Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This reminds me of the brutal change of positions of the more vocal Leica users religious leaders regarding the 35mm f2 summicron and the rangefinder performance of the M6 with longer/faster lenses a few months ago. Before the asph version came out, the Church was singing moving praises to the good, old, faithfull and "unsurpassed" 'cron (with dissident sects favouring the Canadian production over the German one or vice versa). When the 35mm f2 asph came out, the Church decided it was obvious everyone needed the new lens, that it was so much better than the previous, that it showed the Leica superiority, etc. Same for the M6 RF: I still have copies of numerous preachers of our Church who explained at length and vigorously that the M6 + 75mm f1.4 was a great couple, better than any SLR, that the RF was fantastically precise (though a few older worshippers regretted the M3 viewfinder/RF for precision focusing). All of a sudden the 0.85/HM version comes out, and bingo, again, it becomes the necessary tool for the 75mm f1.4 or the Noctilux 50mm, shows the Leica superiority, is what everyone was waiting for etc. You can be sure that, though now the church leaders praise the mechanical, horizontal, archaic cloth shutter and the manual operation of the M6, they will become hysterically mystic about the "unbelievably better " M7 and that this M7 will "show the Leica superiority, with fantastic electronics, hyperbolic shutter, etc". So, dear friends, beware of our priests, get ready for the new verse, all together now "the coming Summilux is the best, it was absolutely needed, the old one is soft". Who cares if the priest ever takes a picture. For one reliable, serious, objective and articulate Erwin Putts, we have quite a few devoted parrots acting as ayatollahs.... The Leica marketing dpt can be really grateful to the devotion of those preachers ! srlondon@ibm.net on 05/06/98 06:29:00 Please respond to leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us cc: Subject: RE: Re: Was: [Leica] Noctilux Now: Summilux - ----Original Message----- >From: TEAShea@aol.com >Dan, it is certainly a legitimate question that you ask. Although I have >never used one, the 50 1.4 has a reputation (based upon the various published >test reports) as being soft at 1.4 and 2.0. I note, however that the reports >note that it is very good at the smaller apertures. > >Of course I realize that sharpness is not everything, but for this particular >focal length and aperture, I would like the sharpest lens possible. Reputation aside, I have been thrilled with the performance of my Summilux-M. Although it might not set any resolution records at f/1.4, as many LUGers have mentioned in regard to the Noctilux, that isn't really the point. It has acceptable sharpness and ! wonderfully smooth out of focus rendition at large apertures, and is one of the better used buys. From the perspective of the budget user, a new lens would be a big favor, as it might drive used prices of the "old" lens down.