[Leica] Contax color rendition

["Robert E. Woods" <woorob@email.msn.com>]

Hi, just got back and saw a few of the posts debating whether there is a
difference in the color rendition of Contax lenses (versus Leica lenses).

My brother and I recently ran an ad hoc test of the various cameras we own,
in identical conditions, same film, same processing, etc.  All pictures were
taken outdoors on a very cold day using two identical tripods.  Among the
cameras we tested were an M6, an R4, a Contax G1 with three lenses, a Contax
T2 and a Contax TVSII.

In blind evaluations of the results, everyone agreed that the color
rendition of the Contax lenses was uniform and identifiable.  That is, the
pictures taken with the three Contax cameras shared an extremely similar
coloration -- a noticeable yellowish cast.  You would never notice the
yellowish cast unless you compared the Contax pictures with those taken with
other cameras under identical conditions, but believe me, it was there.
What was especially interesting was that each of the three Contax cameras
shared almost identical color rendition, so obviously it is intentional.

But there can be no question -- the Contax pictures exhibited a slight but
noticeable yellowish tinge.

I plan to post the test results on my personal web page sometime later in
February.

Robert E. (Bob) Woods
28 North Deep Lake Road
North Oaks, MN 55127-6506
651-484-0931 (home)
woorob@msn.com (home e-mail #1)
woorob@hotmail.com (home e-mail #2)
www.woorob.com