Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/11/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hello Larry, I started out with an R3 a long time ago, so let's see if I can help you a bit. So here are some answers to your questions in the same order that you have asked them. 1. In the 180mm range, and prior to the new 180 APO-Elmarit which was recently introduced, the R series had a 180/f4 called an Elmar, a 180/f3.4 called the APO-Telyt, and a 180/f2.8 called an Elmarit. The Elmarit came in an early and later version. The later one is lighter and optically better I believe. The Elmar, being a stop slower, was much lighter and meant as a travel lens. Optically it was quite good, roughly on a par with the Elmarits. The APO-Telyt was the first of the Leica APO lenses. It was designed for the US Navy I think and was available from about 1975. Although it is a half stop slower than the Elmarits, it is optically superior. I have this lens, and the first slides from it I got blew me away, they are that good. If you want a top quality 180, I can recommend the 180/f3.4 enthusiastically. 2. Originally the Summicron and Elmarit lens labels referred to the lens type, that is the number and arrangement of the individual peices of glass within each lens. For the last many years, however, these labels refer instead to the maximum lens aperture: Summicron is f/2, Elmarit is f/2.8, Summilux is f/1.4, Elmar is f/3.5 or f/4. So the 90mm Summicron is an f/2 and the 90mm Elmarit is f/2.8. I have the 90 Summicron, and it is an outstanding lens in my opinion. The Elmarit is also exceptionnally good, I believe. 3. When the R8 came out it had a provision for electrical as well as mechanical linkage with the attached lens. ROM lenses have a strip of electrical contacts that mate with the corresponding ones on the R8. 4. If you are using only an R3, ROM has no effect. If you think you might want an R8 sometime, then ROM lenses should be considered. The R8 can use lenses without the ROM contacts perfectly well, however, because the R8 has the necessary mechanical linkage to connect with the earlier non ROM lenses. 5. The Leica extenders are exceptionally good. One writer in discussing extenders stated in his book that the Leica extenders were the only ones which produced photographs of publishable quality. This was written before the 2x APO Extender became available I think. If you have any APO lenses, such as the 180 APO Telyt mentioned above then you should have the APO Extender, because it reportedly will maintain the APO characteristics of the lens onto the film. The regular 2x Extender will not. So the answer is that only the APO lenses benefit from having an APO Extender. Good luck with your choices. Sincerely, David Burdoin - ----- Original Message ----- From: Larry Fuller <merryandbo@earthlink.net> To: leica <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 11:16 PM Subject: [Leica] APO vs Elmarit vs Summicron?? > Trying to distinguish between different lenses on ebay can be > confusing. What's the difference between Elmarit and APO in the 180mm > range? > What's the difference between Elmarit and Summicron in the 90mm > range? > What does ROM mean? > If I'm using an R3, does ROM mean anything or is it something for > newer cameras? > Does it make a difference whether I get a 2x extender with APO or > not? Does an APO extender only benefit by using APO lenses? I would not > like to pay more for something that won't even benefit me. Thanks for > any help. > > Bo Fuller > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html