Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/07/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 11:40 AM 7/16/96 -0700, you wrote: > > > I am looking for an M-4P and 50 or 35 summicron. What should I pay >for these, and any tips on how I could get a good deal on them. Also, what >is the straight dope on the 35 summilux? Is it really a stinker? I owned >one, and it exhibited many peculiar characteristics. It suffered from >flare like you would not believe, and often it would produce special >effects like you were looking through teary eyes. I have photos of flowers >where the color almost seems to bleed. I actually like these effects, >because they give a dreamlike effect to the images. I guy I spoke to this >morning in town says that the 35 summilux is a real stinker. But you will >hear others rave about it. I have not been able to try the 35 summicron, >it's smaller and sharper, right? > > Thanks, Claude. > Claude--The old 35 Summilux (very recently discontinued) was, a friend at Leitz tech services told me, by far the poorest of the current M lenses. The design is so old, he said, that it was the last of their lenses designed without the help of a computer! Optically, it remained the same from the time it was introduced in 1961! (See Rogliatti for confirmation.) My recommendation: get a recent 35 f2 (outstanding) or, of course, if you can afford it, get either of the two 35 mm. f 1.4 aspherics. Charles E. Love, Jr. 517 Warren Place Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-7338 CEL14@CORNELL.EDU