Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/04/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I think it is possible for a high resolution lens to show high contrast as well as low contrast, but I think that the converse is not true. In other words, a high contrast lens will always exhibit high resolution. dan c. At 01:16 PM 03-04-01 EDT, LRZeitlin@aol.com wrote: > >In a message dated 4/3/01 3:09:26 AM, Erwin writes: > ><< It is remarkable that the idea that there is a significant trade-off >between > high contrast and low resolution still rides high in Leica lore. As far as I > know no one who holds his view has ever presented demonstrable evidence or > corroboratable measurements to prove this point. >> > >Then Leica itself believes its old myth. I am holding in my hand a glossy >information booklet entitled "Leica Lenses" published by Ernst Leitz GMBH >Wetzlar/West Germany in 1969 (ref. no. VII/69/CY/Mi). In a chapter titled >"Resolving and Contrast" the authors claim that the concepts of resolving >power and contrast are not necessarily linked and offer photographic evidence >that of the two, high contrast is more important for general photography. > >The booklet was given to me by a Leica factory rep. in 1970 as an explanation >of why Leica redesigned its lenses to emphasise contrast. > >Erwin, this is not mythology. It is Leica's own history. Science is another >matter. > >Larry Zeitlin >