does anyone have experiences with this item? it is a 2x converter for leica m which brings up the 90mm framline.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002

Answers

Stefan,

I have been thinking the last week that Leica should bring out a 2x tele-converter. Do it for the R, so why not the M. Especially since its highest focal length is 135mm lenses. I'd be great, and I'd buy one for my 90's to get a 180mm lens. Awesome. I'd order one as soon as I could.

To answer your Q, no i haven't. Is there a website for more information? Cheers,

-- sparkie (sparkie@mailcity.com), January 23, 2002.

I've got one, but have yet to use it. It requires an LTM to M adapter on the front for M lenses -- this is so you can use it on any combo of LTM or M bodies and lenses -- and I have not obtained one yet.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), January 23, 2002.

I have bought three of them over the years. THe first two I paid over $200 each for and sent both back within the 14-day MBG period because the ramgefinder coupling was way off and the finder was cloudy and dim. Finally a couple years ago I got one for $75 with no finder or bayonet adaptors. I had the bayonet adaptors so that wasn't a problem, and neither is needing a finder as I'll explain. Again the rangefinder coupling was off and I couldn't adjust it to specs. For $75, no problem. If I'm at anything closer than infinity I simply focus the lens first, then add the teleconverter. I only use this lens with 50 and 90 occasionally, but mostly the 135 APO- Telyt. Performance at longer distances and in the middle f-stops is quite acceptible. If you use the 2x on a 35/1.4 to get a 70/2.8 and shoot it wide open, you are not going to be a happy camper. The 50/2 is the shortest lens I'd use, and stop it down to f/5.6-8. Where the 2x really shines is with the 90 Elmarit (or I would suppose the AA as well)and 135 T-E or APO-Telyt. These are such well-corrected lenses to begin with (resolve at or beyond what film can record) that by stopping down (to utiltize the center of the 2x) you really don't sacrifice any measurable performance. For framing, I use the 90mm frames if I've got the 2x on a 50; with the 90mm I "imagine" framelines midway between the rangefinder patch and 135mm frames; with the 135 lens + 2x I use the rangefinder patch as a frame, and since I'm always using this combo on a tripod, I picked up an old 3x eyepiece magnfier (happens to be for a Minolta SLR)which I physically hold up to the viewfinder. The rangefinder patch fills the frame. Basically I would use this 2x to gain reach with the 135, and only in an emergency to substitute within the range already covered by Leica M lenses.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 23, 2002.

I have an LTM version that I use with a IIIf and an 85 mm CZJ Sonnar (becomes a 170) or a 135 Schacht Travenar (becomes a 270). It works pretty well, at least at long distances).

-- Robert Marvin (marvbej@earthlink.net), January 23, 2002.

there is one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1505860751

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

sorry, wrong link. try this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1325598166

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

Yes. In my experience, the 2X Komura (Telemore) converter is a good way to convert a first rate Leica lens into a second rate thrid party lens. The finder is terrible and is far from accurate. All around, a bad deal (and unnecessary).

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), January 23, 2002.

Would like to second Eliot on this one: I had one of the 2x KOMURA Telemore thingys (but I forgot about the additional 95 KMC) and the results were awful.

But this was long ago and the system has probably been improved. The optical quality of the early production was rubbish IMO, although in the photopress it was glorified.

Best regards

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), January 29, 2002.