28mm Elmarit V3

[Guest]

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Hi all,

Eyeing a 28mm Elmarit V3, but hesitant as it has the “tiger paw” (convex) focus tab, which I havent tried, only the “regular” (concave) focus tabs.

Anyone have experience with both and give some insight?

The 28 Elmarit V3 is a transitional model with tiger paw focus tab but the straight barrel (less thin waist) than the early serials.

The lens is from 1980.

Thanks,

Mads

[a.noctilux]

My comment is for convex tab.

I had this type of tab on my former two lenses, same Canadian 1980's Summicron 35mm and 50mm.

As user, the smoothness of the focus ring is the key.

When newly released, the focus travel and it's softness (smoothness) were tailored to use these convex tab.

 

As 28mm V3 was made decades ago, maybe the smootness was lost or gained, so it's individual "feeling" 😜.

If this is a problem, I guess that can be easily solved by good technician, changing the old lubricant or the tab, ... or the two.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

My comment is for convex tab.

I had this type of tab on my former two lenses, same Canadian 1980's Summicron 35mm and 50mm.

As user, the smoothness of the focus ring is the key.

When newly released, the focus travel and it's softness (smoothness) were tailored to use these convex tab.

 

As 28mm V3 was made decades ago, maybe the smootness was lost or gained, so it's individual "feeling" 😜.

If this is a problem, I guess that can be easily solved by good technician, changing the old lubricant or the tab, ... or the two.

Thanks, this one comes freashly serviced. But I will have to buy online before try. 

[lct]

Main difference to me is i action "tiger paw" focus  tabs with the major finger instead of the index finger for normal focus tabs. I prefer the latter as i'm used to holding my lenses as below but it is a matter of taste and/or morphology i guess.

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[dpitt]

I don't mind the convex tab on my Summicron 50 v4. And I also have some wider lenses with concave tabs. If anything I might prefer the convex one. If you use the tip or your index finger on the tab the convex tabs seems a bit be more natural. If you use the tab like @lct then I can see why he prefers the concave tabs. In my case I definitely prefer my Summicron 50 with any tab to the ones without tab.

Edited May 16, 2023 by dpitt