I have been away from the Leica world for some years. Perhaps marriage had something to do with it. Regardless, one of my favorite lenses was, and is, the 15mm Super-Elmar-R lens. I note that it seems to have disappeared from the list of current lenses. What happened to it? Did it die? If so, when? George Butler thambar@att.net

-- George Butler (thambar@att.net), October 08, 2001

Answers

That lens was made for Leica by Zeiss and it is currently out of production with only a rumored replacement.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 08, 2001.

"I have been away from the Leica world for some years."

George: Like Andrew said, it had gone for the moment. A new Leica designed and built version has been promised, along with a 21-35 zoom, sometime 'soon'.

By your email address I surmise you may also use Leica rangefinders. If you've been away for a while, I wonder if you know about the Voigtlander 15mm Super-Wide-Heliar being produced in Leica screw-mount (and adaptable to Leica M-Mount) by Cosina/Japan.

4 oz. - $550 approx with finder and case - the size of an older Leica-M 35mm f/2.

Obviously a very different viewing/composing experience than with a 15 on an SLR, but something that might tide you over until the R version resurfaces.

Image quality is very good, but with a lot of darkening in the corners due to the 'true' wide-angle design.

Here's a link to some pictures and additional info (Scroll down about 3 screens worth).

If you've already heard of it - well, then - never mind! 8^)

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), October 11, 2001.