Re: [Leica] Lens choice--sole lens for M6

["Julian Koplen" <jkoplen@mindspring.com>]

Hi Ted,

Thanks for your tips and your insights.  They have truly got my attention.
You have, of course, exposed a truth about those of us not privileged enough
to be really productive photographers--there is a tendency for us to fall
back on "idol worship" in the form of equipment obsession, whereas, if we
were out there making the pictures, we would have other issues in mind (such
as picture content).

It is hard for me to think that I can focus the 50-R and 35-R indoors on
low-luminance faces accurately enough for f/2 shooting, but I plan to give
it a more serious dry run tomorrow, using the technique you described and
looking for consistency on the lens markings. Any other ideas on that
challenge. I thought of using the kids' shiny hair and hoping that DOF would
get me by for the face.

I had another look at your wonderful book this afternoon and re-read some of
your technical comments.  Do you recall which images might have been done
with the 35mm Summilux M?

Now you and I are too old to lie to one another, so I must admit to you that
I have this deep longing to return to some M photography, having left it
about 15 years ago in order to accumulate my R equipment.  My wife teaches
in this school where I want to photograph her pupils, and I HAVE HER
OFFICIAL BLESSING to make these M purchases. This fortuitous combination of
events may be even rarer than that moon stuff you told us about. I gotta
make my M moves without hesitation, lest the heavenly constellations change
without warning.

Your "candid opinion" is very valuable to me and much appreciated.

Regards.............Julian


- ----- Original Message -----
From: Ted Grant <tedgrant@islandnet.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 10:58 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Lens choice--sole lens for M6


Julian wrote:

>    I'm not looking for a magic answer here, but  maybe for opinions from
>those who have actual first-hand experience as opposed  to just reading
>about this stuff.   I am happy with my R8 system, except when it comes  to
>focusing indoors, especially with anything wider than my 50mm
>Summicron-R.>>>>>

Hi Julian,

A tip for indoors with wider than 50mm R.

Turn the focuing ring to the closest point of focus so that when you look
through the view finder, everything is totally visual mush!!!!!

Then start to focus on the subject from there, rather than from infinity to
closer. It's much easier to see the image snap into focus from visual
oblivion to sharp, than going from infinity to closer, where you find you
squiggle back and forth looking for the sharpest point of focus.

Worked for me for years.

<<<<<I am omitting the pre-ASPH 35mm Summilux,  because I have heard that
the lens requires an appreciation of its "character"  rather than its
sharpness and clarity, especially at the wider "indoor"  apertures.>>>>>

Sorry Julian you've been fed a crock! The 1.4 35 Summilux is a beautiful
lens, sure it's not as distinct as the "aspheric," wide open. But it's a
wonderful lens that creates negatives shot at 1.4 in available darkness
that stand to be enlarged to 16X20 prints. And yes they are sharp! Ask the
folks at the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography what my prints
look like.

Or look at some of the images in my book, "This is Our Work." where I used
it wide open.

I'd say for what you want to shoot and you can find a good "user 35
Summilux" at a good price, go for it. Besides if you don't like what you
see in the end negs and prints, you can always sell it!

So please don't write off a wonderful lens simply because some techno freak
gave you bad advice.

<<<<Is the 50mm Summilux good enough at apertures smaller than f1.4 to
compete with the two Summicrons, which enjoy such a fine reputation?  Or am
I missing the boat by some of my rejected choices noted above?>>>>>

You're talking apples and oranges! Better to ask the question, "Do I want
to make great photographs or do I want squeaky sharp edge everything crispy
clean with no feeling in the image pictures?"

Hell the 50 Summilux is another fine lens at any aperture, does it have the
same  sharpie edgeness as the Summicron? Nope, but who cares! It's the end
photograph that counts and it's feeling, people are not going to look at
your pictures and say,"Ooooooh what nice sharp edges you have to the
contents!"

Man you always have to weigh this Leica "sharpie edge" stuff with what you
are doing and is it absolutely necessary to have a test bench sharp edges
or do you want photographs that capture the mood and feeling of the
situation.

Just my candid opinion. :)

ted



Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant