Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/04/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The 28 Elmarit 2.8 ASPH appeared to be designed for the M8 not the Summicron - its performance drops in the corners when used wide open on a 24x36mm frame as you can see on the MTF chart linked from here: http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/m_system/lenses/2194.html. The 28 Summicron is sharp right out to the corners, and has a very flat field. H. Ball Arche, who used to use a 28 a lot and posted here prolifically, didn't like the flat field because it made heads in the corners of the frame look like footballs - he preferred the C-V 28/1.9 which had greater barrel distortion and a less flat field, but less apparent distortion of things like heads in the corners. A nice display of the compromises optical design includes. The 35 Summicron ASPH was designed during the film era and in some ways doesn't perform as well as the 35 Summilux ASPH II with the floating element, but it's still pretty formidable. On the M8 I prefer a 28 to a 35, but I think generally I prefer a 28 overall, even if it is the Nikkor 28mm f1.4 which is actually a ~31mm lens. After Leica revises the 50 Summicron (now the oldest lens in the M line up and the only Summicron without aspherical element(s)) the 35 and 90 ASPH Summicrons are probably next, because they are the oldest. Summicron 28 (borrowed, and my, look at that magenta!): http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Freakscene_001/L1002579.jpg.html Nikkor 28: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Tsukiji/File0825.jpg.html Marty On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 6:40 AM, John McMaster <john at mcmaster.co.nz> wrote: > Where are you coming from Mark? > Where has it been said that they are lowering quality?? > Where is it said that they designed an M lens for smaller than 24mm x > 36mm??? > > I am on record here in saying how good the 28mm Summicron is..... > > All I am saying, and this backed up by users on this list, is that a 28mm > lens becomes the equivalent of a 35mm on the M8 and that is a more used > focal length than 28mm is for FF. > > Please read (and understand) what is being said rather than making things > up. > > john > ________________________________________ > > > It strike me as phantasmagorical baloney that Leica lowered its standards > on > edge quality to make the compact Leica 35mm f/2 SUMMICRON-M ASPH ideal for > the M8 making it less ideal for the M9. By the way the lens is now being > sold new for just over four grand $. > I don't think Leica has ever made a lens for a crop camera and has stated > over and over any lens it ever makes will be fully usable on a film M. > I don't t think anything is going to get it to settle for less than > excellent edge quality for its M glass going straight out to a 43.3mm image > crop circle.... > The 28 Summicron is ?a gem and at the top of my list for my next Leica > lens. > This lowering of quality thing is a LUG myth which I don't think we're > going > to find documented elsewise. > > > - - from my iRabs. > Mark Rabiner > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/springdays/ > > >> From: John McMaster <john at chiaroscuro.co.nz> >> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> >> Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:47:45 +1200 >> To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> >> Subject: Re: [Leica] The world is awash with M9....... >> >> That is more of an M8 staple rather than the 35mm/50mm of the M9..... >> >> john >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> I have seen more 28 Summicron for sale in the last month than last 2 >> years. > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information