Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]SNIP -- Mark Rabiner wrote: [First Post] I have a new [APO] 135 for my M and the results I get from it would discourage me from bringing one of my Nikons with my 200 Nikkor along. [Second Post] It's [an M6] an excellent camera for telephoto work. Others don't think so. I think they are wrong. SNIP -- Mark, While I don't have a APO 135mm for the M, I routinely use my f/2.8 135mm Elmarit with goggles on the M6; the images obtained with this lens are outstanding. I agree that 135mm is a very useable lens on a M body. However, track side because of safety and track distance requirements, a 135mm is just too short unless you want to severely crop or the photographer is a small car adherent :-)~. Yes, there was a time that a photographer could be inches off of the asphalt (or track surface) and in an apex of a turn with a 50mm on a M body. That day for the US, Europe, and most race venues is past (the principal exception may be a road rally) because of race participant/spectator safety and track insurance requirements. Today, to easily obtain useable images, a 200mm (I use the APO f2.8 100mm-R with the 2X extender) is nice at the safety distances you must shot from the track. With some positioning, I suspect that either APO 180mm-R (have not used either one) would be up to the job also. However, a 280mm is really the ticket for most shooting venues track side (have one, use it). In the pits or shooting from outside of the pits, a 135mm or 90mm on the M6 is very doable. Track side, today, give me a longer R lens or N* lens over a 135mm please. :~) Just my experience at race tracks in trying to obtain quality photos. Oh, last year at the Le Mans 24 Hours, in car (Porsche 996) as a passenger and on the circuit at speed about two hours before the race, I did use the M6 and a 35mm effectively. The 35mm was the lens of choice because of "in car" movement of the passenger (me, even belted in and braced in the seat). My R equipment was in the bag and in the floor hollow behind my seat (unthinkable at most race venues as no unnecessary and unsecured objects are permitted by track technical inspectors working the pre-grid of cars, and in any case -- not smart on my part if the car were to take an off track excursion). Best of Light and My Regards, Bill Caldwell Northern Virginia <sneeker@erols.com>