Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/12/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This is an interesting commentary on attitudes, machismo, and stubbornness. Possibly the three best fast lenses in the 50's in a 50mm focal length were the 50 Sonnar 1.5 from Zeiss, the 50 Nokton, and the 50 1.4 from Nikon(which to avoid long rebuttals is directly related to the Zeiss design). But the most popular bodies by a very long shot were from Leica.(The collectable IIIF RD ST was produced in about 59000 copies but the common uncollectable Nikon S2 was produced in about 59000 copies give or take). But Zeiss was too proud and the Voigtlander group was too indebted? to Zeiss to produce many of these lenses in a mount that they could sell in America(see discussions of the fair trade laws) and turn a profit. But what is really fascinating is the Russian version of the Zeiss lens can be had for a song in the US and much of the world because we turn our noses up at its quality. Yes there is variability in mount build but a little examination can send the bad puppies packing. There has been a champion on this list of these Russian lenses for years to only small effect. The reason I'm pointing this out is assuming good samples a newbie to RF could acquire a body and then the classic trio(35, 50, 85}with an investment of about $300 in lenses. We all cheerfully recommend $300 to $1000 lenses to someone who may not know what direction they want to go. Yes, the new designs are better but many of us cheerfully love our Summarit which wide open is soft. Don Dory dorysrus@mindspring.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html