High End Perfection From The Leica TelephotoLeica Camera AG of Solms, Germany has a history that goes back to 1925 when Oskar Barnack created the first small format 35mm camera. The introduction of the 35mm camera released the photographer from the myriad of mechanical details surrounding large format photography and allowed the photographer to concentrate on subject and picture. The Leica was known as "an integral part of the eye" and an "extension of the hand." The spirit and legacy of photography have always belonged to Leica. And because of this Leica has never stopped working to create keep their vision complete and in the forefront of photographic development. Today, teamed up with Panasonic Camera, Leica has extended their dominance of camera and lens production to the world of DSLR. Introduced in 2997, the Leica D Vario-Elmar 14 -150 mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/Mega O.I.S. lens offers a zoom range to cover almost all contingencies of modern photography. The digital 14 - 150 mm has a 35mm equivalency of 28 - 300mm. The lens is built upon the Four Thirds System so that it will be compatible with many other DSLR cameras. The lens is compact (3" x 3.5"), light weight (1.15 pounds).
The Leica's small size is made possible with 4 aspherical lenses and an ED (extra-low) dispersion lens. Distortion is minimized at both ends of the spectrum. In tests, the lens constantly produced high resolution, high contrast pictures that are clear from corner to corner. The ED lens suppresses chromatic aberration, true to life telephoto shots with minimum color bleeding. The lens incorporates Panasonics Mega O.I.S. optical image stabilizer which makes it possible to shoot even some of the most difficult telephoto and low light shots without a tripod. This movement correction system will allow the photographer to use slower speeds up to three steps. This will be the first Leica Telephoto lens to be equipped with Extra Silent Motor (XSM) technology. The XSM gives fast, silent, and accurate auto focusing. Supersonic oscillation gives silent seamless operation, while the system's high torque provides exceptional responsiveness, accuracy and focusing stability. This Leica telephoto lens upholds the over one hundred year tradition of Leica lens superiority. And, at the same time carries on the innovative thought process of Oskar Barnack. This high quality extended zoom lens for four Thirds System DSLRs is definitely high end. The recommended retail price is $2,299.00 and has recently become available on the open market. |