Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/22

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica underwater cameras
From: Alex Hurst <corkflor@iol.ie>
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 22:05:02 +0100

Robert Stevens wrote:
>
>Leica has not made a Nikonos equvalent, but I have seen Leica ELCAN lenses
>in Nikonos mount.  These were 180mm telephotos set at infinity and mounted
>in a pressure proof case.  I assume for the Navy to use in their work.
>Elcan also had an underwater panorama camera, probably once again developed
>for the Navy.

Now, LUGnuts, see what I mean? For me (and/or IMHO) that is a fascinating,
relevant piece of information that I would never have learnt anywhere else
but on the LUG.

Question is, what on earth do you shoot with a 180mm underwater?

Most SCUBA people are into extreme wide-angle for purely practical
purposes. I certainly can't see any reason to use my N****os 80/4
underwater, tho' it's certainly underwater capable.

Maybe 180mm lenses were useful for close-ups of the relevant hardware on
Russian subs....
>
>Nikon could make the Nikonos, but not glass with enough resolving power to
>be used for spy photos by Navy Seals or the like :-)  Isn't it for the
>glass that we use Leicas?

Yep. Give me a choice between my trusty M2 plus ancient 35/1.4 Summilux
(and latterly plus Tom A. Rapidwinder), and the 35/2.5 Nikonos Nikkor, and
I'd choose the former every time.

Except, of course, in a deluge or on a sandy beach.

Slan

Alex

Alex Hurst
Waterfall
Nr. Cork
Ireland

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