[Leica] Leica Quality versus Medium Format

["Miguel Gil" <dtt2150@hotmail.com>]

I use both a Hasselblad and a Leica.  It's doesn't matter that the Leica 
35mm performance is the same or gets close to the Hasselblad 6x6 quality.  
For me, it's a second consideration.  I just like to compose in the square 
format sometimes.  I don't like to visualize an image in a rectangle format 
then crop it latter to a square, especially if shooting slides.  Is Leica 
that good that its better than Zeiss glass in medium format or as good, 
probably not.  Just blow it up, the Blad will hold up better.  But I like 
grain and Leica renders grain different than other glass.

I remember in high school pushing Tri-X beyond 6400 ASA, shooting football 
in the darkest stadiums possible.  You couldn't look at a 16x20 from one 
foot away made from these negatives.   All you had to do was take a few 
steps back and your eye would fill in the gaps.  My friend used a Rollie's 
in high school all the time, his photos where always razord sharp.  Because 
of this his photos always had a different look than mind.  Mind had a look 
he could never copy nor could I copy his with my 35mm equipment.

If Leica makes medium format lens will be they that much better than Zeiss 
lens.  It would depend on what type of camera they make.  Obviously if its a 
rangefinder it would have the same design advantages that M's have over 
slr's.  If they make medium format SLR's, I hope the glass at least has the 
same type of color cast that M lens have.  I've read most of the post's on 
this topic.  Thought some might of gotten a bit carried away.  I think every 
photographer has a different view point when it comes to equipment, as well 
as the way they view photography as a medium of visual expresion.

Mike Gil


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