Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hello there. Sorry to bother you but I had a Nikkor question for you. I recently inherited an old Nikon F and I am being sent a 105 2.5 lens for it. I am a Leica user and wanted to know what other old Nikkor lenses should I hunt for that you feel might be pretty close to the Leica lenses. A few people have said that the 105 is fantastic. I'm especially interested in a wide like a 20 or 24 as well as a low light lens. Any help would truly be appreciated. Thanks Gabe Alex Hurst wrote: > Ken Iisaka wrote: > > > >If we bring the lenses of different vintages into this discussion, we're > >comparing apples and oranges! > > Good point. All my Nikkors bar two (both zooms) are from the Nikon F era, > and are definitely not multi-coated. > > All my R lenses are 2 cam and presumably roughly contemporary with the SL > and SL2. > > So maybe it's mainly the advances in coating technology which are > responsible for my perception that the early Nikkors are 'colder'. Not > much, but it's definitely there in photographic prints. > > Which raises two more interesting points: > > a) If there is a wide variation in individuals' colour perception, can we > really talk about 'true' photographic colours as opposed to those which are > pleasing to the individual? No problem here with b/w! > > b) The output from my venerable Leicas and Nikons is processed through a > PowerMac/Nikon Coolscan/Photoshop/Epson Stylus Photo combo. Obviously this > gives you total control over final colour rendition at both scanning and > printing stages, so at the end of the day the criterion is the colour > balance that looks most pleasing to your individual eye. > > Colour can also vary wildly depending on what stock you're printing on. For > the highest quality results I use A4 white glossy plastic film. This > produces brilliant colours and the sharpest rendition possible from an > inkjet as there's no ink spread. Compare this with a print on glossy paper > from exactly the same settings. You still get an excellent result, but the > colour is just a shade different. This is even more marked if you're using > good quality matt coated paper. > > In the end, I suppose, it's not precisely what you saw when you pressed the > shutter release that counts, but what you want in the final print. After > all, the fine cameras we use are only the means to this end. > > Slan > > Alex > > Alex Hurst > Cork Florists > 19 Winthrop St, Cork > Republic of Ireland > Tel: +353 21 270 907 > Fax: +353 21 271 248 > email: corkflor@iol.ie > Website: http://www.flowerlink.com/corkflorists > Home website: http://homepages.iol.ie/~corkflor/