[Leica] Lenses again

[Mike Johnston <michaeljohnston@ameritech.net>]

>         I am just wondering if I would notice an immediate difference
> betwwen picture quality if I was going to compare the older
> ltm lense to
> the newer (not aspheric) lenses? I am sure if one did lens tests for
> lines per millimeter, etc the new lenses would probably be
> better, but I
> am talking just looking at the photos. I am going to be able to say oh

> yeah that was taken with a newer lens, and that was taken
> with an older
> lens? I am sure(I do not mean to offend anyone) that certain
> people who
> have invested a lot of money in newer equipment will swear by it but I

> wonder?


Mike,
You can pamper any lens to get it to look great--by learning what it
does well and then "feeding" it that specific condition.

There are many different conditions, however, under which we can
reasonably need our lenses to perform. Briefly:

Physical parameters
==============
size / weight / portability
susceptibility or resistance to damage
durability (ability to retain original specs and performance over time)
operability in extreme conditions of temperature, humidity, etc.

Economic parameters
==============
original cost
resale value

Optical parameters
============
ultimate performance (the best the lens can do)
consistency from near to far focusing distances
consistency up and down the range of apertures
consistency of performance across the field, i.e., from center to
corners
resistance to flare and ghosts in flare-inducing situations
(OPTIONAL) blur or "bokeh" in case you typically have out-of-focus areas
in your pictures

The real advantage of better lenses is that they extend the range of
conditions under which they will perform adequately or better.
Generally, the older the lens, the more likely it is to be sharper in
the center than at the corners; be markedly better at f/8 than at the
extreme apertures; be noticeably better at some focusing ranges than at
others (typically falling down at extreme close focus, but sometimes at
infinity focus); and be more suseptible to, and hence more limited by,
flare-inducing situations such as backlight, or bright lights in, or
just outside of, the picture area.

Older lenses can often be smaller, lighter, cheaper, and sometimes even
more durable. But there is no question that as far as optical parameters
are concerned, modern primes are the way to go. For an all-purpose lens,
in terms of balancing all the parameters mentioned above plus being an
excellent compromise in terms of angle of view, effective d.o.f., and
handling properties, it is really difficult to do better than the two
Leica-M ASPH 35mm lenses right now. They are simply superb: small and
light, very well made and durable, resistant to shocks, damage, and
scratches, very useful angle of view and good effective d.o.f.,
excellent ultimate performance as well as remarkably consistency up and
down the apertures, from far to near focus, and fron the center to the
corners of the film.

It isn't so much that your best pictures will be that much better;
sharp, beautiful pictures have been made since the era of the
daguerreotype. But these modern lenses will give you great freedom to
shoot effectively under a variety of conditions. It is really worth some
sacrifice to get one if possible.

- --Mike