Re: [Leica] Summilux 80mm f1,4 - was: Optical Reference Standards

["John McLeod" <johnmcleod@worldnet.att.net>]

Lucien,

Could you elaborate a bit more on what it is you like about the 80/1.4.  You
comment on the handling with the R8 and on the advantages of having the
wider apertures at your disposal, but is there something about the quality
of the 80/1.4 images that you prefer over the 100 APO, despite the APO's
sharpness superiority?

John McLeod
- ----------
>From: Lucien <lucien@ubi.edu>
>To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject: [Leica] Summilux 80mm f1,4 - was: Optical Reference Standards
>Date: Mon, Sep 14, 1998, 5:16 PM
>

>LP6@aol.com wrote:
>> 
>> Re:  Optical Reference Standards:
>> 
>> Interesting:
>> 
>> But, Lucien's list fails to include R 80/1.4....one of my favorites!
>> 
>
>
>Leon,
>
>I use that lens and I love it, but I think the question was
>about "the sharper lenses" and not the lens I prefer.
>The 100/2,8 is  better at f2,8 and smaller f stops,
>and the result with Apo extender 2X are much better.
>But it's also true that I use much more the 80/1,4 now , 
>because I prefer the results. (IMO it's not sharp in the same way)
>:-)
>It was not the case few years ago.
>Maybe my taste changed.
>
>I had that lens (second hand) 10 years ago with a R5 and was never confortable
>with it, 
>specially without the winder, and maybe the results were affected.
>It was to big for the camera IMO (and the focusing ring was really stiff).
>I sold it and was ner sorry I did. (I replaced it with a 90/2,8
>and then with the APO 100 (both second hand also), the later that I still own
>and cherish)
>Then I tried again a 80mm on a R8: the handling and ease of use were 
>totally different.
>(thanks to the camera/lens weight and size ratios, 1/8000, fill in etc..)
>And maybe because of that, I liked very much the tests I made.
>Then I decided to save in order to buy a new one and, 
>after a new period of frustration because I was using it only at f1,4 , 
>I'm now so pleased with the results and the handling 
>(with or without winder) that, when I bring only one lens with the R8, 
>it's more often the Summilux than the Apo.
>I almost always use it between f2 and f4, thanks to the 1/8000s.
>I seldom use the flash with it, except for fill-in.
>
>But, anyway, it's still true that if you want the best quality (sharp) for
>landscape or close up,
>the Apo 100/2,8 is the King.
>
>My point here is that the ultimum sharpness is not all, but it was not the 
>question.
>:-)
>
>N.B. I'm not sure that I will be so happy with an APO Summilux 80/1,4 !
>
>Lucien