the_brotographer Posted February 2, 2022 Share #1  Posted February 2, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just realized that my 60mm macro has "PRESS 84" written on it. I've done a little bit of research and I realized that Leica loaned some of these lenses out to press photographers during the 1984 summer and winter Olympics, as well as the 1984 Republican and Democrat conventions. They haven't ever said how many of them they released or sent out, but during my research I haven't ever found reference to a 60 macro R lens loaned out. Have any of you come across these? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/329387-is-my-press-84-60mm-macro-r-rare/?do=findComment&comment=4374510'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 2, 2022 Posted February 2, 2022 Hi the_brotographer, Take a look here Is my "PRESS '84" 60mm Macro R rare?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
davidmknoble Posted February 12, 2022 Share #2 Â Posted February 12, 2022 I have seen these lenses for sale, I think through the Leica Shop, but not seen many for sure. Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_brotographer Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share #3 Â Posted February 12, 2022 51 minutes ago, davidmknoble said: I have seen these lenses for sale, I think through the Leica Shop, but not seen many for sure. Â Are they any more valuable? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted February 12, 2022 Share #4 Â Posted February 12, 2022 (edited) If you find the right collector who is missing this item from their collection - very probably. How much more? Market conditions. A report from someone who was there suggests Leica provided a total of about 200 Press '84 items (cameras, misc. lenses, M & R) altogether - so maybe 5-10 Macros? But some say otherwise, and Leica didn't publicize it much, one way or the other. https://www.cameraquest.com/m4p84.htm I'm not even sure why a Macro lens would be all that useful for sports and reportage. Except that: 1) many R shooters simply found the Macro to be a nice "normal" lens, with better performance than the faster 50s, if f/2 or f/1.4 or f/1.0 were not required (probably not, at events lit for TV broadcast), and 2) it might have been useful for quickly copying name tags/credentials or sport-teams rosters or such documents, for reference later in ID-ing the person in the picture (a requirement for news work). "Let's see; skier number 65B was so-and-so." Edited February 12, 2022 by adan 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted March 4, 2022 Share #5  Posted March 4, 2022 This lens has been modified for 'focus pulling' ... indicative of the 60mm Macro Elmarit R having good 'focus breathing' ... which means that the focal length does not change during the 'pull' by the 'focus puller' ... could have been used as a movie camera lens,  or in relatively recent years as a videography lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_brotographer Posted March 4, 2022 Author Share #6  Posted March 4, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, dkCambridgeshire said: This lens has been modified for 'focus pulling' ... indicative of the 60mm Macro Elmarit R having good 'focus breathing' ... which means that the focal length does not change during the 'pull' by the 'focus puller' ... could have been used as a movie camera lens,  or in relatively recent years as a videography lens. I am the one who put on the focus rings and filter thread. I indeed do use this for video. When I purchased it though, the lens was in it's typical photography form, which is what I'm sure it was used for during the mentioned 1984 olympics. Edited March 4, 2022 by the_brotographer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wzsalzbg Posted March 4, 2022 Share #7  Posted March 4, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) as a former sports-pro during the 1980s, i can assure you that probably nobody used a leica r during the olympics. it was nikon f3 and canon f1 all the way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted March 5, 2022 Share #8  Posted March 5, 2022 Forum policy / rules do not permit valuations Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_brotographer Posted March 5, 2022 Author Share #9  Posted March 5, 2022 16 minutes ago, dkCambridgeshire said: Forum policy / rules do not permit valuations Definitely Not looking for a valuation. More interested in the rarity and history. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmknoble Posted March 7, 2022 Share #10 Â Posted March 7, 2022 @the_brotographer, consider reaching out to Leica germany, they like to talk about the history as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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