Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/02/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi everyone, I am the one who wrote the message below that may have been read by you. Anyhow, I was due to collect the 35 Summicron today at the local Leica agent in Singapore. A man by the name of Andrew, who was in charge of the repair section started to tell me about the intricacies of Leica lens manufacture, describing with diagrams and such the processess of how each lens was checked. One thing was particularly interesting. He said "all the other cameras" (aside from Leica) tested their lenses by setting it at infinity and projecting this cross shaped image to be measured and inspected. The degree of sharpness that the image was to show was what determined the quality of the lens. Of course, as expected, the "others" did not have such stringent tests, their tolerances were so and so unlike (Leica). Leica he said, had a special method of testing. He described a particular test in which the lens to be tested is mounted on an assembly, and an image consisting of many circles and things is projected to a huge size on the wall, then each individual circle was inspected and blah blah. Amazing, I thought. Well, I left the place thinking, with an image of the Nikon or Canon factory being a dark , black horrible builing, where old, half blind men, chisel lens elements from blocks of glass, and wield metal parts together, in dusty, smoky environments. But when I look at my F4, I just cannot imagine. Don't get me wrong, I own an M6 and I love it. It is however the Leica myth that gives rise to a certain snobbery, that is downright disgusting on the faces of those whose photographis worth come from the camera they own rather than from the pictures they take,..(what pictures???). Leica cameras of course are usually the scapegoats of this pandering ego. Can anyone out there please enlighten me on the special qualities of the Leica lens?? It is not that they are lousy. Just as an objective comparison, are they that fantastically far ahead of the rest?? As far as pratical experience goes, I cannot see a world of difference. Anyone care to disagree?? - --Adi >> My 35 Summicron had it's aperture ring stuck, and repair at Leica in Germany >> quoted me the dazzling cost of 90% of the cost of a new lens. I had it sent >> back to me without anything done. >> >> So now my only lens is the 50 Summicron, which has been the only thing that >> I have been living with since the days, weeks, months that my 35mm was >> having it's fun-filled holiday in Germany. So I was thinking of getting the >> Konica Hexar as opposed to a new 35mm. It's cheaper for one thing. > >