Re: [Leica] 50 mm M lens comparisons (long)

["Bud Cook" <budcook@ibm.net>]

Alf,
Thank you for defining something I've not been able to do adequately.  I
have a 50mm Rigid Summicron as well as many later Leitz (and other) lenses.
There is something fascinating about Kodachrome transparencies taken with
this lens and the 8 element 35mm Summicron that I've never been able to
describe.  I can go back over decades of slides and pick out those taken
with this magical lens.

If I were limited to one camera and one lens it would be my M3 w/50mm Rigid
Summicron.

Bud Cook
- -----Original Message-----
From: Alfred Breull <puma@hannover.sgh-net.de>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Sunday, January 25, 1998 4:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] 50 mm M lens comparisons (long)


>Tom:
>
>We are speaking about transparencies, ok?, since - whatever you
>try in prints, it's washed away by the labs (in my experience).
>
>The difference in color impression between the rigid chrome Summicron
>and the current version is as strong as the difference in color impression
>from paintings in impressionism and expressionism.
>
>Since the current Summicron "agrees" in its color rendition to paintings
>from the period of expressionism, you cannot show the transparent and
>fragile presentation of light anymore: There's no "air" between the colors.
>
>Let's suppose you like to show the impression of blossoms floating/
>hovering (word ?) above a meadow (sorry, I don't have another example at
>hand), then the current Summicron both, does not and cannot, show it
>anymore, because it shows the green of the leaves too strong. The
>transparency is gone, because there's no "air" between the colors
>anymore.
>
>Usually, if you like to pronounce colors, you underexpose 1/3 or
>1/2 of an f-stop, depending on the subject/object and type of film.
>On the other hand, you cannot "soften" colors by overexposure, since
>you loose the deepness in the shadows.
>
>So, although more sharp, the current Summicron has lost parts of its
>abilities.
>
>Alf
>--------------------------------------------------------------
>At 22:11 24.01.1998 EST, you wrote:
>>In a message dated 98-01-24 20:41:57 EST, you write:
>>
>><<  And, in color, the
>> pictures from the current Summicron look like pictures of "Smarties"
>> (red, green & blue children sweets), because the colors are
>> over-pronounced. >>
>>
>>
>>Alf
>>
>>Would you please explain this.  How can colors be over-pronounced?  Does
this
>>refer to too much color contrast?  I do not understand how colors can be
too
>>saturated.
>>
>>Tom Shea
>>
>
>