Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/09/06
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Luggites,
For what it's worth, I have to agree with Erwin's assessment in the
Summilux/Noctilux question. I came to the same conclusion years ago, just by
shooting pictures with both lenses.
At one point in my sordid career as a photojournalist, I thought I would
dedicate an M5 body to a Noctilux for my "no light" camera. A buddy of mine
even went as far as to build a frame illuminator light which fit on the
accessory shoe.
Well, after using this combination for a while, I discovered because of
the weight of the lens I could only successfully handhold the Noctilux at a
1/15 sec @ f/1. This means in shooting six frames of something or someone ,
I would get three dead bang sharp, two passable, and one useless.
On the other hand, I could do the same thing with the Summilux at an 1/8
@ f/1.4, which is the same exposure. Plus, I thought the Summilux snaps were
a little sharper. I guess those few extra millimeters of depth of field
helped.
While everyone was jumping on Sonny Carter for his Tamron lens photo,
most of you forgot it is a very nice photo. It is the picture that counts
PERIOD. What you shot it with is MEANINGLESS.
A good photo shot with a Coke bottle lens is still a good photo. A bad
photo shot with your favorite Leica, Zeiss, Schneider lens is still a bad
photo.
Anyway, back to Tamron... Over a decade ago, I don't remember exactly
when. I was asked by Tamron USA to test their 80-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens. They
sent a Leica R4 Mount for the lens, and I used it for about three months.
While, I can't say it was better than today's APO zoom, it was an extremely
good performer and it was a single ring zoom lens. After, I returned the
lens, I decided I wanted it, but is was sold already.
Tamron is a very good and innovative company. They were the first to
introduce a 28-200mm zoom lens, and they pioneered the technique of lens
molding which Leica is using to make many of its ASPH lenses.
Happy Snaps,
Sal DiMarco, Jr.
Philadelphia, PA