Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/30

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Subject: Re: [Leica] APO 2X extenders - non ROM?
From: tedgrant@islandnet.com (Ted Grant)
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 07:32:34 -0800

David Young wrote:

> What would be the difference in quality between APO 2X Extender and plain
>2X Extender?  How much does the non-APO Extender degrade the quality when
>used with one of the prime lenses?  Reduction of largest aperture by two
>stops sounds inconvenient to me.>>>>>>>>

Hi David,

There isn't any glass quality difference between apo 2X and 2X ROM. The
only difference is the ROM connection. And as far as the 2X APO and the
older non APO I've not seen any great heart thumping difference.
There isn't any degradation that is possible to see with the normal eye and
I doubt any on a test bench. The loss of 2stops is insignificant unless
you're working in absolute minimum light to start off with.

I've used the 2X since it arrived on the market on the 15mm to the 400 2,8.
The only time you can pick-up any minimal softening is when you stack the
extenders to-gether on the same lens.

If you use the 1.4 on the apo 280 2.8 it becomes a 400 f4;  then add the 2X
and it becomes a hand holdable 800mm f 8.0.  It works wonders, with very
slight softening at the corners if used wide open. A one stop down and it
works fine.


Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant