Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]- -----Ursprungliche Nachricht----- Von: Eric Welch [SMTP:ewelch@ponyexpress.net] Gesendet am: Samstag, 11. April 1998 23:47 An: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Betreff: Re: [Leica] Leica and Minolta identical calculation 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! Eric Ooooh, What have I done? I asked for a list! What ever, thank you for the answer. It is fact, Leica have an coperation contract with Minolta and others. They make also some outstanding lenses. If Leica buy a series and make the lens better (shell), I thing it is correct. We buy Leica lenses to make pictures, better pictures. Better means not only sharper pictures (look to Henry Cartier-Bresson), it means pictures with an message. If we have no messages in our pictures, Leica lenses put nothing in. Salgado have messages, only with asph. Lenses done? Leica have very good lenses and the "hardware" around. That is the reason we buy Leica lenses. Minolta have some of the same lenses, but in plastic shells. If you see slides, you can't see an distinction between . Peter Ramlow Bad Kreuznach, Germany pehara@t-online.de