Re: [Leica] R Hard to Focus

[FIGLIO4CAP@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/17/99 1:28:25 AM Eastern Standard Time,
ewelch@ponyexpress.net writes:

<<  The Leicas seem to have a blue tint compared to the Nikons.  I consider
 >this "feature" a disadvantage as well.  I wonder if anyone could explain
 >why Leica does this. >>
It's interesting that these concerns appear over again and again. Years ago I
did a series of experiments with Olympus, Nikon, Pentax and Leica lenses -
back when I had them all.  I used the same roll of Kodachrome in each body for
each equivalent lens focal length and aperture ( if possible). I then took
them into the PhotoCine shop in Phila. back when it was a true center for
"high-end" photographers. George Knectsberger, who owned the place, showed
these slides to dozens of his customers and certain conclusions became
eveident:

 Each company's lenses had a character to them although some lenses did not
exhibit the same color or image character as the remainder of that company's
line.. Olympus lenses were uniformly blue in the shadow areas as were most of
the Pentax lenses with the exception of the 15mm screw-mount rectilinear
(which I still have). These lenses tended to give a hard, brittle look to the
slides. Nikon lenses tended to make white faces too pink. However, both Pentax
and Nikon lenses were capable of producing very high apparent sharpness in
that edges of subjects had an almost etched appearance.

These are broad generalities and some lenses did not fit the "mold." However,
Leica lenses did , in the 70's and 80's, at least, produce a  "rounder" more
pleasing look. Faces take on a more dimensional character with more "life" in
them. Even simple landscapes tend to be more interesting. Shadow areas are
especially plesasing, without color casts, while maintaing gradation in the
darker areas. I also noticed some of that character in the larger format
Rodenstock lenses, as well.

The only new Leica lens that I have had is the 50mm f2.8 Elmar and it produced
images very similar to those of my older lenses. Therefore I cannot speak
about the latest generation of M and R lenses.

Please understand that these comments are broad generalities based on slides I
made some years ago, but the results did sway me to stick with Leica
exclusively. More recent experience with photos taken by associates of mine
who use Minolta and Nikon lead me to still feel good about the choice.

Bob Figlio