Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/08/11

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Subject: [Leica] Old lens, new lens
From: nathan at nathanfoto.com (Nathan Wajsman)
Date: Sat Aug 11 00:50:51 2007
References: <5.1.0.14.2.20070807223620.00bc36f0@mail.2alpha.com>

Sorry, but I am one of those who never understood the fascination with 
old lenses and all this talk about "glow" (veiling flare?) and other 
optical defects being somehow beneficial for certain subjects. I much 
prefer to avail myself of the benefits of modern optical engineering. If 
one cannot afford the latest lenses and therefore goes for the older 
ones for budget reasons, that is a different story. But of the two shots 
Peter posted, I by far prefer the Summilux shot, wrinkles and all.

Look at it another way: you can may a sharp image soft, but you cannot 
make a soft image sharp.

Nathan

Peter Klein wrote:
> On the M8 sensor, the Lux is resolving a little bit more detail in the 
> hair.  But that's not what's really important.  The Canon has less 
> microcontrast, and there's a definite "glow" to the image.  It's also 
> a much kinder lens.  The Lux ASPH is mercilessly sharp and contrasty.
>
> My suspicion is at least one aspect of the elusive "Leica Glow" has to 
> do with the way that bright areas diffuse slightly into adjacent dark 
> areas. An optical "flaw," but one that has a very pleasant effect 
> under the right circumstances.
>
> On film, my favorite 50mm lens, the DR Summicron, draws very much like 
> the Canon. Which makes me all the more eager to try the latter on the 
> M8.  Anyway, Sean Reid is right, those old designs make great 
> sunny-day lenses. And they are a lot kinder to people over 25!
>
> --Peter
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>

-- 
Nathan Wajsman
Almere, The Netherlands

*Opportunistic Image Acquisition*

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Replies: Reply from red735i at earthlink.net (Frank Filippone) ([Leica] Old lens, new lens)
Reply from hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson) ([Leica] Old lens, new lens)
In reply to: Message from pklein at 2alpha.net (Peter Klein) ([Leica] Old lens, new lens)