Leica 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R f/2.8

tmaltby

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Outstanding lens for copy work! I use it with a 4-light copy stand to duplicate family photos going back 100 years for which negatives no longer exist. I load Technical Pan into my R8 set on the MANUAL exposure metering setting, determine correct exposure with a gray card, and easily copy photo after photo after photo. The results are stunning! I develop the film in Technidol and am always 100% pleased with the sharpness and tonality this lens produces!

Strengths:
A superb copying lens!!

Weaknesses:
Flare when shooting into very strong bright light outdoors.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $500.00 from Jakarta

Summary:
I use it as my standard lens, since I don't usually need an aperture wider than f/2.8. If bought used, it's a fraction of the new price and there are usually plenty of examples available on the market. This was once the macro lens by which all others were judged.

Strengths:
Superb reproduction from 1:2 (or 1:1 with macro extender) up to infinity. For optimum results, the lens should be stopped down to at least f/8 in the macro range. Colours are rendered very well and the image is sharp from the centre to the corners. Superb bokeh (quality of out-of-focus areas). Flat field, ideal for document copying. Deeply recessed front element needs no lens hood.

Weaknesses:
A little bulkier than a 50mm "standard" lens, owing to its macro construction.

Similar Products Used:
Olympus Zuiko 50mm/3.5 macro.

Customer Service:
N/A

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Model Reviewed:
60mm Macro-Elmarit-R f/2.8 (ROM)

Summary:
The color quality more than anything else distinguishes photos made with this lens from the Micro-NIKKOR photos. Color saturation with the Nikkors is not nearly as rich or clean as with the Macro-Elmarit-R

Strengths:
Crisp bright colors, solid construction excellent detail rendition, good flare control.

Weaknesses:
I've had occasional problems with flare when the sun is just outside the picture area which I *think* is related to reflections from surfaces inside the mirror box of the Leicafelx SL.

Similar Products Used:
Nikon 55mm f/3.5 Micro, Nikon 55mm f/2.8 Micro

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Model Reviewed:
60mm Macro-Elmarit-R f/2.8 (ROM)

Summary:
leitz lens quality of the highest order,ditto for price,but it will keep you happy for long time.

Strengths:
very good contrast and flat field.snappier slides than my micro-nikkor 55.
i use it as standard lens,performance at infinity is excellent as well.mechanically very smooth focussing,but solid mount is heavy.use no sunshade,very deeply recessed elements.

Weaknesses:
a bit heavy

Similar Products Used:
nikon 2.8/55mm optically ok. too,but mount develops far more play over time.
occasionally still use my oldest kilar 2

Customer Service:
excellent, but not cheap!