Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/11/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]OK, if we have a lugger who uses electron microscope to check out lens coating, I am sure your collective wisdom will give me much insight on the following subject. Bear with me please, or delete if not interested. As you may know, XPan has a ultra wide 30mm lens in this lineup. Its performance is top notch. Unfortunately, it's F5.6 and since it vignettes like crazy, it requires a 1.5 stop center filter, so it's really a F8 lens, at best. So my thinking is that, I will have a faster lens of similar focal length converted to work with the XPan. I have found a mechanic who is willing to RF couple lens of my choice. Their work on my converted Summicron 50R is excellent so I have no doubt that they can do the job. I do have a XPan 30mm lens already. So my choices are: - Give up and continue to use my 30mm lens CON - slow speed... - convert a 645 35mm/4 lens. PRO - relatively cheap, and certain lens reputedly are stellar performers (at least for a medium format lens) CON - the XPan flange to film distance is short by about an inch so a long "tube" is needed. I worry that this may cause the lens to cast a shadow on the XPan's panoramic format CON - 35mm focal length is not quite 30mm - convert a PC Distagon 35/2.8 PRO - supposedly a stellar lens CON - more expensive than the Nikkor, but cheaper than the Schneider. CON - 35mm focal length is not quite 30mm - convert a shift 28/3.5 Nikkor PRO - relatively cheap. CON - the performance is good, but is it "good enough?" Vignette at the corners and does not cover the full XPan format, may be 24x62 rather than the 24x65. - convert a shift 28/2.8 Schneider (aka Leica R PC Angulon) PRO - um, possibly better than the 28/2.8 Nikkor CON - expen$ive. Reputedly not a stellar lens, whatever that means. Thoughts? Suggestions? *** At the moment, I am leaning toward the Nikkor as it is relatively cheap solution. If I have it converted, even if the performance is not stellar, I am almost certain that I can sell it, as the 30mm is quite expen$ive so a cheaper alternative should find a buyer. // richard (This email is for mailing lists. To reach me directly, please use richard at imagecraft.com)