Re: [Leica] Which one is the Leica?

["Anthony Atkielski" <anthony@atkielski.com>]

From: Godfrey DiGiorgi <ramarren@bayarea.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 1999 20:26
Subject: Re: [Leica] Which one is the Leica?


> The four element Tessar design is remarkably good for
> its simplicity but characteristic of Tessars is a certain
> amount of light falloff and softness at the corners of
> the image when used at apertures close to wide
> open.

Aren't there much more expensive Tessars available?  If so, do the expensive
ones have the same problem?

> The Yashica T5 camera's program holds the lens wide open
> until an EV value which allows at least 1/125 second
> is achieved, then it starts to close down the aperture.

This was Velvia, a dark blue subject in bright sunlight on a medium-gray
background.  Not sure what the camera picked, but following your logic, it would
have been around f/4 or so at 1/125 sec.  The lens only opens to f/3.5, so I
guess that is practically "wide open" for this camera.

> ... most Tessars are front element focusers, I'm
> not sure about the T5 design.

I can't tell.  The front of the lens moves in and out, but of course that would
happen with just about any design except IF.

> The Tessar lens in it is one of the best in the class,
> certainly at the price.

I still don't understand how Yashica can put a Zeiss lens in the camera and
still keep the same price point as the competition.  Do they and Kyocera have
some special deals with Zeiss, or what?

In any case, anyone who pays even retail price for the Yashica is getting more
than his money's worth, no doubt about that.

  -- Anthony