[Leica] RE: 35 -350 designed for digital? are you sure??

["BIRKEY, DUANE" <dbirkey@hcjb.org.ec>]

Eric Welch writes:

>Indeed. The 17-35 and the 35-350 are clearly intended as lenses for
>the DCS series of digital bodies. It's not that they're bad, just not
>as sharp (or expensive) as they would have been if they were designed
>primarily for film. And in the summer, they're the only lenses one
>needs on the front of such a camera...the winter is a different
>matter.

Uh,  correct me if I'm wrong, but the 35-350L came out well  before 
Canon had DCS digital cameras on the market.  Pop photography had a 
test of the lens in 6/93.  I would be interested to hear the source 
that both those lenses were primarily designed for digital cameras as I 
find it hard to believe.  The 35-350, as I remember from a Canon tech 
rep,  was primarily designed for publication usage where the zoom range 
was  more important than super high resolution.  If you look at Canon's 
entire pro market, digital has to be a relatively small percentage of 
their unit sales.  I use the 17-35 on a very regular basis and I have 
no complaints about it.  It's certainly as sharp or sharper than the 
other Canon wide zoom I own they "designed for film".   Every 
manufacturer has to balance overall quality with final cost to 
consumer.  Canon and Nikon compete with each other on that level,  
Leica doesn't compete with anyone on that level.  That's why I'm still 
using Canon.  

No, it's not pick on Eric Day,  yet

Besides, if I'm wrong, I'll be batting 0 for 2 today.

Back to the darkroom.

Duane