Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]<html> Many thanks for the VAE report. I've been using one of these lenses since it became available. From a users point of view, I find the images from this lens, stunning. I am very happy to see that your rigorous tests prove what I have come to believe from ordinary field use. I only use my R cameras on tripods. So the VAE is right at home.<br> <br> About women lens designers. I read, a year or so ago, about one of Schneider's chief lens designers, a woman, who came up through Schneider from a low level menial job. She was not schooled as an optical engineer, but learned the trade at Schneider. She is (if I remember correctly) responsible for the aspheric lenses and the line of HM lenses. My most prized LF lens is my 120mm Super Symmar HM. Of the loupes that I have, clearly the best, by a large margin, is the Schneider 6x ASPH.<br> <br> The 30x40 Cibachromes I've made, from images taken with the 120mm HM lens, are simply unbelievable. If one did not know better, one would think they are from 8x10 originals.<br> <br> Many thanks to the ladies in lens design.<br> <br> Jim<br> <br> <br> At 12:10 AM 5/15/99 +0200, you wrote: <br> <br> <blockquote type=cite cite>Part 2. <br> <br> <br> The Vario-Apo-Elmarit-R 1:2,8/70-180 is a very good example of the optical progress of the last ten years and living proof of the capabilities of the optical team in Solms. Some time ago Leica stated with some bravado that zoomlenses would never reach the high level of their prime lenses. At the same time Zeiss was producing zoomlenses with excellent imagery. In the photographic world men dominate as well as in the industrial companies, It is fine twist in history that the VAE is indeed better than most prime lenses which focal length it covers and has been designed by a female optical designer. (the Summicron-ASPH 2/35 is also designed by her).</blockquote><br> >....<br> <br> <blockquote type=cite cite>Erwin </blockquote></html>