Re: [Leica] it DOESN'T work well for leica!

[drodgers@nextlink.com]

Dick

>>BTW when I bought my first 80 lens the dealer also sent a 100/2.8 APO to
compare.  It is interesting that on the series of pictures which I took
with both lenses, and also the obligatory brick wall series, the 80 pretty
much matched the 100, which I sent back as I don't take macro very often.<<

Interesting that you chose the 80. The 100/2.8 gets a great deal of
accolades. And rightly so. But I think I'd rather have the 80 (I'm trying
to decide which lens I'll get, though it may be a while before I buy one or
the other.).

The 85/1.4 Planar is one of two Contax lenses I still own. At one time I
had 8 Zeiss Contax lenses and I used the 85/1.4 far more than any other. A
few years back I shot weddings to make ends meet, and that lens paid for
itself many times over. I also still have a 60/2.8 Makro Planar, along with
an RTS II body. I would rather have the R counterparts; not because I think
the Leica lenses are any better, but having two systems just doesn't work.
(In truth, I'd take the Contax 60/2.8 Makro Planar over the 60/2.8-R if the
former had an R mount.)

Just to show the rationale for buying different systems, I went to Contax,
from Nikon, so my 35mm lenses would match my Hasselblad lenses. It worked.
Results from Contax lenses are very much like those from Hasselblad lenses.
Unlike many wedding photographers, I didn't like shooting everything in
120. I had a better TTL flash system for my Contax. I didn't have to change
film as often. Plus all my Contax bodies had motor drives. Most of the time
I didn't need 120.  Sometimes I miss shooting weddings, but it's definately
not something I want to do again. It was difficult to make a clean break.
People kept offering more and more money. I learned that secret too late.
The more you charge, the more people want you -- especially in the crowd I
was plugged in to.

BTW, I actually switched to Leica R because of the bodies, and not the
lenses. However, I will say that all Leica R lenses I own feel robust. That
wasn't the case with Contax. The  two German made Zeiss lenses I owned (and
still own) are solid. The non-German  lenses never quite felt as smooth and
robust. I'm don't think that had anything to do with the origin of
manufacture. After all, the 80-200/4-R I have is made by Kyocera, and it
feels very smooth and solid.

Dave

PS Almost forgot that I also had a 28/2 Zeiss lens, which was made in
Germany. That was an incredible lens and I hated to part with it. I was
very heavy for it's small size. It must have contained some interesting
glass.