Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/03/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Douglas Cooper <douglas@dysmedia.com> wrote: >The fact is that the out of focus characteristics of the APO-Macro-Elmarit >2.8/100 are generally thought dire: they "put one's teeth on edge". You >don't find even a hint of this on Erwin's site. And Leica has no doubt sold >a great number of these lenses based on his enthusiasm. Hmm, interesting paragraph. You cite as a "fact" what is only hearsay from unknown sources. Like Nathan Wajsman & Doug Herr, I also own and use the 100mm APO and there is absolutely nothing wrong with its bokeh or colour or handling 3D objects. Nothing. Period. Like a few others I use it to photograph real subjects in the real world, and not just while sitting at my desk with an empty camera and focusing on my desk lamp. My only complaints with the lens is that it is much larger and heavier than my previous 90mm R Summicron, and that it uses very-hard-to-get-in-Australia E60 filters. The weight though is actually an advantage sometimes because it helps give the camera more inertia when out shooting in windy conditions (eg. in 40 knot winds at the entrance to Sydney harbour last Friday). Also, managed to solve the E60 problem a year ago by getting a Tiffen 60->55 step-down ring. Luckily there is no vignetting as the 100 APO has a deep, 10mm collar inside the 60mm filter thread. With the ring permanently in place, my 100 APO is now a E55 lens and can double-up filters and lens caps with my 50mm R Summicron. The image quality from the 100 APO lens _is_ spectacular. One of the best lenses I own. But of course to extract the best from this lens you have to _always_ use a camera support, be it tripod or (in my case) a monopod. A softie or cable release is also essential. Now - if you want to attack an over-rated lens, why not the M Noctilux (fuzz city) or 35mm M ASPH (flareville)... ;?) Regds, Andrew Nemeth <http://4020.net> -> photos, 360° panoramic vrs, sounds <http://nemeng.com> -> vr java applets, leica faq, tech info