[Leica] Leica-Users List Digest V2 #129

[Mike Johnston <70007.3477@compuserve.com>]

 A few comments on recent messages--
 --I think the new 0.85X M6 is being called the M6HM, for "High Magnification."
 --The new viewfinder will probably be retrofittable to older M6 bodies, hence
the labeling on the finder window only.
 --The 21mm for the G2 is *not* better than the 21mm f/2.8 for the Contax SLR,
which is currently one of the most perfect WA lenses money can buy. Sorry
John--this old saw about all lenses being better if they don't have to clear
the mirror box is an old wives' tale--if you'll think about it for a minute,
_all_ point-and-shoots have lenses that don't have to clear a mirror box. A
good lens is a good lens and a bad lens is a bad lens and broad generalizations
like this simply don't hold across the board. (Third commandment of
photography--never believe marketers' hype.) (Second commandment, as anyone in
Packerland will tell you, is never to believe your own hype <g>).
 --Guys, field curvature is not a good thing!!! Ever! You're trying to focus on
the film plane, not somewhere else! It's a conjugate that is sometimes fudged
so that the performance of the lens can be improved in other areas, that's all.
 --You can't test a lens by shooting a test chart any more than one blind man
can successfully describe an elephant.
 --I doubt anybody could damage a modern Leica lens by cleaning it carefully.
Early Summitars and Elmars and so forth had quite soft glass in the objective
(front element) and were susceptible to "cleaning marks" from excessive
(regular) cleaning (which is not necessary--there's no earthly reason to clean
your lenses more than once a month in the absence of visible soiling). So Leica
began in the 1970s to incoporate an objective made of harder glass as one of
their design goals. With the lenses you buy today, the objectives are simply
made to be cleaned--they are very tough and you would find it difficult to
abrade them if you were trying, much less if you're trying your best to be
careful. Heck, Ted Grant has gotten _cow shit_ (excuse mon Francais) all over
his Leicas and what are you going to do then? Norb Wu doused two of his Canon
F1s in salt water, so he opened them up and soaked them in a bucket of fresh
water and let them dry out for 24 hours. He used those same F1s for years
afterwards with no further service. Pro cameras are tougher than you
think--Leica Ms in particular are made to be bullied, not babied. If you think
you are tougher than your M6, go ahead, make its day. <gg>
 In any event, if you are able to "use up" a Leica lens by shooting with it,
you should be proud of yourself, not sorry. What are they for? <g>

 --Mike