Re: [Leica] Summicron 90 A-A

[Bud Cook <budcook@ibm.net>]

Henning,
Could you compare the color rendition between the two versions of the
Summicron?  Are they pretty much the same?
TIA,
Bud

"Henning J. Wulff" wrote:

> Recently I received one of the new Summicron 90's, and can only corroborate
> what Erwin stated on his site in his earlier comparison on the various
> 90's.
>
> I have a 90/2 (#2814***), second type and a thin T-Elmarit (#2793***) and
> compared them to the new A-A 90 using Ektachrome 100S, Kodachrome 25 and a
> couple of fine-grained B&W films. The Kodachrome I don't have back yet, but
> the other stuff has been analyzed. I shot on a sturdy tripod at two
> distances, infinity and 3m.
>
> The 90 A-A was outstanding in all shots; there was very little difference
> between using f/2 and f/4, and in the 100S shots, I really could see no
> difference. The old 90/2 did remarkably well, and the T-E was a step behind
> that. However, the T-E at any aperture never did reach the performance the
> 90 A-A showed at f/2, and the older 90/2 just barely reached that level at
> its optimum aperture (5.6-8). Flare is also better controlled in the new
> lens, and eveness of illumination is outstanding. Again, in both areas the
> older 90/2 was a step behind, and the T-E a little bit poorer again.
>
> As Erwin has repeatedly stated, to get the most out of the new lenses you
> must use your best technique. Shooting handheld with 100S film, you would
> be very hard pressed to see the differences between the A-A and the older
> f/2. The T-E would show differences, but likely only in direct comparisons.
>
> Basically, the new 90 brings the performance of the previous 90 at its
> optimum aperture all the way to f/2. That's the bottomline as I see it.
>
>    *            Henning J. Wulff
>   /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
>  /###\   mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com
>  |[ ]|     http://www.archiphoto.com