Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/02/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi, > I was reading some Leica things on another system. One of the people > wrote that Leica manufactured M lenses with just a little coma so that > the out of focus areas would have a "little glow". > > Is this just true of the older lenses or all Licea M Lenses? I have a two year old Summicron M 35/2 (Ser. No. 3592163). This lens has noticeable vignetting and coma at full openings. (These are my _only_ complaints about this lens.) The 35 mm aspehiracal does _much_ better than the 35/2 at full openings. I also have the 50 and 90 mm Summicron M. These too are better than the 35/2. The Coma has been most distracting when I take night time pictures and have used full opening. I expect the problem would also be manifest in dim lit situations with small highlights or surface reflections. To put things in perspective I should say that I still prefer my 35 mm Sumicron way above my 35mm f 2.0 Nikkor which doesn't display these two faults. Out of my three M-lenses I also use the 35/2 more than the other two combined. My advice would be to consider your needs. If these shortcomings aren't really in the way for the kind of pictures you'll be taking, the Summicron is a very practical lens that is ideal in many situations. If not, you may want to consider the 35 mm aspherical. Optically it is a true beauty, although heavier and bulkier than the Summicron. -- Tore