Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/05/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi, Once we started talking about the Canon SM lenses as Leica alternatives, how about the Canon 135/3.5? How are they compared with Leica Hektor or Elmar? Regards, David At 03:23 PM 5/02/98 EDT, you wrote: >The Canon Serinar 85mm F1.9 is an earlier model of the Canon 85mm F1.8. Yours >probably came in a chrome mount, while then later ones were in black. Both are >very good lenses. In fact, most of the Canon line of Leica screw mount lenses >is exceptional and would be good users for financially embarrased Leica fans. >The later ones were imported by Bell and Howell of motion picture camera fame. > >Actually the US recognition of the quality of Japanese optics occurred when US >press photographers covering the Korean War bought Nikon RF cameras in Japan >and found that the lenses were better than contemporary Leica or Contax >optics. David Duncan popularized the Nikon among Life photographers. In actual >fact, the Japanese have always been in the forefront of optical manufacture. >Even before WW2 Japanese optical equipment could always stand comparison with >the best of German and US gear. During WW2 the Japanese even delayed putting >radar on their battleships because their optical rangefinders were so good. It >was a stupid decision but it shows their faith in their optics. - LarryZ > >