Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/26

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Choosing a 50mm Summicron
From: "Jean-Claude Berger" <jcberger@jcberger.com>
Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 23:25:29 +0200

Hi Shel,

I've used a 50 DR and the current Summicron. At medium apertures, there is no
visible differences (I shoot slow films both in color and B&W) other than a
slight advantage in matter of contrast to the current model. Sharpness is good
and so is color rendition. At f/2 (mainly) or f/2.8 the current model is a
little bit better in term of sharpness and far better when contrast or flare are
concerned. Two excellent lenses anyway.

BTW, I made a set of pictures (Kodak E100 VS) at the same time with a Nikon
50/1.8 AF and the current Summicron. Sharpness was excellent (did the tests only
at f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6) and so was contrast (the Nikon lens was a little more
contrasty) and only bokeh (far smoother with the Summicron) and a tiny advantage
in color separation in favor or the Leica can make a (very small) difference.
IMHO, all the 50/2 mm lenses (from major makers, maybe) have been for long good
enough for any practical purpose. A difference of 1/3 stop between two pictures
has much more impact on the result than the lens model.

All the best,

- --
Jean-Claude Berger (jcberger@jcberger.com)
Systems and RDBMS consultant (MCSE)
Lyon, France
http://www.jcberger.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Shel
> Belinkoff
> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 8:56 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Choosing a 50mm Summicron
>
>
> Bud Cook wrote:
> >
> > Here's Erwin Put's view on things...
> >
> > http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/m/lenses/pages/summicronm.html
>
> Thanks.  I've read that.  What I'd like to get are some user impressions
> of these lenses.  Which ones folks like and for what reasons.  There's
> lots of technical data out there.  I'm looking for personal feelings
> about the various lenses - something a bit more subjective, perhaps.  Do
> you prefer one over another and for what reason?  Do you shoot color or
> B&W and which lens seems to work best for your style of shooting?
> That's the sort of information I'm seeking.
>
> --
> Shel Belinkoff
> mailto:belinkoff@earthlink.net
>