Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jeffery, My experience with the new lenses coming out of Solms has been one of intense color saturation, more so than my Zeiss selections. The new designs from Zeiss may be a leap to new heights so we must wait and see. The 50 doesn't appear to be anything brilliant, at least from the Japanese sites. Don dorysrus@mindspring.com -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Jeffery Smith Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 9:08 PM To: 'Leica Users Group' Subject: RE: [Leica] Thoughts on the new Zeiss lenses Although I've never done a valid blind study, Zeiss glass and Leica glass seem to give two different kinds of results. When I think of Leica, I think of excellent resolution with a bit less color saturation or contrast. Zeiss seems to give me the opposite results, i.e., nice saturated colors without quite the pinpoint resolution of Leica. As a result, I tend to shoot color with Zeiss (and Konica) and B&W with Leica (and Cosina). So it may not just be more of the same. Jeffery Smith New Orleans, LA http://www.400tx.com -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+jls=runbox.com@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+jls=runbox.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Don Dory Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 8:30 PM To: lug@leica-users.org Subject: [Leica] Thoughts on the new Zeiss lenses On the one hand, I agree that the introduction of more choice to the M system will benefit us all. Competition should make various suppliers rethink business as usual, hopefully thinking through the entire process to find a way to make a better product at a better price. However, I find the interest in the new 50, 35, 28, 25 and 21 to be fairly amusing. All five of those focal lengths have some very nice selections available both new and used. I don't think anybody is concerned about the quality of their Summicron latest generation, the 35 ASPH, the 24 Elmarit or the 21ASPH. Then you have the entrants from Konica, Cosina, Rollei, and others: all of which receive very high marks for quality and price. Comparing new, the 21 Biogon might be of interest if it is the same quality as the 21 in the Contax SLR range. In that formulation it is of very high quality and is quite a bit cheaper. Now, what about the 85? Why on earth would anyone be greatly interested in this lens? Anybody not satisfied with the sharpness of their 90 APO? OK, you want a little more skin friendliness, try the 90 Elmarit, or the Cosina 75, or a 85 Nikkor, or a 90 pre ASPH Summicron, or the Konica, or... My major point is that this focal length is full of some very nice lenses, all of which are less expensive new, and a lot less expensive used. The 15mm could be of great interest to someone who needs a really wide angle lens of the highest quality. The 15mm Cosina lens is pretty good, but a little slow with 5.6 being the best aperture from a quality standpoint. But, drop back and pick up a Pentax 15mm which is extremely similar to the prior Zeiss 15 and can be had for $1200-1300. Heck, the Pentax will even fit on a pretty fine digital body that together costs less than the Zeiss lens all by itself. This bodes for a really rare lens that is only purchased by a few hundred pro's or really dedicated amateurs. So, I guess the major part of the line up is the usual great Zeiss quality without any wow factor. Think about the 50 1.5 Sonnar in 1935, WOW! What about the 21 Biogon in about 1953(Marc will provide the exact date), that was an earthshaking lens. The 85 1.4 in the late 60's was a revelation to the Japanese who had taken over the photographic industry. Think about the 18mm in the same period as the 85mm, this was a statement of superior design ability. Another 35mm F2 lens, zzzzzzzzz. Oh boy, a really good 50mm F2 lens, pretty much indistinguishable from about six other current lenses on the market. That will put me to sleep, and I love the 50mm focal length. Now, a digital 1.3 crop body from Zeiss that uses the M mount, that will get me digging into the "I hope SWAMBO doesn't find out about this" fund. 0.02 Don dorysrus@mindspring.com _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information