[Leica] Viso III

[andersonfe at msn.com (ferrel anderson)]

There is a big difference in the performance of the chrome and later black 
65mm Elmar lenses.  The chrome version is a low contrast lens that gives a 
pastel like performance that is charming in a way.  The black Elmar is a 
high contrast lens with much improved resolution.  It is one of my favorite 
lenses, and is great on the viso or R bellows.  The performance on the edges 
is not the best at infinity, but the lens is designed for close-up work, and 
is a delight in this range.  Erwin Putz does not consider either of these 
lenses as being exceptional performers, and makes a comment that the Elmar 
design is not optimum for macro work.  I don't agree with him on this in 
regard to the performance of the black version.  I might also add that the 
100mm f4 macro Elmer for the Leica R series cameras is also a classical 
Elmar design, and it performs quite well both in near and far distances.

Ferrel Anderson