RE: [Leica] What's it all about?

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

Do it Mike! The more times people say "the picture is the point," the
better. And the more information that can be provided about the comparative
quality of various lenses, judged by real world shooting and viewing
standards, the better..
B. D.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Mike
> Johnston
> Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 1999 9:52 AM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: [Leica] What's it all about?
>
>
> >>>
> << the 75 Cosina >>
> Why a Cosina lens on a Leica - why bother? Leica photography is all
> about
> subtlety - the lens is the point!
> <<<
>
> Sheesh. Actually, the _photograph_ is the point. At least for me.
>
> Several people have weighed in again with the opinion that an unknown
> lens must perforce be inferior when compared to a Leica
> equivalent, just
> as many people anxiously dismissed the new Konica after merely seeing
> the web page and hearing a few rumors. I'm not saying one way or the
> other on the issue of the 75mm, but coming to conclusions in
> advance of
> the evidence defines closed-mindedness, doesn't it?
>
> I also don't want to get backed into a position of defending Cosina.
> However, several Japanese lensmakers make lenses equal or superior to
> their Leica equivalents; in my (ahem, expert) opinion, the chief
> distinction is the prices each can charge. I think it is certainly
> possible that an experienced volume lensmaker such as Cosina,
> given the
> opportunity to make a fixed-focal-length lens that they can sell for a
> relatively very high price, is theoretically capable of making a
> superlative product. Whether they have in this instance will await
> actual evidence. But it is not impossible.
>
> If some of you guys don't watch it, I'm going to have to design a test
> that objectively compares prints from four or five different
> lenses, and
> invite people to put up or shut up (as the expression would have it; I
> don't mean to sound rude). If I did a more informal test and
> sent around
> a stack of prints made with four great lenses, are any of you so sure
> you could pick out the pictures made with the Leica lenses? Be careful
> how you answer that! <s>
>
> --Mike
>
>
>