[Leica] Test of the 15mm f/4.5 Heliar and Leica Repair Recommendation

[Bryant <tbryant@wizard.net>]

Hi Luggers,

    I mentioned that I'd report on the results from the 15mm f/4.5 Heliar test
I just made, and the prints arrived yesterday.

    For most practical purposes, the lens is as good as my 21 asph.  Note I
said practical.  For tripod mounted shots wide open, blown up to 20x30, the
asph has the edge.  See Erwin's report.  Examining the negatives with a
microscope at 70X, the Leica lens is superior.  You can't tell the difference
in 4x6 prints.  Compared to the SLR lenses I have owned, both lenses are
stunningly free from retrofocus flare.

   The 15 does not couple to the rangefinder, it's shade is almost non
existent compared to the lovely shade that comes with the Elmarit, and the
build quality is not as good.  On this latter, I'm being picky.  It's still
very good.

   I'd recommend buying one, except for a major flaw.  It's not the lens, mind
you, *any* 15mm lens is going to have this flaw.  It comes with the geometry
of ultra wide angle lenses.  The very rectilinearity of the lens makes objects
on the edge of the frame look wildly stretched.  The lens effectively does a
mercator projection of the subjects off of the optical axis, and the results
look weird to us, with our visual systems set up to work on the central 20
degrees or so of our field of view, and, while that field of view is about 180
degrees, our retinas are obligingly curved to help limit the Mercator
distortion I describe above.

   I mentioned to my wife that I was thinking of getting one, and she pointed
out to me that, except for very unusual subjects,  only the center part of the
negative would be usable.  "Why don't you stick to the 21?  It's distortions
are much less noticeable [and we're not out another $470 or so <she thinks>]."

   She does have a point.

   A recommendation:

   I just had my backup M3 body overhauled by Ken Ruth, of photography on Bald
Mountain.  He converted it to single stroke, carefully coupled it's 50mm f/1.4
Summilux back to leica specs, touched up the Vulcanite, and adjusted the
rangefinder and shutter to perfection (IOTW, I can't find anything to complain
about.)  

   He's also a very knowledgeable, pleasant guy to pass the time of day with.
He'll regail you with comments on cast M vs stamped LTM bodies, tricks on
shooting with the 21mm f/4 Super Angulon, Alpa eccentricities; you name it.

    Ruth, Ken baldmtn@pacbell.net 831-423-4465 9-5 We, Th, and 9-12 F
    113 Bald Mountain,
    Davenport, CA 95017