Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/04/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 06:33 AM 4/28/99 +0000, you wrote: >>> D Khong wrote: >> >>>After much thought and pondering over this question, I think the best MF >>>camera would probably be a German Rollei TLR with 80/2.8 Planar lens which >>>has superb sharpness, nice contrast, and the focal length responsible for >>>80% of MF prize winning pictures. Moreover, it is also light, rugged, >>>simple to use, easy to service, relatively cheaper to buy and if well taken >>>care of will last another lifetime. The lack of interchangeable lens is >>>not really a great disadvantage when you consider that the "normal lens" >>>(just like the 50mm summicron on your leica) can be used to take a majority >>>of pics. > >>snip >> >>Dan, I understand what you say. The only MF camera I now keep is a >>Rolleicord Vb. It is even smaller and lighter than 'flex 80/2.8's, and you >>cannot beat Xenar. Shooting with a TLR differs from that with rangefinder >>cameras, though. >> >>Leicalement, >> >>Mikiro >>Strasbourg >> > >They are smaller partly because they have less glass. The Planars and the >Xenotars are better performers and this is evidently so in the edges of the >frame. They have f2.8 apertures (compared to the relatively miniscule f3.5 >of the Xenars/Tessars). In the days of max. ISO 100 film or so, that extra >stop would mean that you could still handhold the camera. > >In terms of sharpness, the 3.5 Planars and Xenotars constructed those few >decades ago are legendary and, in my opinion, can still beat the pants off >many of the current modern lenses with their attractive MTF curves that >more or less cloud buyers' decisions these days. Do I study those MTF >curves when I buy lenses? No, I look at the pictures that they produce. >After using these classic beauties for some years now, I just love to see >those beautiful images that come out of my 1950 Rollei "box cameras." My >friend with his Mamiya is continually green with envy. > >Dan K. I'm quoting the whole message because I couldn't work out what to snip... What is interesting to me is that some people still prefer the images they get with the simpler Tessars and Xenars on those Rolleiflexes that have them. I archived a number of messages from the Rollei list where people stated such a preference. This kind of thing really gets my attention. This is another interesting case of a preference for a certain "look" not necessarily coinciding with superior lens performance. The same phenomenon occurs with Leica lenses of course- some people still prefer the look of lenses that have officially been superceded by better designs. My suggestion for a suitably esoteric Leica quality MF system; the Rolleiflex SL66. Not exactly the latest thing in technology, nor easy to find lenses for, but fun if you can find them. Joe Berenbaum