[Leica] FLUG

[richard-lists at imagecraft.com (Richard)]

I'll bite....

At 10:52 AM 2/20/2005, Ted wrote:
>Therefore returning purely to Leica topic, what do you think of the visual 
>difference between the Noctilux to the new 50 Summilux aspheric? And do 
>you feel this change and lens will improve the image and content of the 
>photographer's who use it?

For my books, the 50/1.4ASPH wins hands down because
- I am a mere mortal and cannot get that 1.0 focused except in the most 
static situations, and if I cannot use it at 1.0, the 50/1.4ASPH is a 
better imaging device from 1.4 and up.
- the 50/1.4A is small and better balanced
- the nocti has smoother, creamy bokeh, but the 50/1.4A is not bad either, 
plus it never produces the Noctisuea

>It has always amazed me some people using non-Leica glass on their Leica 
>camera, heaven forbid. :-(  have never been able to capture equal quality 
>of content and excitement in the photograph displayed, when not using a 
>Leica lens. Do you have an opinion on this situation?

Most of us take amateur hacks with some what too much money in our pocket 
take pictures that can be taken with VC lens or heck, digicam. Some people 
will "save" by getting VC lens first and a good proportion will "graduate" 
to Leica the first chance they get. It's the Leica mystique, the pictures 
almost become irrelevant, except when they show off the 4x6 to people and 
say, "see, how good their 50/1.4ASPH lens is? It's worth single penny I 
paid. If I ONLY have the 50/1.4 'lux or ghod forbids, the VC Nokton, the 
pictures will clearly not be as good."

On the hands of a master though, a Leica is a Leica.

// richard (This email is for mailing lists. To reach me directly, please 
use richard at imagecraft.com)