Re: Re[2]: [Leica] S'cron performance

[creadick@mindspring.com (Nowell Creadick)]

A question for Erwin, Patrick et al....I must admit that the most memorable
(35mm) photos I have were taken with 60's Contarex (Zeiss) lenses...I have
noted some writers suggesting those lenses have yet to be surpassed. To be
honest,,,Leica has not yet had a fair trial for me but I am curious if any
of you have used both those outfits and have comments.  I recently acquired
the new Nikkor AFD 60 2.8 Macro and it has a rare (for Nikon) "5 Star"
rating and I also look forward to giving it a try...Nowell

>On 21 Jan 98 at 9:51, Erwin Puts wrote:
>
>
>> I may be a loner in this one, but I have reported at length about
>> the relative weak performance of the Summicron ('54-'69) at large
>> apertures. It is indeed a fact that this lens, while in its days
>> unsurpassed, has been superceded qualitatively not only by its
>> newer successors, but also by a number of high class Japanese
>> lenses from the late sixties, early seventies, the famous Nikkor-H
>> 2/50 being one example. The Summicron (first gen) still has its
>> loyal followers, and the performance is even today goog, at smaller
>> apertures even very good. It is however wrong to assume that every
>> lens Leitx made at any time is the best now and stays so in the
>> future, irrespective of progress and competition.
>
>Hello Erwin -- thanks for your sensible and balanced input on this
>topic.  I certainly can believe that the pre-69 Summicron is not as
>sharp as a modern Nikkor; it just surprised me because I had heard
>that the 1950's -- 1960's rigid Summicron was the same formula as
>the DR Summicron, which I had understood to be a lens with very high
>acutance (I seem to remember someone on this list saying 150
>lines/mm, although I don't recall an aperture being mentioned).  On
>the other hand, your lens tests have always impressed me, and I will
>certainly take your word on this topic ahead of any anecdotal claims
>-- especially as I have no experience with these lenses!
>
>Certainly I've seen where a Pentax 50/1.8 is lots sharper than my
>50/1.5 Summarit at larger apertures, although not noticeably sharper
>than my recent 50/2 Summicron-R.  I still find images made with the
>Summarit more pleasing than those made with the Pentax, however.
>
>-Patrick