Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/01/12

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Subject: Re: [Leica] 180/2.8 Tele-Elmarit
From: Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 12:31:05 -0500
References: <B8651455.11EDA%mak@teleport.com> <00ac01c19b31$5579c130$881f8ed1@leirex>

At 12:43 AM 1/12/02 -0700, Greg J. Lorenzo wrote:
>Apparently as far as "optical performance" goes this lens is a absolute 
>dud, quickly dropped by Leitz shortly after it's introduction. Suggest 
>you look it up in Erwin Puts Lens Compendium.
>

I did look it up, and that isn't exactly what Erwin said.  Lens quality was
undoubtedly of some concern to Leitz, but it may be important to realize
that the 2.8/180 was introduced at a time when Leitz was contemplating
dropping the Visoflex system entirely in favor of the Leicaflex line and
when Zeiss had just announced its 2.8/180 Sonnar (the later, West German
lens, not the "real" Olympia Sonnar), a magnificent design which exploded
earlier views of the limits of moderate long-focus lenses.  Thus, Leitz
both axed the 2.8/180 but also killed off in its infancy the other avenue
being explored, the Canadian 3.4/180 direct-mount "goggle" lens.  So, it
was less any perceived inadequacy in the Tele-Elmarit's optical qualities
than the overwhelming superiority of the main rival's offering which caused
Leitz to back off.

Marc



msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
Cha robh bąs fir gun ghrąs fir!

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Replies: Reply from "Greg J. Lorenzo" <gregj.lorenzo@shaw.ca> (Re: [Leica] 180/2.8 Tele-Elmarit)
Reply from Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net> (Re: [Leica] 180/2.8 Tele-Elmarit)
Reply from S Dimitrov <sld@earthlink.net> (Re: [Leica] 180/2.8 Tele-Elmarit)
Reply from "SML" <inyoung@jps.net> (Re: [Leica] 180/2.8 Tele-Elmarit)
In reply to: Message from Mark Kronquist <mak@teleport.com> (Re: [Leica] 180/2.8 Tele-Elmarit)
Message from "SML" <inyoung@jps.net> (Re: [Leica] 180/2.8 Tele-Elmarit)