Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Horst, With all returned respect, Mr. Gilcrest's logic seems to be supported by basic photographic principles. Look at an EV chart and tell me how a Noctilux at 1.0 with a 1/50 shutter speed is any faster than a 35mm Summilux at 1.4 with a shutter of 1/30. Don't they both register an EV of 6, with film speed being constant? Shutter speed and sharpness are affected by focal length. The combination of focal length and outfit weight also affect EV's. Longer focal lengths exaggerate subtle camera movement, particularly as shutter speeds decrease in handheld situations. This generally mandates higher shutter speeds for longer focal lengths and allows slower speeds for shorter focal lengths. Weight of the outfit can fatigue the photographer, further increasing the likelihood of camera movement. (The Gilcrest article compared a 35mm Summilux-M to a Noctilux. I don't know how much of a difference exists between the 35/1.4 ASPH and the Noct). Finally, field of view, not accounting for perspective of course, can be compensated by moving closer to the subject (which we should be doing more of anyway, right?). I don't think the original posting of this thread can be easily brushed aside by "don't compare different focal lengths". I introduced Dick Gilcrest's article as support for the original poster's question. John Beal II Redmond, Oregon