Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/08/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This lens was prduced by Ricoh in Leica screw mount, not bayonet mount, in a limited edition of 2,000 silver and 1,000 black lenses. Most of these stayed in the Japanese domestic market; I've never heard of them being offered by Ricoh in the US, though I think they may have been sold in the UK. In Japan they were priced at 93,000yen/103,000yen for silver/black kits (inclusding presentation box and 28mm finder). Tom Abrahamsson anf Jeremy Kimes own one and have commented about the lens on list; a few other list members also own the lens. Erwin Puts has mentioned it briefly. Basically it seems to be a fine lense, well made and nicely compact and light. It does not outperform the latest 2 versions of the Elmarit-M 28/2.8, but performs as well as the Minolta Rokkor-M 28/2.8. An L-M adaptor is needed to use the lens on an M-series Leica. They are still available new in Japan, and are appearing on the used market as well. Regards, PB =20 On Thu, 20 Aug 1998 18:28:06 +0100, "James Harper" <DRJH@btinternet.com> wrote: >UK Amateur Photographer magazine dated 22 August, 1998 has a test report= =20 >by its editor on the Ricoh GR1 compact camera which says inter alia: = "The >28mm F2.8 GR lens is one of the best wideangle lenses for the 35mm = format >ever produced. That it's stuck on a compact does not make it inferior, = just >unnoticed." And also: "...earlier this year Ricoh released the GR1's = lens >as a separate unit in Leica M bayonet fitting." Paul C. Brodek Kobe, Japan pcb@iac.co.jp