Elpro D on ebay

[poynterama]

Just came across this on ebay:
Leica Elpro D E69 Nahlinse Makro für Digilux 2 NEU OVP - eBay, Leica, Kompaktkameras, Foto Camcorder. (end time 19-May-08 06:30:00 AEST)

I've been looking for an Elpro D (18633) for my D2 for about a year and I was really excited when I saw this! Unfortunately, the buyer won't take paypal so I've got no way of paying

Just thought I'd pop it up here in case anyone on the German forum might be after one!

[dugby]

Last time I bought something off ebay.de and paid cash-transfer, I got slugged a 20-Euro bank transfer fee.....yes 30 aussie dollars.

Anyway, I do have an ElproD, and have found it a great add-on for my D2..... I've been holding it in front of my D3/L1 and it works fine, but I'm having a dawg of a time trying to find any type of mutiple filter adaptors that will get the Elpro-D's 69mm male thread to attach to my 72mm female on D3/L1

I know I will never find a straight 69mm/72mm as no one would be bold enough to make such a thin adaptor.............. :-( ..... This has really annoyed me that Pana-Leica were not able to build backwards compatibility on the Macro

[spylaw4]

Originally Posted by dugby

<snip....>
I know I will never find a straight 69mm/72mm as no one would be bold enough to make such a thin adaptor.............. :-( ..... This has really annoyed me that Pana-Leica were not able to build backwards compatibility on the Macro

Well I got a 69-67 step down on eBay a couple of weeks ago! Thin but quite sturdy enough.
Currently on eBay there are 69-77 step ups and 77-72 step downs - combo perhaps?

BTW the last Elpro that sold on eBay (13 May; UK seller) went for 104GBP.

[dugby]

Hi Brian, Thanks for your response. I've seen most of the adapters on ebay but haven't really found the right combination of male/female adapters to get the 69mm/male Elpro-D into the 72mm/female of the D3/L1 14-50mm kit lens.

There doesn't seem to be a 69-77 step ups and 77-72 step downs - combo

Have you found a workable combination ?

[spylaw4]

Guess you'll need to do some research Dugby! I posted the results of a quick scan in eBay just to see what was about. Seems you can get most things. And you could always try looking here as they can do adapters to order (at a price of course).
It's a bit academic to me as I've sold my L1 and am in the process of selling my 25/1.4. Retained the D2 for digital and gone back to film with an M7.

[Raymond Tam]

Originally Posted by poynterama

Just came across this on ebay:
Leica Elpro D E69 Nahlinse Makro für Digilux 2 NEU OVP - eBay, Leica, Kompaktkameras, Foto Camcorder. (end time 19-May-08 06:30:00 AEST)

I've been looking for an Elpro D (18633) for my D2 for about a year and I was really excited when I saw this! Unfortunately, the buyer won't take paypal so I've got no way of paying

Just thought I'd pop it up here in case anyone on the German forum might be after one!

Hi
I just bought one new Elpro-D 16833 from Photo Village in New York
but it is not as cheap as you would expect from E-bay - USD345.00
The PHOTO VILLAGE address is 1133 Broadway suite 824 New York
NY 10020 TEL IS 212-989 1252 hope you still have luck because
they do not have many left I guess.
Good Luck
Ray

[stumac]

Seems an opportunistic price, mine was US$ 275 including postage and insurance to Australia.

Regards, Stuart.

[jlancasterd]

Originally Posted by dugby

I've been holding it in front of my D3/L1 and it works fine, but I'm having a dawg of a time trying to find any type of mutiple filter adaptors that will get the Elpro-D's 69mm male thread to attach to my 72mm female on D3/L1

I know I will never find a straight 69mm/72mm as no one would be bold enough to make such a thin adaptor.............. :-( ..... This has really annoyed me that Pana-Leica were not able to build backwards compatibility on the Macro

You might try:

SRB-GRITURN LTD

They make adapters to special order and I've used them several times. They're not cheap - I suspect that the adapter you want will cost around £50 plus shipping. But they can make almost anything.

[Fips]

The Elpro D was produced only in small quantities and prices on eBay went up like crazy. Especially in the US: in 2006/07 people spent easily 400 $ and much more. I saw an auction ending up with 700+ $!

It's still a rare item, but every few weeks you can find one. Prices in Europe now range approx. from 120 to 180 €


BTW
With the Elpro D you can't get closer than this:




Regards
Phil

[cbretteville]

I use a Canon 250D close up lens on a 69-58mm step down ring. Great piece of glass. It will vignet on shorter focal lengths, but not on the 90mm setting, which is what I use for close ups anyway so that doesn't bother me. The 250D is $90 at B&H. It gives a 4x magnification (there is a 500D available in 72 and 77mm, but that only gives you half the magnification. I had both at one time and never used the 500D beyond trying it out when I got it. Lensmateonline - Specialty Digital Photo Products makes step down rings as does SK Grimes. SRB Griturn in in the UK and does custom stepping rings too SPECIAL STEPPING RINGS There are cheap ones on eBay if you care to stack two (69-67+67-58).

Tulipsupclose.jpg
D2 at 90mm + Canon 250D, f2.4 at 1/20 sec.

- Carl

[jrethorst]

Originally Posted by Fips

The Elpro D was produced only in small quantities and prices on eBay went up like crazy. Especially in the US: in 2006/07 people spent easily 400 $ and much more. I saw an auction ending up with 700+ $!

I understand the Elpro is two-element, and Panasonic's 69mm close-up lens is one element. Other than that, can anyone compare the two? I would think that since the Pana LC-1's optics are identical to the Digilux 2, that the close-up lens from either manufacturer would not be significantly lower in quality.

[dugby]

Originally Posted by jrethorst

I understand the Elpro is two-element, and Panasonic's 69mm close-up lens is one element.

I recall this comment surfacing a few years ago on this forum. I've had a careful look at the edges of my Elpro-D to look for any junctions of glass (in search of the two glass elements) against the metal ring.

I believe from what I can see, my Leica Elpro-D seems to be a single element of glass.