I'm starting to feel like Alfie (sorry, Alfie) with all of these posts. But, if anyone is interested, it appears that the 50mm f2.8 Elmar that appeared on the M6J did, indeed, have a focusing tab. (I just found a few pictures of the M6J.) Apparently, when Leica started producing the lens as a regular production model it lost the focusing tab. Economics, I would assume. Can anyone who has the current version tell me if focusing is awkward without the focusing knob. The one I looked at had what I thought was a very narrow focusing ring.

-- Dennis Couvillion (couvilaw@aol.com), November 26, 2001

Answers

I'm a fan of the focusing tab, but the current lens does *not* suffer from the lack of it. The current lens has a nice knurled edge, a smooth focus movement, and a relatively short throw. I have no problem running my finger along the bottom edge and focusing smootly.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), November 27, 2001.

Dennis, I too am a tab fan, and Ken is right in that the current lenses' (including the 50 'cron and 50 'lux) knurled edges are nice, but... I prefer the tab so much that I traded in my current 'cron to buy a second-hand penultimate 'cron. My own opinion is "get what you like most (if you really need it and can even find it)". Then there's the story I got into about convex and concave tabs, which ones at what times, and the possibility of getting things remodeled here. Some of us here thought I was an Alfie too -- maybe they still do -- but that's okay.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 27, 2001.

The Elmar is one of my favorite lenses. I know this might start a riot, but I'd take an Elmar over a Summicron any day. I own several of them and have to admit my favorite is the f2.8 60's style lens. The new version (since the early 90's) does not have a focusing tab, but as Ken says, the focusing is very smooth and the throw is short. Also, this new lens focuses to .7 meters, unlike most Elmars that focus to 1m. The new version is a non-rotating lens design, unlike the older lenses that rotate when you focus them. While a nice lens, I think it's somewhat overpriced considering you can't sell a 60's lens on ebay for $300. Any other Elmar advocates out there?

-- Carlin Mayer (carlinm@abac.com), November 27, 2001.

I have the 90's elmar without the focusing tab and don't have any problem focusing or using it. One reson why I bought the lens is for it's size when stored. Just fits in any of my usual pockets. I just can't get used to the idea of having a camera bag or having the camera around my neck. The lens almost the same size as the summicron in user mode but can be pretty compact when "closed". And for what I do, I have all the time needed to get the front part out, rotate, lock in place etc... Voila

-- Hemant Gurung (hgurung@libertysurf.fr), November 27, 2001.

I hold my Leitz M6/Elmar-M with my right thumb under the camera and my right index finger on the shutter release. The camera rests on the palm of my left hand, with my left thumb running up the left side of the camera. This puts my left index finger under the Elmar-M, where I can easily roll it to change either focus or shutter speed. I think the Elmar-M is a marvelous lens, with it's own Leica (Tessar) signature. Incidently, I'm a great fan of the Zeiss Tessar design. I also, luckily, got a "Napa" soft case with the wrist strap.

-- Leicaddict (leicaddict@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.