[Leica] Concerns 70-180/2x extender

[Alastair Firkin <firkin@netconnect.com.au>]

Leica sent me a nice catalog for 1999/2000 as a handbook for the Leica
system. I've had it a couple of weeks now. The thing I don't understand is
the utility of my 70-180 mm lens, and my 2x extender. Now I've been using
the combination without "thinking" for some time, and had wonderful
results, [so Ted don't jump down on me], but one "failure" of the lens
itself was not zooming the Metz flash. All my other ROM lenses set the
flash to an appropriate setting. On the 35-70 zoom, it changes the flash as
I zoom past 50, but the 70-180 does not do this. I questioned Leica who
sort of said of course not, and how silly, and nincompoop, but never really
did explain, then the hand book arrives. In it, it tells me that the 1.4
extender can be used in all modes, but the 2x "preferably with aperture
priority or manual". Despite "additional electronic exposure compensation",
it would seem that my 2x is not so hot on shutter priority or program modes
- -- quid enim?

Despite the 70-180mm lens proudly being "Unlimited use of APO-EXTENDER-R
2x. Kombination", it tells me that for this lens the extender ONLY works
with aperture and manual modes, not even preferably [though it may only be
abbreviated on this page]. There is no such limitation for the use of the
35-70 zoom [although I note that the f2.8 35-70 cannot be used with EITHER
extender -- "The use is not possible!" ]

Now I understand that the 1.4 pokes into the lens barrel and so its use is
limited, but the others are all supposed to be electronic ROM linked etc
etc. Have they left features out of the 70-180mm zoom ROM that are found in
the 35-70 f4 version?

Once again, the delights of Leica include the necessity to be well versed
in the "quirks" of the system. An electronic version of the mechanical fun
of earlier years? I was "sad" but not heartbroken about the zoom not
"zooming" the flash, [I do love gadgets] but I've always preferred shutter
priority with long lenses, and was just getting used to the P mode and
spinning the shutter dial to set my own preferred settings on the R8 when
they ask me not to use them. Any thoughts?

cheers

Alastair Firkin

http://users.netconnect.com.au/~firkin/AGFhmpg.html