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Archive 2011 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Ardea
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

I will have the opportunity to purchase a non ROM 280/4 apo lens later this week. I don't yet know the serial number.

I would be using the lens on Canon EOS mount so I don't NEED the ROM feature but was wondering about the later compatability with Leica's 1.4 and 2.0 extenders.

I understand this lens has a filter drawer

If so,should it have a filter in the optical path?

Any thoughts or other things I should ask or be aware of?

I drilled down pretty deep and could not find to many answers.

I did find only about 2000 280/4 Apo lenses built from 1993 to 1997 (E.PUT's)

Thanks for the help guys.

Jun 21, 2011 at 06:06 PM

mpmendenhall
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

The lens does have a filter drawer, which should already come with a transparent glass insert (you should check with the seller that this is true). I don't think ROM/non-ROM makes any difference with extender compatibility for this lens (no mechanical changes to the rear construction that would interfere with extenders), but I could be wrong. Otherwise, ROM only matters if you want to mount this on a Leica-R body, in which case I think that a new ROM chip can be added to older lenses by Leica service technicians. Apparently, all 2000 copies of this lens are going to be in the hands of FM members soon...

Jun 21, 2011 at 06:13 PM

buggz2k
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Waving hands madly!
I'll take one!
PLEASE!

mpmendenhall wrote:
Apparently, all 2000 copies of this lens are going to be in the hands of FM members soon...

Jun 21, 2011 at 06:24 PM

Ardea
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Michael

"Apparently, all 2000 copies of this lens are going to be in the hands of FM members soon... "
Your probably right...I should never have lurked here.

Thanks again

Richard

Jun 21, 2011 at 06:57 PM

j.liam
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

It's supposed to have a series 5.5 ND x1 filter in the tray; part of the calculated optical formula, as is the front built-in clear protective filter. The ROM and non-ROM versions are optically identical and it can accommodate the 1.4x and 2x APO Tele-extenders, as far as I know. The ROM version's mount is easier to swap for a Leitax.

2000 were made but the unknown is how many still survive 15 years later

Heck, let's see who's got them:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/viewtopic.php?TopicID=1020647

Edited on Jun 21, 2011 at 11:02 PM · View previous versions

Jun 21, 2011 at 07:32 PM

Ataboy
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

I've "settled" for Leica R 180/2.8 APO and couldn't be happier with it!

Jun 21, 2011 at 10:22 PM

DocsPics
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Ataboy wrote:
I've "settled" for Leica R 180/2.8 APO and couldn't be happier with it!

Ditto here

Jun 22, 2011 at 07:55 AM

j.liam
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Ataboy wrote:
I've "settled" for Leica R 180/2.8 APO and couldn't be happier with it!

DocsPics wrote:
Ditto here

Such tragic cases of sad compromise!!!

Jun 22, 2011 at 01:38 PM

Ardea
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Yeah, have to "settle" for a Rembrandt instead of a Michelangelo...or vice versa.

Regards, Richard

PS I should know about "my" 280/4 this Friday...Fingers crossed on condition and price.

Jun 22, 2011 at 01:48 PM

j.liam
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Ardea wrote:
Yeah, have to "settle" for a Rembrandt instead of a Michelangelo...or vice versa.

Regards, Richard

Settling is such sweet sorrow...

PS I should know about "my" 280/4 this Friday...Fingers crossed on condition and price.

Good luck!!

Jun 22, 2011 at 02:05 PM

Almass
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Rembrandt and Michelangelo are not in a similar artistic league and frankly not comparable.

Similarly, both the Leica R APO TELYT 280/2.8 and the APO TELYT 280/4 are not in the same league and frankly not comparable as the APO TELYT 280/4 is one of the highest rated lenses not only in the the Leica arsenal but in comparison with lenses of all other makes.

As for your questions, this was correctly answered by other members that the filter holder carries a clear NDx1 filter in the filter holder and accepts both extenders 1.4 and 2.0.

Besides the obvious to look for as far as the lens glass condition is concerned and the aperture/focus rings operation. It will be nice to check the tripod collar locking knob and they are rather weak on early serial numbers, however it has no effect whatsoever on the lens quality.

