Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]From: Eric Welch <ewelch@ponyexpress.net> Sent: Monday, October 04, 1999 05:30 Subject: Re: [Leica] How much difference is there....really > But you are right, resolution is hardly the only issue, > yet it keeps people thinking that there is no advantage > to Leica lenses other than sharpness and "local contrast," > or micro contrast. My Leica lenses have a distinctive "you are there" look (the only way I can describe it) that almost none of my other lenses provide. The only exception is my AF-S Nikkor zoom, which also has that 3-D, real-world look to it. The Leica lenses have better resolution than the AF-S zoom, but both are so sharp that it usually doesn't matter (they both beat my scanner, and my scanner provides resolution high enough for posters). Other than the AF-S zoom, my other Nikon lenses are definitely worse, although they look nice as long as you don't compare them to the AF-S or the Leica glass. And in fact the newer AF Nikkors are better than the old Series E lenses I have from way back, and the Series E looked nice when I got them. And they are nice, compared to the cheapo lenses on digital and P&S cameras (except perhaps the Yashica T5). > You actually have to get out and USE Leica lenses in > nasty conditions, with fast film, and see how it handles > lighting that lesser lenses don't handle as well. Come to think of it, I have yet to see any signs of flare or other problems in my Summicron. I guess you don't notice it when it's not there--you only see it when it is present, and then you think "rats, look at that flare!" I've shot a fair number of pictures with the sun practically streaming into the lens and I still see no signs of internal reflections or anything like that (even with the UV filter on). I'm looking at one such photo in Photoshop right now that looks beautiful--and I'm happy to say that it was also perfectly exposed, despite the harsh lighting conditions. (I am getting better!) -- Anthony