[Leica] Vario-Elmar, part 1b

[Erwin Puts <imxputs@knoware.nl>]

- --============_-1281904633==_ma============
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


The performance at 35mm.
At full aperture (4) a high contrast image is produced, slight pincushion
distortion is visible and a trace of vignetting in the far corner. In the
center area (a circular zone of 6mm radius) outlines of objects are very
crisply rendered. Very fine detail can be clearly detected with a trace of
softness caused by colour fringing at the edges. Extremely fine details are
recorded with  softer edges and exceedingly fine detail is just
perceivable. In the field this performance holds with  a slight softening
of the details at various levels of detail rendition.  The reproduction of
extremely fine detail shows a small amount of astigmatism. This might be
visible when photographing architectural details and enlarging/projecting
to a very high degree: you will note that the vertical lines are crisp and
the horizontal lines a bit woolly. If you have textural details of
complicated patterns an overall softness will  be the result.  In the far
corners the veryfine detail is still visible, but very soft by now,
producing  fuzzy  details.
This level of performance holds till 1 meter and in the macro position,
where the distortion is a bit more pronounced.
At f/5.6 the overall image gets a visibly  higher sparkle and in the field
the rendition of extremely fine detail becomes quite crisp, showing that
high contrast and very high resolution go hand in hand. Corners stay
behind.
At f/8 the optimum is reached in the field, where the outines in the center
already show a slight setback.
This performance is identical in the f/11 position, and the f/16 shows the
usual fallback of quality.

The performance at 50mm.
At full aperture the overall contrast is a bit lower than in the 35
position, no vignetting or distortion. In the center (on axis) the outlines
of objects are quite crisp as are the fine and very fine details. Extremely
fine detail  has fuzzy edges, but still a high contrast. In the field fine
detail  is crisply rendered and very fine detail  has slightly soft edges,
becoming quite fuzzy when the extremely fine details are recorded. In the
far corners very fine details are are just visible.
At f/5,6 the image markedly crispens up and at f/8 the  extremely fine
details possess the sparkle and clarity of the best modern Leica lenses.
This performance holds till f/16 and in the closeup range.
- --============_-1281904633==_ma============
Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii"



<fontfamily><param>Times</param>The performance at 35mm.

At full aperture (4) a high contrast image is produced, slight
pincushion distortion is visible and a trace of vignetting in the far
corner. In the center area (a circular zone of 6mm radius) outlines of
objects are very crisply rendered. Very fine detail can be clearly
detected with a trace of softness caused by colour fringing at the
edges. Extremely fine details are recorded with  softer edges and
exceedingly fine detail is just perceivable. In the field this
performance holds with  a slight softening of the details at various
levels of detail rendition.  The reproduction of extremely fine detail
shows a small amount of astigmatism. This might be visible when
photographing architectural details and enlarging/projecting to a very
high degree: you will note that the vertical lines are crisp and the
horizontal lines a bit woolly. If you have textural details of
complicated patterns an overall softness will  be the result.  In the
far corners the veryfine detail is still visible, but very soft by now,
producing  fuzzy  details. 

This level of performance holds till 1 meter and in the macro position,
where the distortion is a bit more pronounced.

At f/5.6 the overall image gets a visibly  higher sparkle and in the
field the rendition of extremely fine detail becomes quite crisp,
showing that high contrast and very high resolution go hand in hand.
Corners stay behind. 

At f/8 the optimum is reached in the field, where the outines in the
center already show a slight setback. 

This performance is identical in the f/11 position, and the f/16 shows
the usual fallback of quality.


The performance at 50mm.

At full aperture the overall contrast is a bit lower than in the 35
position, no vignetting or distortion. In the center (on axis) the
outlines of objects are quite crisp as are the fine and very fine
details. Extremely fine detail  has fuzzy edges, but still a high
contrast. In the field fine detail  is crisply rendered and very fine
detail  has slightly soft edges, becoming quite fuzzy when the
extremely fine details are recorded. In the far corners very fine
details are are just visible. 

At f/5,6 the image markedly crispens up and at f/8 the  extremely fine
details possess the sparkle and clarity of the best modern Leica
lenses. This performance holds till f/16 and in the closeup range.
</fontfamily>

- --============_-1281904633==_ma============--