Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/09/06

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Subject: [Leica] Summicron-M 35 Lens recommendations?
From: red735i at earthlink.net (Frank Filippone)
Date: Tue Sep 6 10:55:51 2005

OK.. someone has to ask the question...

If you are taking people shots, using a 35mm lens, or PJ work, or just plain
around the house and travel shots, or ANYTHING other than Architectural
shots with a tripod, level, and swings and tilts, why would anyone need a
lens that delivers perfectly flat geometric distortion?  And since the Leica
camera has no swings or tilts, it is unsuitable for architecture, unless you
like your buildings to fall over.

Rather than how much distortion?  And how much distortion is unpleasant?
Let us try to quantify the issues rather than throw out what appears to be
marketing hype, true or not.

We are talking about the 9th degree of sigma's older sister......so far out
in left field, that the issue just makes no relevant sense.

I would get the ASPH if price were not an issue.  The difference is about
$300-400.
I would get the pre-ASPH if weight were an issue.  About 1/2 the weight and
size.

Did you know that the 4th version of the 35/Summicron has a plastic aperture
adjustment?  that it is very common for this plastic part to break off, as
the lens hood attaches to it.  And that it costs $350 and 4-6 months for
Leica to fix?

The 3rd version is the same optical formula, has a metal aperture ring, and
is the same price.  Think about it......

Frank Filippone
red735i@earthlink.net

Besides the improves performance at f2/f2.8 the ASPH Cron supposedly
delivers
less geometric distortion. It's supposed to be almost perfectly flat.

feli



Replies: Reply from dennis at hale-pohaku.com (Dennis Painter) ([Leica] Summicron-M 35 Lens recommendations?)
Reply from kennybod at mac.com (Kenneth Frazier) ([Leica] Summicron-M 35 Lens recommendations?)