Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2017/07/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In that era it wasn?t only zooms that were Minolta. The 24mm f2.8 R lens was still the Minolta design up to the end of production, though again, I believe built by Leica in a Leica quality mount. cheers, Frank D. > On 5 Jul 2017, at 09:57, Christopher Crawford <chris at > chriscrawfordphoto.com> wrote: > > Some Leica R zooms were actually Minolta designs, and the earlier ones > were actually built by Minolta. That?s back when R-series cameras were > still based on Minolta designs (R3, R4, R5, R6, R7). > > -- > Chris Crawford > Fine Art Photography > Fort Wayne, Indiana > 260-437-8990 > > http://www.chriscrawfordphoto.com My portfolio > > http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Crawford/48229272798 > Become a fan on Facebook > > > > On 7/5/17, 4:47 AM, "LUG on behalf of Frank Dernie" > <lug-bounces+chris=chriscrawfordphoto.com at leica-users.org on behalf of > Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com> wrote: > >> Interesting Frank, with respect to the R zoom I had always thought that >> they were Sigma designs built by Leica to Leica tolerances in Leica type >> mounts. Thanks for the update. >> My main 50 is the f1.4 Leica on an M though. >> cheers, >> Frank D. >> >>> On 4 Jul 2017, at 23:07, Frank Filippone <red735i at verizon.net> wrote: >>> >>> #1. if you do not wish to read about techie stuff, quit now. This is a >>> very >>> nerdy test that takes absolutely no interesting pictures. It is a Lens >>> test. Period. >>> >>> >>> >>> For a while I have been trying to cut the weight and bulk of my M kit, >>> at >>> the same time, making travel photography less complicated. >>> >>> My preference is towards the least user intervention in the photographic >>> process. Changing lenses is a big distraction. >>> >>> Getting a SL and lenses, is not in my budget, even after they dropped >>> the >>> price of the body by almost $1500. >>> >>> >>> >>> Museums and Churches are dark places. I want one fast lens to do >>> Churches >>> and museums. 50mm seems the right lens. >>> >>> To that end, I collected a bunch of lenses, and ( thanks to Doug, yet >>> again) >>> a Sony A7II body (24MP body). >>> >>> Using that body as my test device, I tested out my 50mm lenses for use >>> in >>> low light conditions.. Full open Aperture.. For zooms, they were only >>> evaluated at 50mm. >>> >>> I used a tripod, self timer, manual focusing at max magnification, >>> distance >>> of about 12 feet, in bright light, ISO 50. >>> >>> My subject is the cedar fence ( now 45 years old) in my front yard. >>> Lens >>> Hoods were used in all cases. >>> >>> I took 3 images for each lens, keeping the best , and evaluated all the >>> images through LRCC at 1:1. >>> >>> Only the center of each image is evaluated, at full aperture ( F1.4 or >>> whatever) Because that is how I will use this lens. Full open >>> aperture. >>> >>> >>> >>> For the results.. Best to worst.. This is all about central >>> resolution, and >>> ability to get fine detail... >>> >>> 1) Leica M 50mm F1.4 ASPH. Wins by a big margin optically. Fully >>> manual >>> operation, as are all M and R lenses. >>> >>> 2) LeicaFLEX Vario Elmar R 28-70 F3.5-4.5 ( 1990 design, Rom version, >>> with Novoflex adapter. Fully manual) ( Stick that in your .. "old >>> lenses >>> suck". pipe and smoke it) >>> >>> 3) Sony 55mm F1.8 ( very close to the Leicaflex lens. Lightest lens >>> in >>> the test and it is AF and auto-aperture) >>> >>> 4) Leica M 50mm F2 ( early 1990's vintage) >>> >>> The next bunch are pretty close, but if you leave out 1 lens, the >>> differentials are greater. so the lenses do decrease in capability >>> >>> 5) Leica M 28/35/50 Tri Elmar F4 >>> >>> 6) Sony 28-70 F4.5-5.6 Zoom (AF) >>> >>> 7) Nikon 50mm F1.4 AF non D lens ( with Fotodiox adapter, no AF as >>> it has >>> a mechanical aperture connection to the body) >>> >>> 8) Nikon 50mm F1.4 G lens ( which will AF on the Sony body with the >>> Fotodiox adapter) >>> >>> Big gap in image quality, but that is not the prime purpose of these >>> lenses >>> >>> 9) 7 Artisans 50mm F1.1 Chinese (New, $369, 400grams, delivered in 1 >>> week!) >>> >>> 10) Noctilux 50mm F1.0 >>> >>> >>> >>> Yes, the best lens of the bunch was the 21st century marvel. But you >>> probably believed that before you started to read this. >>> >>> To me, the surprise was the Leicaflex lens doing so well... FYI, I >>> believe >>> this lens is a Leica design produced by Sigma in Japan >>> >>> And to me, the most rewarding part of the test is how well the Sony 55 >>> F1.8 >>> lens did..since that lens is part of my proposed new kit. Optically, >>> it IS >>> good enough to do what I ask of it.. >>> >>> >>> >>> Remember, these results are specific to MY lenses and MY needs >>> (wants?). If >>> you were to evaluate your kit, or, even using my images, or making up >>> new >>> images using my lenses, may result in a different order. (YMMV) >>> >>> >>> >>> Comments? >>> >>> >>> >>> I also tested the Sony 16-35 Zoom lens against the Leica 16/18/21mm Wide >>> Angle Tri Elmar. >>> >>> Hands down, the Leica lens is superior at 16mm. At 18mm, they are much >>> closer, but the Leica is still better. At 21mm, the Sony lens is >>> superior. >>> >>> >>> At these focal lengths, manual focusing errors are more prone to >>> happen, AF >>> was used and results were gathered from the AF Sony images. >>> >>> >>> >>> BTW, my time to do this came about as I tend to my Wife, as she is now >>> lying >>> prone ( last 4 weeks) with back issues. so getting further than the >>> cedar >>> fence surrounding the house is an issue.. >>> >>> >>> >>> Frank Filippone >>> >>> >>> >>> Red735i at verizon.net >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information