmarit. Let's see...oh yeah, and the 16 fisheye and the old 35-70 3.5, which I'm not sure is even in production any more. Not one single other current Leica R lens has anything to do whatsoever with Minolta. The 28-70 has its origins in Sigma. The 35-70 f/4 and 80-200 f/4 from Kyocera, the 28 Shift lens is by Schneider. (Dang good company that's as good at designing lenses as Leica and Zeiss). And all current M lenses are by Leica. As for the old bodies, the R3/4/5/6/7 to one level or another comes from Minolta, or was Minolta designed. But every single one of them was very different from their Minolta cousins. The Metering systems were the most obvious difference. There were many other differences. The R8 is made by Leica and was designed by Leica. Every bit the Leica that the M6 is. (Origins!) Let's get our facts straight. Did I make any mistakes here? BTW, this is not meant to be a slight on Minolta, which makes very innovative cameras and lenses. ========== Eric Welch St. Joseph, MO http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch Pi R Squared? No Pi R round, Cornbread R Square!