Re: [Leica] Noktones et ULtrones

[Mark Langer <mlanger@ccs.carleton.ca>]

>

I'm with Don on this, and certainly am one of those who has been singing the praises of the Soviet Jupiter 50mm f1.5 lens in LTM.  I have
used this on Leicas for a few years and am very impressed with its performance, which compares to that of the wartime and postwar Zeiss
Jena and Opton 50mm f1.5 Sonnars that I have in Contax mount.  It is the height of insanity in my view for someone to fork out $1,200 to
$2,000 for a Nokton in LTM as a shooter, when that person could be using a Jupiter with comparable performance for one-twentieth of the
price.  Given that authorities like MJS rate this lens at a level above or equal to all but the most recent Summilux, one has to wonder
why this lens is not more highly sought out.

Mark

>
>
> Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 09:26:52 -0500
> From: "Don Dory" <dorysrus@mindspring.com>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Noktones et Ultrones
> Message-ID: <005401c1863d$b4c7bb00$bd3afea9@oemcomputer>
> References: <3C1CA5C8.3CCF5888@camera-craftsman.com>
>
> 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
>

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