Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/08

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Subject: [Leica] Words of Wisdom!
From: Claes Bjerner <claes.bjerner@pi.se>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 98 21:50:48 +0100

Yesterday Bob Roseman wrote this on the EOS list:

>All right Ladies and Gentlemen, it's put up or shut up time. I have been =
on
>this list long enough to know that there are those of you out there who
>feel that lens sharpness is the be all and end all of lens performance
>(with occasional comments concerning damping, lens droop, and my favorite
>topic, self destruction of Sigma lenes).
>
>But, folks, what in the world do all of you do with that sought after
>sharpness? I can't imagine that you all have framed and mounted 16x20's
>hanging on your walls. Do you shoot slides that are subject to critical
>judging at photoclubs? Have you once had a scathing rejection by a stock
>agent because your stuff wasn't 'pro' quality? I am curious because I have
>started to look carefully at what I have seen published that I know is =
35mm
>and a lot of it isn't that sharp. Have any of you seen the last two Sigma
>ads for their macro lens in Pop Photo - the praying mantis and the fungus =
?
>Those pictures are awful. (I throw away pictures better than that.)
>
>If sharpness is the holy grail why are you shooting 35mm?
>
>Lenses have a lot of characteristics. Weight, Speed (maximum f-stop),
>focusing speed, contrast, flare resistance, durability, minimum focusing
>distance, mechanical ruggedness, weather resistance, sharpness, zoom =
range,
>cost, and beauty - to name some. 
>
>Yet, we see constantly, that some echew zooms for primes because they are
>sharper. That's okay I guess as one reason, but it seems to be the central
>theme of lens selection. I don't believe that in the real world (as =
opposed
>to list bragging) it is. So here is my challange. 
>
>Let's all cut out the posturing about being pros, experts, wealthy, poor
>what ever it is we use to justify the lenses we buy and level about
>subjects we shoot, what lenses we have, and whether what we own fills the
>bill or leaves us wanting. 
>
>That way, we will all benefit far more from one another's experience.
>Remember the truth!
>
.....
...
..

Bob Roseman
Atlanta, GA

http://www.electronicego.com/rosemanphotography/

Well,
Don=B4t you think Bob=B4s opinions also fit our Leica list?

Claes