Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/01/20

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Subject: [Leica] A brief personal review of the Nokton 50mm f1.1 and a couple of pictures
From: charcot at comcast.net (charcot)
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:02:58 -0700
References: <4B570AEE.2090303@whitedogs.co.uk> <4B5715FF.10603@comcast.net> <4B571F6B.7070202@whitedogs.co.uk> <4B5735D2.5090504@pcez.com>

Josef - I do believe it's the ZI body because the 35/2 ZI lens has the 
same play and again none on the M8.  I don't fuss over this because I 
spent 1/2 what it would have cost to get an M7;  this is one point in 
favor of the more expensive M7.

ernie


Josef Brugger wrote:
> If there is play in the Zeiss 1.1, that's a manufacturing issue   I 
> think the refinements in autofocus are maybe more to blame than 
> digital for people becoming more critical.  Bodies with 55 focus 
> points and good programming make us all look very accurate, and of 
> course, being able to see the photo enlarged on a screen makes it much 
> easier for the average punter to see their work enlarged, instead of 
> squinting at a drugstore 4x6 and saying "I'm sure that'd be good as an 
> 8x10."
>
> Using a 50/1.1 or an 85/1.4 or a 180/2.8 wide open is always going to 
> be tough because of thin depth of focus. Many times I've seen someone 
> focus a 35/1.4 on a point they figure is the right distance and then 
> swing to capture their subject.  If it's six inches off, or they're 
> shooting at an angle, they will miss focus but it's a fault of 
> technique, not manufacture. If you call up the videos of Saint HCB on 
> YouTube, you'll notice a lot of bodily contortions to move the camera 
> back and forth slightly to make focus, instead of twiddling the ring.
>
> Is there such a thing as "too critical?"  The new tools let us all 
> raise our game a little.
>
> Josef Brugger
>
>
> Mark Pope wrote:
>> Ernie,
>>
>> thanks.  The play on the Zeiss is an odd phenomenon.  I wonder why 
>> that happens?
>> I have read a few complaints about problems with focus, but I'm not 
>> sure how many posters have actually used the lens in anger.  
>> Moreover, I think too few people actually expect instant success 
>> nowadays and so if they don't get it without putting in a little 
>> effort, they blame the equipment.
>> Your point about bracketing the focus is well-made.  Any problems 
>> with my images are much more likely to be a problem with me now that 
>> I'm approaching 50 and need varifocal spectacles!
>>
>> A couple of months ago, I discussed the issue of focusing the lens 
>> accurately with Frank Dernie when we met for lunch.  We agreed that 
>> when using the lens wide-open, just the act of recomposing after 
>> focusing is probably enough to affect the critical focus (say when 
>> focusing on a person's eye).  Add a touch of subject movement and a 
>> little photographer movement and you have instant focus shift!
>>
>> I also think that digital has made many of us (myself included) far 
>> too critical - it's easy to reject a shot after having decided that 
>> it's not critically sharp when viewed at 100% on a monitor when in 
>> fact if it was  printed, the result would probably be plenty good 
>> enough to pass muster.
>>
>>
>>
>> Mark Pope,
>> Swindon, Wilts
>> UK
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>



In reply to: Message from mark at whitedogs.co.uk (Mark Pope) ([Leica] A brief personal review of the Nokton 50mm f1.1 and a couple of pictures)
Message from charcot at comcast.net (charcot) ([Leica] A brief personal review of the Nokton 50mm f1.1 and a couple of pictures)
Message from mark at whitedogs.co.uk (Mark Pope) ([Leica] A brief personal review of the Nokton 50mm f1.1 and a couple of pictures)
Message from jbrugger at pcez.com (Josef Brugger) ([Leica] A brief personal review of the Nokton 50mm f1.1 and a couple of pictures)