[Leica] Relative System Perfomance

[Vondauster <Vondauster@aol.com>]

Hi Folks,

Just got back from an extensive photo vacation and Photoshop Conference in
California, where once again my Leica lenses produced astonishingly good
results. Since I have owned and used professionally a number of systems over
the years, I thought I might add my two pfennig to this thread.

In a message dated 98-01-28 21:59:15 EST, Eric wrote:

<< Leica has the SAME 15mm lens as Zeiss. It's made by Zeiss. The 19mm Elmarit
 I'll stack up against Nikon's or Canon's 20s and say there is no comparison
 at all. Don't know about the Zeiss 21. I'm sure it's just as good or maybe
 better.
 
 But try to get a 400 2.8 from Zeiss. Or a 600 f/4, or 800 f/5.6, or a 560
 f/4. There was a prototype 600 f/4 by Zeiss. The price? Like maybe Bill
 Gates could buy one for weekend photo forays. >>

Eric is absolutely correct in his summary of the Zeiss system. The lenses are
overall excellent performers, optically. I was especially fond of the 25mm,
100mm f2 and f3.5, and 135mm f2.8. Mechanically the mount and aperture
mechanisms caused some problems over the years. What got me out of the system
was the lack of longer focal lengths, and ultimately the lack of matrix
metering. 

I found the Nikon 85mms (f1.8, f2.0, f1.4 AIS) to all be very good in
different ways. The 50s are mediocre, the 24mm 2.8 good but not great. Nikon's
autofocus was, until the F5, not useful to me.

Canon's EOS lenses overall produce a look that I prefer to Nikon, and the
cameras handle better and more intuitively in my hands. The 70-200 f2.8L zoom
is excellent, fast, and quiet. The 50mm 1.8 is tack sharp, the 50mm Macro
superb. The 24mm is better than Nikon's equivalent, though some might disagree
with me on that comparison. The 20mm is, however, disappointing wide open. The
28-70mm f2.8L is excellent, though very bulky and heavy.

But overall, if I could afford the R8 and a bevy of lenses, which at this time
I cannot, I would switch in a heartbeat. Accross the board, in my opinion,
Leica R lenses have fewer dogs in the lineup, and the most top performers of
any manufacturer.

...and I will not give up my M6 and 35, 50, and 90 for anything!

Will von Dauster