APO-Macro-Elmarit-T 60mm f/2.8

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I know that it is like a year away but any thoughts on the APO-Macro-Elmarit-TL 60mm f/2.8 

 

I've been thinking about it and overall I'm glad that Leica is releasing new T lenses and the macro is one of the things that I've been wishing for. However, I was hoping for something a bit faster so that it could more effectively have a dual use as a portrait lens. 

 

Using my DOF app: 

APO-Macro-Elmarit-T 60mm f/2.8 has about the same DOF as a 90mm @ f/5 on a FF camera.

Vario-Elmar-T 18-56mm @ 56mm & f/5.6 has about the same DOF as an 85mm @ f/10 on a FF camera.

APO-Vario-Elmar T @ 56mm & 3.5 has about the same DOF as an 85mm @ f/6.4 on a FF camera.

 

I thought it would be better to make the 60mm prime lens open up to f/2 a Summicron which would be roughly equal to a f/4 on a FF camera. Making it a Summilux at f/1.4 would have yeilded a about the same DOF as a f/2.4 on a FF camera. 

 

I would have thought that a macro/portrait combo lens would be the one lens that you could allow to be rather big because you don't carry it around very much. Macro is often on a tripod and you are mostly stationary when shooting portrait.

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[Guest]

What you say, when I sit down and think about it makes sense. I did not think of the multiplication factor as to F-Stop, although I would have thought 2.8 was good enough.

[MarkP]

I think that almost all macro lenses are slower than their non-macro counterparts.

[fcomarin69]

It make sense what you say but If I remember correctly, the only fast macros in the market are a Canon 50mm F2.5, Olympus 50mm F2.0 a Zeiss 100mm for Canon 2.0 and Sony 85mm 1.4 So perhaps Leica didi't feel the need to create something faster. Perhaps with the new SL, metabones or other manufacturers of electronic adapters will come with one where you can use all your legacy glass at least from Canon, Nikon and Sony ;-)

[AndreasAM]

If, (a big IF) Leica will continue further expanding the lens line of the T, I will expect eventually a 50 Summilux (75 eq) which will fit the bill for a shorter tele/portrait lens with a good shallow DOF.

 

For practical use, like having a light Leica travel kit, within a reasonable budget, the existence of primes, like the 23 Summicron or the 35 Lux, with the 60 macro and a much needed SWA lens of 14/16 mm or 18 mm. will finally build your classic set of, equivalent, 21/35/90-macro (or 75Lux?) or 28/50/90-macro.

 

This would be my favorite development within the T/TL-range for the short future. So this should be Leica's priority. Would be nice to have this line up available at the next Photokina 2016.

 

Fast glass is beautiful, but make the T a practical system first. 

 

And there is lot of improvement in the T2 (coming Photokina next year??) looking at the SL DNA, hopefully.

[Peter H]

I suppose most people expect to stop down a fair bit when using macro so the investment in fast macro lenses wouldn't be worth it for most people, but I do see the logic in what you're saying.

 

The 60mm 2.8 is a very nice lens though isn't it?

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I suppose most people expect to stop down a fair bit when using macro so the investment in fast macro lenses wouldn't be worth it for most people, but I do see the logic in what you're saying.

 

The 60mm 2.8 is a very nice lens though isn't it?

Yeah so far my favorite macro platform is M43 because of the added DOF and really good AF-C. You're right, most shots are stopped down. I was just kind of hoping for a dual use lens. Fast portrait and macro both in the same lens.

 

Really, I guess what I was hoping for a smart extension tube rather than a dedicated macro lens. I don't know if that is actually possible.