LVSBB6 Posted January 12, 2007 Share #1 Posted January 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm looking for a wide-angle lens for my R8 and R4. Take a look at the condition of this lens, what are the white dots on the lens? Would it affect picture quality? Do you guys think it's worth US$650-? Please advise, thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 12, 2007 Posted January 12, 2007 Hi LVSBB6, Take a look here Leica R2.8 16mm Fish-eye Elmarit-R, need your opinion. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted January 12, 2007 Share #2 Posted January 12, 2007 The spots could be dust, or cigarette ash or may be physical damage to the glass itself. It almost looks like a 30,000 mile car windscreen... Judging by the damage to the hood (above the "LEITZ"), I would suspect the latter, but until or unless you can actually see the lens personally, it's very difficult to tell. If it's physical damage, then it will affect the image, in the same way, for example, that raindrops and dust on the front element do. I wouldn't buy a lens with front element damage like this, even at what looks like a good price. $650 is around £325, which is very, very cheap for a 16mm. However, you will always be wondering what the photographs would have looked like if the element hadn't been damaged. ffordes.com (in Scotland), have an E++ one for £599, so "your" one is almost certainly damaged. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVSBB6 Posted January 12, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted January 12, 2007 I just talked to the shop and they assure those are dust inside the lens, and would not affect image quality. I'll give it a shot and go from there, since its well under the market price. Thank you for your opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvaliquette Posted January 12, 2007 Share #4 Posted January 12, 2007 Leo, Andy: Even if these white spots are damage to the glass itself, the quality should not be impaired, beyond a probable unnoticeable loss of contrast. Given that this is most likely a lens that will be used little, for special effects shots, I would say: Save the $$$ and go for it. I had the Fisheye-Distagon 16mm f2.8 for the Contarex in a previous life. It was a lens I treasured and always carried on vacations and photo outings, but used only rarely. However, when the occasion presented itself, it was just fabulous. I still treasure a photograph of the Piazza del Pallio in Siena, taken from the top of the campanile with that lens! Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertknappmd Posted January 12, 2007 Share #5 Posted January 12, 2007 while I am sceptical when it comes to used lenses, ask the seller if you can test the lens yourself... run a few roles and see how it works out... If they say no... forget it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted January 12, 2007 Share #6 Posted January 12, 2007 This lens looks fine, IMO. The seller could clean the lens carefully for you and mail you an updated photo. These white spots will disappear most likely, perhaps a few might remain between the lenselements without harming the performance. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanewbie Posted January 13, 2007 Share #7 Posted January 13, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just bought the same type of lens from a german seller on eBay. And I remember seeing the picture you gave and decided not to bid on it, for the reason that i wasn't sure whether it would show up in the photos. At the time, there were a handful of 16mm lenses on eBay. Each seller had a picture of the lens and the front, and so I went with the clearest one I saw. I look at it this way, if you're going to spend the money, get the best possible quality you can for what you're willing to pay. Also realize that if these spots do affect the image quality, repairing it will cost $$ or you will have to do some photoshop work. Balance that against the cost. You can check with the seller, but unless it's a retailer, I don't think they would accept returns on a used lens. It's always on an "as-is" basis. That being said, maybe the specks won't add up to anything at all. But perhaps for certain photos ( closeups, sky shots ) they may appear as small specs, but given the perspective it may or may not be noticeable. Either way, if you're not happy with the lens, you can sell it again on eBay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 13, 2007 Share #8 Posted January 13, 2007 Leo, the lens will probably be ok. If you ever want to frighten yourself shine a torch through a lens, you'll be surprised how much dust there will be. I don't believe you will ever see these spots on a photograph. If there is an issue it's likely to show itself as a slightly increased chance of flare - and even that's not by any means certain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
strick Posted January 13, 2007 Share #9 Posted January 13, 2007 I don't believe you will ever see these spots on a photograph. I'm not that sure. Think of the extreme DOF of the Fisheye, which perhaps shows even tiny objects in the lens itself on a photo?! I wouldn't buy that lens. It should be easy to get a better one for a good price. Cheers Greg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 13, 2007 Share #10 Posted January 13, 2007 Hi Greg, it won't be an issue. I've just checked with a DOF calculator and focussed at 3 feet and f16 the DOF is 1.12 feet to infinity. The dust spots will only be inches from the plane of focus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
strick Posted January 13, 2007 Share #11 Posted January 13, 2007 Thanks, Steve. In Germany we say "Mach aus einer Mücke keinen Elefanten." ("Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.") Would mean here: "Don't make a mountain out of a dust spot." ;-) Even so, I'd prefer a "clean" lens. Cheers, Greg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFi-Chaser Posted January 15, 2007 Share #12 Posted January 15, 2007 Hi Greg, it won't be an issue. I've just checked with a DOF calculator and focussed at 3 feet and f16 the DOF is 1.12 feet to infinity. The dust spots will only be inches from the plane of focus. Hi Leo, I use my fisheye-elmarit very often, mostly at f8 to f16. Although the front lens is clear and clean in the morning, more and more dust can be found there, the later it is. On the slides I only see big spots of water on the front lens. Such small particles can hardly be seen, even on my all-sky-pictures of athmospheric phenomena. Replacing the front lens will be very, very expensive. If you only care about the results and if you'll use the lens not very often -- go for it! Regards Torsten Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted January 15, 2007 Share #13 Posted January 15, 2007 This is a fish eye, not a normal rectilinear wide. All lines not going thru the center will be curved Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvaliquette Posted January 16, 2007 Share #14 Posted January 16, 2007 Leo: Please let us know what you finally decided to do and, if you bought it, how it performs. This could be educational for all of us. Thanks. Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVSBB6 Posted January 17, 2007 Author Share #15 Posted January 17, 2007 So I finally bought the lens and it's on its way from Germany, will update this thread once I take some shots with it. Thanks for all the input guys! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted January 17, 2007 Share #16 Posted January 17, 2007 I wonder if they could remove the specs. Could they ? If not you will work around them ... A fine MINOLTA-designed piece. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 17, 2007 Share #17 Posted January 17, 2007 A fine MINOLTA-designed piece. Does that make a difference then? Lots of R lenses are "Minolta" designs. And none the worse for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jip Posted September 3, 2014 Share #18 Posted September 3, 2014 I'm probably buying one of these... for on the M240. and R8. Wondering if anyone has some example photos! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 3, 2014 Share #19 Posted September 3, 2014 Buy it, it is really nice. I had some sample shots on the forum ages ago, but they were on the M9, I've been to lazy to use it on the 240 and DMR lately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted September 5, 2014 Share #20 Posted September 5, 2014 You will have a hard time reselling damaged items. Forget it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.