Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/03/02

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica v. Canon f/1 lenses!
From: thibault collin <tc-lnc@u-picardie.fr>
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 20:47:11 +0100

There is IMHO a real photographic reason to compare Canon and leica : they
both make F/1.0 lenses. Do some of you have experience with both?
TIA,
Thib.

At 11:59 02/03/1999 -0800, you wrote:
>Hi Robert,
>
>Thanks for pointing that out.  I agree that tests point to how well an optic
>may perform but its the user that determines if it meets their own criteria.
>
>One comment, Canon's newer lens is the 70-200 F2.8L, unfortunately is rates
>a 4.1 vs. the older 80-200 F2.8L which rated slightly better at 4.2 is on
>par with the Leica 80-200 F4 Vario-Elmar, which incidentally  I verified
>with Leica as being made in Japan by Kyocera.  I didn;t want to risk the
>flames having been burned so often.  
>
>BTW, adding to your reference "who needs Velvia," last year when I was in
>India, I was shooting in Agra (city of the Taj Mahal) and I had Velvia
>loaded when I arrived at the Taj Mahal around 10 AM.  It was an overcast day
>unfortunately, but as I was looking at the Taj someone was looking over me
>because the sun peaked out for only about 2 minutes illuminating the white
>Taj.  I had 2 cameras with me.  The Velvia shots came out beautiful except
>it reproduced the white Taj much warmer than it appeared (Velvia does this
>to white making them green/grayish) and looking as if it were dirty white.
>The other camera loaded with print film showed the Taj as it should look,
>beautifully white. Wish I had Agfa RSX loaded in the camera instead of
>Velvia that day.  I know for fact it produces whites as white not off-white
>as with Fuji and Kodak Ektachrome.
>
>Peter K
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Robert G. Stevens [mailto:robsteve@istar.ca]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 1999 8:47 AM
>To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject: [Leica] Leica zoom lens test
>
>
>Peter:
>In regards to the Leica Telephoto zooms, you may have mistakenly looked up
>the older Leica 70-210 which was Minolta made.  It was a fine lens, but the
>new design is much better.  The old 70-210 rated a score of 3.3, while the
>newer 80-200 rates at 4.2.  The 4.2 rating is better than Canon's 70-200
>2.8 lens and on par with Canon's new 80-200L lens.  It also surpasses the
>Nikkors which only rated 4.0.  This would make the Leica a fine performer
>even though it is a pretty conservative F4 lens.  Even the older 70-210
>Minolta made lens rated pretty high amongst its peers if you exclude the
>2.8 lenses.
>
>If the Leica's lowly 80-200 F4 can best or match the best from the
>competition, I imagine the 70-180 would probably trounce them with a rating
>in the 4.4 to 4.5 range.  If you read Leica's literature, they tend to rate
>their lenses in the descriptions.  For example in Leica's latest
>literature, they make no mention of the optical qualities of the 28-70, but
>say it is easy and pleasant to use.  The description of the 80-200 F4 says
>it offers good to very good imaging quality.  While they describe their 100
>APO macro as outstanding imaging performance.  This 100 APO macro rated 4.5
>at photodo.  All we need is the translation of these terms to a grading
>scale.
>
>This all brings us back to the validity of ratings compared to use in the
>field.  I have seen a series of slides taken in China with the 28-70 that
>definately had the Leica look to them.  They were contrasty and sharp, with
>great colours.  As I have said before, who needs Velvia, when you have
>Leica glass to provide the saturation and contrast?
> 
>Regards,
>
>Robert
>
>
> At 07:47 AM 3/2/99 -0800, you wrote:
>>I checked Photodo and it appears that the lens is the 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
>which
>>I believe is made by Sigma.  Interesting to note that this lens and the
>>70-200 F4 whicg I believe is a Kyocera made lens, both test below the Leica
>>made lenses.  As Mr. Spock would say, "..Fascinating."
>>
>>Peter K
>>SD dujour
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Eric Welch [mailto:ewelch@ponyexpress.net]
>>Sent: Monday, March 01, 1999 8:23 PM
>>To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>>Subject: Re: [Leica] LUG, Leica culture, lens testing and No BS
>>
>>
>>At 07:29 PM 3/1/99 -0800, you wrote:
>>>Take a look at the latest
>>>Photodo.com test of the 28-70.
>>
>>Are you talking about the Leica 28-70 made by Sigma?
>>
>>Eric Welch
>>St. Joseph, MO
>>http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch
>>
>>Computers can never replace human stupidity
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>