Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/08/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Marc, It seems to me that lenses made during the mid seventies were not as robust as those made before. My 2nd-generation Summicron feels flimsy. However, the DR Summicron is a Tiger tank. The 2nd-generation Summicron is a Volkwagen by comparison. I don't agree with your comment concerning its optical performance. In terms of sharpness, it appears OK. I like the color saturation of the DR and 3rd generation better. However, all of the above appear to be anachronisms compared to the new 50mm Elmar. It is built like the M-1 tank and its optical performance and handling are both astounding. It may be a testimony to the genius of Max Berek combined with modern computing and glass. Best regards, Chris At 04:33 PM 8/2/96 -0400, you wrote: >At 11:47 AM 8/2/96 PDT, ThomasP@nacm.com wrote: > >>Mine is superior to the earlier one I owned and used for many years. That >> was a dual range model. The black one is lighter, too! Great for >>close-ups, but Leitz did specify that the M3 would not rangefinder-couple >>all the way. Planned obsolescence for the M3? > > >Well, "superior" is a relative term, I guess. I've owned three collapsible, >two rigids, two NF's, two second-generation, and three current-generation >lenses. Of these, the two NF's were the most satisfactory to me in terms of >both contrast and resolution. The second-generation were the least >satisfactory, as well as being the most poorly constructed. The current >version was deliberately designed to overcome the poor reputation from which >the second-generation lens suffered. > >The first-generation rigid was the next most satisfactory, followed by the >collapsible. The current version came next. The second-generation lens, >politely, is a dog. The market bears this out: there's little demand for >used second-generation lenses and they usually sell at a discount compared >to the earlier or later versions. > >If you've got one you like, more power to you, and I'm ecstatic you're >pleased. But the community attitude among Leica users has never been very >positive about this lens. > >Marc > >msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 >Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir! > > >