Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ken Iisaka wrote: > >If we bring the lenses of different vintages into this discussion, we're >comparing apples and oranges! Good point. All my Nikkors bar two (both zooms) are from the Nikon F era, and are definitely not multi-coated. All my R lenses are 2 cam and presumably roughly contemporary with the SL and SL2. So maybe it's mainly the advances in coating technology which are responsible for my perception that the early Nikkors are 'colder'. Not much, but it's definitely there in photographic prints. Which raises two more interesting points: a) If there is a wide variation in individuals' colour perception, can we really talk about 'true' photographic colours as opposed to those which are pleasing to the individual? No problem here with b/w! b) The output from my venerable Leicas and Nikons is processed through a PowerMac/Nikon Coolscan/Photoshop/Epson Stylus Photo combo. Obviously this gives you total control over final colour rendition at both scanning and printing stages, so at the end of the day the criterion is the colour balance that looks most pleasing to your individual eye. Colour can also vary wildly depending on what stock you're printing on. For the highest quality results I use A4 white glossy plastic film. This produces brilliant colours and the sharpest rendition possible from an inkjet as there's no ink spread. Compare this with a print on glossy paper from exactly the same settings. You still get an excellent result, but the colour is just a shade different. This is even more marked if you're using good quality matt coated paper. In the end, I suppose, it's not precisely what you saw when you pressed the shutter release that counts, but what you want in the final print. After all, the fine cameras we use are only the means to this end. Slan Alex Alex Hurst Cork Florists 19 Winthrop St, Cork Republic of Ireland Tel: +353 21 270 907 Fax: +353 21 271 248 email: corkflor@iol.ie Website: http://www.flowerlink.com/corkflorists Home website: http://homepages.iol.ie/~corkflor/