1- Does the lens come with the dedicated leather case and carrying strap?

2- Another item you might like to check is the condition of the filter and the filter drawer to make sure that the filter drawer closes properly.

3- While you are at it, a Leica R APO TELYT 280 f4 is only complete when you have as well the circular polarizer filter with it's dedicated holder. But again, this is a nicety and not a necessity as the APO 280/4 takes screw-in type E77 filters. If you think it is difficult to find an APO 280/4 wait till you try to find the dedicated polarizer filter for it

4- Finally, not many people know the following additional unique properties of this stellar lens:
A- The Leica APO 280/4 can focus beyond ∞.
B- The Leica APO 280/4 can be used for IR without focussing correction.

The Leica R APO TELYT 280 f4 is indeed a Stellar lens.

Jun 22, 2011 at 03:03 PM

dcjs
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Almass wrote:
4- Finally, not many people know the following additional unique properties of this stellar lens:
A- The Leica APO 280/4 can focus beyond ∞.
B- The Leica APO 280/4 can be used for IR without focussing correction.
C- The Leica APO 280/4 is the only lens that can take pictures of Chuck Norris, because Chuck Norris is invisible to all other lenses.

Jun 22, 2011 at 03:21 PM

AhamB
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Almass wrote:
4- Finally, not many people know the following additional unique properties of this stellar lens:
A- The Leica APO 280/4 can focus beyond ∞.

Is that a joke? I believe that most, if not all apo tele lenses focus beyond infinity because of temperature sentitive glass types.

Jun 22, 2011 at 03:56 PM

sebboh
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

AhamB wrote:
Is that a joke? I believe that most, if not all apo tele lenses focus beyond infinity because of temperature sentitive glass types.

most long manual focus telephotos do this whether or not they are apo.

Jun 22, 2011 at 04:10 PM

Almass
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

dcjs wrote:
C- The Leica APO 280/4 is the only lens that can take pictures of Chuck Norris, because Chuck Norris is invisible to all other lenses.

Thank you for your contribution to the threat, at least we now know what subject level interest you!

Jun 22, 2011 at 04:18 PM

Almass
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

sebboh wrote:
most long manual focus telephotos do this whether or not they are apo.

I am referring to Leica R lenses where only the APO 180/2.8 and APO 180/2 focus beyond infinity in addition to the APO TELYT 280/4. The APO 100/2.8 and the APO 90/2 do not focus beyond infinity.
Owners of the APO 280/2.8 can answer whether their lenses focus beyond infinity or not.

As for IR, the only other lens with this ability is the APO SUMICRON 180/2.

Jun 22, 2011 at 04:25 PM

DocsPics
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Greatest lens of all times now 15 +/- years out of production

Now, I sort of understand why the Jaguar XKE is no longer in production, but why the "lens of all lenses?"

Well I may spring big bucks for one with all the hype going on, but I better do it before the next greatest lens of all times begins production....200-400/4 L IS with built in 1.4 TC anyone ?

Jun 22, 2011 at 04:29 PM

dcjs
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Thank you for your contribution to the threat, at least we now know what subject level interest you!

Take it easy, it was meant in good humor.

Jun 22, 2011 at 05:05 PM

telyt
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

Ataboy wrote:
I've "settled" for Leica R 180/2.8 APO and couldn't be happier with it!

Both is better

IMHO the only things that would improve the 180/2.8 APO are a bit more resistance in the focussing ring and a tripod collar like the 280/4 has.

My 280/4 is non-ROM and works fine with the ROM 2x APO extender and non-ROM 1.4x APO extender.

Jun 22, 2011 at 05:37 PM

j.liam
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · LEICA 280/4 APO ROM or Non ROM

telyt wrote:
Both is better

IMHO the only things that would improve the 180/2.8 APO are a bit more resistance in the focussing ring

Ditto!
I have to agree about the 180's focus ring. Mine was sent to Leica for CLA and I was surprised to see the lack of damping. Surprising. The 280/4 is perfectly damped.

Jun 22, 2011 at 05:45 PM

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