Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/15

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Noctilux fever
From: Walter S Delesandri <walt@jove.acs.unt.edu>
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 18:00:08 -0600 (CST)

Be Damned, Heretic, and experience the wrath of the Leica Gods 
as they descend to crush you!!!

(good post, Martin, I agree with most all of it, but I hope you
understand that the LUG doesn't approve of anything but the "latest" 
model :) :) :) :) :) --- after all, these aren't ordinary folks, here 
on the LUG -- they can tell the difference in a 35 Sumi and a 35 ASPH 
on TMZ film, in an 8x10 print at 100 yards....they're not at all like 
us.....)
CU Later, 
Walt

On
Fri, 15
Jan 1999, Martin V. Howard wrote:

> With all the recent ranting and raving about the Noctilux, I thought I'd
> add a (sane) comment to the contrary.
> 
> I don't have the Noctilux.  I have no desire for it.  I fail to see the
> reason for spending horrendous amounts of money on a lens for one more
> extra stop, when using one stop slower shutter speed & bracing, or 
> one stop EI faster film will do the trick. I will admit, though, that
> the bokeh is *very* nice, judging from LUGgers pix.
> 
> I would welcome comments from those who use the older Leica gear. Those
> with IIs and IIIs, who use 35 Elmars and Summarons, 50 Summars,
> Summarits and Summitars, 90 Elmarits and 135 Hektors. Tips for using
> cameras without built-in meters in poor, non-uniform lighting.  Not
> because I'm anti-technology, but because I'm sure you exist and it would
> be a nice balance to the discussions about high-tech, super-expensive,
> exotica.  Leica, to me, is as much about being able to take pictures
> where an SLR wouldn't work, as it is about quality, myth and money.
> 
> I guess it boils down to the kind of photography your interested in.
> I would much rather have a III with 50 Summar and Ilford Delta 3200
> than an M6HM with Noctilux and EI 100 slide film.  Of course, should
> someone give me the M6HM+Nocti combo, the revenue from the sales would
> buy a litter of IIIs ;-)
> 
> No doubt someone will write to "enlighten" me to the fact that the
> Noctilux and Summar are worlds apart with regard to resolution,
> contrast, MTF, lp/mm and whatnot.
> 
> And, by the way, yes, I am interested in "available light" photography,
> and not just at noon during summer.  Still, with EI 400 film, at f2 and
> 1/15s or 1/30s (possible with bracing and proper breathing) you can get
> wonderful shots.  With a Nocti, the same would be 1/60 or 1/125 at f1.
> The difference between resting your elbows on the table or not.
> 
> I'm sure that those who have bought Noctiluxes are very happy with
> them.  Still, I'm convinced that spending the equivalent on practicing
> (i.e., film, developing and printing) would ultimately result in
> better photographs.  At least for me.
> 
> 
> M.
> 
> -- 
> Martin V. Howard, Application Systems Laboratory,     | 
> Dept. of Comp. & Info. Sci., Linkoping University,    | Just "DOHH" it!
> SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden.  Tel +46 13 282 421,     +----------------+
> Fax +46 13 142 231; marho@ida.liu.se; www.ida.liu.se/~marho
>