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Chapter 3
Leica R-Lenses
2
In 1975 Leitz Canada designers computed the 180 mm f/3.4
Apo-Telyt-R lens for scientific purposes that required a very
high information content. It is a seven-element system with four
groups, corrected for the infrared region and it performs best at
infinity. At the same time Canon introduced a new 300 mm
f/2.8 lens with synthetically grown fluorite crystals, a solution
that Leitz did not wish to use.
With the 180 mm f/3.4 Apo-Telyt-R, Leitz offered a high perfor-
mance lens that undoubtedly inspired a friendly competition
with other prominent companies. Reduction of the weight of
lenses was the primary concern and goal as such lenses grew
in popularity for hand-held photography in available light. Sub-
sequently, new lenses were introduced: in 1977 (180 mm f/4
Elmar-R) and in 1980 a new computation was made for the 180
mm f/2.8 lens.
For a short period there was a choice of three 180mm lenses
(f/4, f/3.4 and f/2.8) that were close in price: in relation to the
standard 50 mm f/2 Summicron-R lens the ratio was: 2.4:1,
2.9:1 and 3:1.
The second version of the 180 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R lens could
not outperform the 180 mm f/3.4 Apo-Telyt-R lens. And the
shortest focusing distance of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) was unre-
markable. In addition, the ergonomics were no longer state-of-
the-art as more and more companies introduced internal focu-
sing.
In 1998 Leica introduced the new 180 mm f/2.8 Apo-Elmarit-R,
a system that can be described as "Return of the Empire".
The price ratio to the 50 mm Summicron now became 3.5:1,
just as it was in the thirties.
A lens with the focal length of 280 mm for the Visoflex system
was introduced in 1961, and in 1970 a 250 mm lens was intro-
duced for the Leica R-system.
Both versions offered commendable but not top performances.
The same challenge of optimal weight, high performance and
short near focusing distance existed here as it did with the 180
mm focal length, and the first computations by leitz were not
entirely convincing.
This changed abruptly with the introduction in 1984 of the 280
mm f/2.8 Apo-Elmarit-R, an outstandingly good performer with
internal focusing and a weight of almost three kilograms (6.6
pounds). These characteristics required the use of a tripod and
they restricted the lens to static photography. With a price ratio
of 10.6:1, it was not a lens for the normal Leica user.
__ LEICA APO-ELMARIT-R 180 mm f/2.8