Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/04/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The use of Japanese lenses by the Korean War combat photogs has a simple explanation: these lenses were available at an extremely low price in Japan, and these fellows owned their own gear. Thus, if they were going to break a lens while involved in the exertions of combat, they preferred that these be cheap Japanese lenses and not expensive German glass. Two other factors added to this: first, Zeiss lenses were all but unavailable, and even Leica lenses were scarce and, second, the early Nikon and Canon lenses were direct thefts of Zeiss designs, thus ensuring fine quality. The long and short is that the use by these photographers makes perfect sense, given the economics and marketplace of the period. However, the publicity given the early Nikon and Canon lenses is unfortunate: Douglas and his ilk did so as an excuse for not using German lenses, and these lenses, being clones of the German originals, aren't any better than their exemplars. They were cheap, and available, and Zeiss and Leica lenses were expensive and hard to get. Thus, the rush to Japanese lenses makes perfect sense from an economic standpoint but was a wash in terms of optical quality. On another point, there are a huge range of LTM lenses, including the current Russian and Ukrainian offerings. There are a slew of lenses out there which are, sometimes, a lot better than the Canon and Nikon lenses, and a heck of a lot cheaper, too. I'd suggest you not limit yourself to Canon and Nikon. Best, Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!