Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/07/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Paul said: "I think one of the advantages the M series will continue to enjoy in terms of performance is the ability of the designers to ignore the requirements of AF and IS, which has to be a huge part of current optical design for the mainstream companies." I agree with you, except that they must continue to improve the matching of RF to lens focus cams, in order to meet the needs of the more demanding focus requirements of the digital sensor. I continue to be amazed at the number of instances on this forum where cameras and lenses are returned to Leica for adjustment. Jim Nichols Tullahoma, TN USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Roark" <roark.paul at gmail.com> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2011 10:31 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] The IIIF still works > Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> wrote: >> ... >> Optical science has not stood still ... > > I had an interesting discussion with a Canon technical rep some years > ago. He made the point that most R&D went into not making lenses > sharper per se, but rather making them "affordable" while still good > enough. That reality even affects Leica -- although at a higher > price-performance point. > > Along this line, it appears one of the main advances may be in making > molded aspherics better. One simply can't make a top notch, very wide > or very fast lens with only spherical elements, and the cost of > grinding one aspheric at a time is even out of Leica's cost structure. > I think what we'll see, going forward, is the move to more and more > aspherics -- not just a single element per optic. In line with this > thinking, I'd guess that the slower telephotos, where aspherics are > not needed, would be the area where the older Leica lenses can best > match the newer ones (at least in a low flare situation). > > I think one of the advantages the M series will continue to enjoy in > terms of performance is the ability of the designers to ignore the > requirements of AF and IS, which has to be a huge part of current > optical design for the mainstream companies. > > Paul > www.PaulRoark.com > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >