RZ67 65mm "W" or "L-A"

wuzakee

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• Feb 15, 2008

• #1

I'm looking to pick up a used 65mm, and I've seen them designated as either "W" or "L-A." I have not been able to find out the difference either on google or here on apug. Does anyone know? thank you.

 

keithwms

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• Feb 15, 2008

• #2

Don't quote me on this, but offhand I think L-A is the newer one and has the better coatings and the adjustable floating element for sharper focus. I don't know if the W has the adjustable floating element. N.b. you have to watch out for some old reviews on the mamiya floating-element lenses, some people didn't know what to do with the floating element and got poorer-than-expected results as a consequence. Actually the newer 65s (I have the rb version) are spectacularly good, in my opinion. In fact, if you don't mind working fully manually, consider the newest rb version of the 65 is a very good buy, brand new.

 

keithwms

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• Feb 15, 2008

• #3

Ah, okay I just saw a photo of the W and it looks like it has the floating adjuster as well. So I guess it's just an issue of newer coatings an such.

P.S. Maybe I was barking up the right tree after all:

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00N440

 

Last edited by a moderator: Feb 15, 2008

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wuzakee

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• Feb 15, 2008

• #4

Thanks for clearing that up!

 

panastasia

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• Feb 16, 2008

• #5

keithwms said:

Ah, okay I just saw a photo of the W and it looks like it has the floating adjuster as well. So I guess it's just an issue of newer coatings an such.

P.S. Maybe I was barking up the right tree after all:

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00N440

Click to expand...

Yes, you're correct about the L designation, I own the 65mm SD - newer design (f/4L, has no W included). I'm not sure about the W, the 100-200zoom has that designation (C100~200f/5.2W). The "A" only appears on long lenses starting w/the140 macro. "APO" on others is obvious.

 

eunkefer

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Potomac Fall

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• Feb 16, 2008

• #6

The Z 65mm f/4 W and Z 50mm f/4.5 W do NOT have floating elements, latest models M 65mm f/4 L-A and M 50mm f/4.5 ULD L have the floating element system.

Regards Ed

 

max_ebb

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• Feb 17, 2008

• #7

There's also a 65mm lens that's not a W or M L-A. The difference between the W and the non W lenses is that the W lenses have wider gaps between the aperture settings with lines for the half stop settings.