Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 3:01 PM -1100 5/16/00, Takeshi Hashimoto wrote: > >Check the MTF curves for both the film and the lenses. You'll note that >the response for each peaks at 5-15 lp/mm, and each, of course, is higher >than any competitors at that level. > >In other words, what makes Leica lenses so noticeably sharp is their >superb contrast transfer function at the 5-15 lp/mm region. > >Kodachrome 25 also happens to excel in this region, and has the highest >visible sharpness of any film (for that reason). High contrast above about >25-30 lp/mm is not as important (actually, it's quite useless) for human >perception of clarity and sharpness. > >Some other brands of lenses and films have higher transfer functions in >that region (above 25-30 lp/mm) but none has equaled the Leica/Kodachrome >25 juggernaut. > The main reason for Kodachromes high apparent sharpness and great MTF performance in that region (even 64 and 200) compared with films capable of higher resolution and with finer grain is the high acutance of the films, a factor that makes Cibachromes (sorry, Ilfochromes) from Kodachrome a whole 'nuther world than from E6 films. Maybe Kodak's first developer in K14 is Rodinal ;-). * Henning J. Wulff /|\ Wulff Photography & Design /###\ mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com |[ ]| http://www.archiphoto.com