Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/12/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Dec 11, 2007, at 5:46 AM, Marty Deveney wrote: >> I understand also what Marty has said re a theoretical advantage >> for the Summicron at minimum distances (and add that the little >> current Elmar 2.8 50 is king here). I can >> only say that I have never identified this in my photographs. I am >> completely at a loss regarding Marty's comment on more remaining >> aberrations in the 1.4. Again I have >> never seen this and I would expect the 1.4 to be superior to the >> Summicron, when BOTH at f2. It may be that Marty is referring to >> wide open performance. > > The Summilux 50/1.4 asph is the best corrected 50mm f1.4 lens > currently available. It is probably the best all-round 50mm lens > available, given the usual criteria. I like it because it is very > resistant to flare and has a fantastically flat field. It is, > however, not perfect. All lenses are loaded with aberrations, > including very well corrected ones, including this one. > > At distances under 1.5-2 m the Summilux asph needs to be stopped > down to f4 or so to equal the 50/2 Summicron and related lenses in a > number of ways. Note that MTF charts rarely are provided with a > distance measurement - or with the number of samples measured > provided. I have used Geoff's 50 asph a very little bit (for one > afternoon and about 5 rolls of film) and another one extensively (25 > rolls in a variety of circumstances, including some on a test > bench). I'm not sure how representative those lenses are. Leica's > QA is very good, so I'll assume these are 'average' samples. It is > also interesting that I have never been able to determine if Leica's > or Erwin Puts' MTF charts are measured or calculated theoretically > (I've never even checked if Erwin just 'reissues' the ones that > Leica publishes). This is a significant difference and needs to be > clarified if these are to be interpreted properly. Irrespective of > any of this, the comments and MTF charts need to be proper! > ly interpreted. None of this matters if you need f1.4. > > Erwin, who, for once, I agree with, says: "The close up performance > of the Summicron is definitely better than that of the new Summilux > and if you do not need the high speed, it still has its virtues" > with which I agree. As I said, I can still clearly see aberrations > in images from the 50/1.4 asph at close range and they are more > apparent than with the Summicron or other similar lenses. All my > shots with a 50 seem to be done either close up or wide open. As > such, for what I do, I'd prefer to work with two lenses - one faster > and one that is better corrected close-up - so I have a Noctilux and > a Hexanon-M 50/2. I'm also interested in trying the new 50 Summarit. > > I don't like the newest 50/2.8 - it has several odd characteristics, > including strange out-of-focus rendition and odd representation of > straight lines when used wide open. But it is very well corrected > close-up. I also find its collapsibility somewhat exasperating - it > was always collapsed when I needed it. a problem with the M8... but it can be used with the M8...just be sure that it doesn't collapse... a couple rubber bands does the trick... is there something better to ensure no collapse at the wrong time? (hopefully this won't get caught in the spamfilter) :-) Steve > > > These types of distinctions are minimal - I should stress that my > main issue with Leicaphiles gushing over the 50/1.4 asph is that it > is not free of aberrations, even though it is very well corrected. > Most photogaphers - even careful ones who are interested in lenses, > don't know what oblique spherical aberration looks like in > photographs. That doesn't mean that it is not there, but it also > does not mean that it matters. It bothers me, but that won't make > my photos any better. My approach suits me and I'd encourage anyone > else to find something that suits them. Just don't fall for hype - > nothing is perfect. > > Marty > > > Gallery: > http://gallery.leica-users.org/main.php?g2_itemId=7617 > > Most people can only judge of things by the experiences of ordinary > life, but phenomena outside the scope of this are really quite > numerous. > Shen Kuo - 'Dream Pool Essays' > > > -- > 10 Great Gift Ideas- Take a Look! > http://mail.shopping.com/?linkin_id=8033174 > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information