Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/12/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I understand exactly what you are saying here re: "I absolutely hate this "which lens is highest quality" shtick." I joined this group about two days ago after running a google search because I wanted some insight into buying some Leica equipment. Now I think I should quit my job so that I can spend my time enjoying this discussion. I am a man raised in the sixties (HS 1971) and became very interested in egalitarian politics during the women's liberation movement and then as I moved on to photograph George McGovern where all of my superiors were women. I went on to spend 10 years on the board of Madison NOW and have very much enjoyed the discussion on the thin line between art and pornography. I did get an undergraduate degree in fine art somewhere along the way. I also really enjoy the links to the photographs on the this list. Way back when, I bought an M3, a Minolta 40mm a nice 90 mm tele emarit and a junk 50mm f2. Back then I had all the time in the world to take photographs but only the money to really afford Nikon. Now, I am in a new career and have some money to buy a Leica lens or two -- maybe even an M4 or M6. As I look at "the auction" site, I note everything costs about the same. As such, will anyone here help me sort out whether or not it is worth spending an extra $200 or $300 to get a 35mm f2 with ASHP late edition versus getting a 1969 version? Any suggestion what I should look for? I want a nice 35mm and a 50mm. Thanks, Keith - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sonny Carter" <SonC@HELL.COM> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 7:07 PM Subject: Re: [Leica] Irwin and PhotoDo Will Only Lead You Into The Wilderness > > Amen. > > Regards, > > Sonny > http://www.sonc.com > Natchitoches, LA, USA > > > > --- "Buzz Hausner" <buzz.hausner@verizon.net> wrote: > I absolutely hate this "which lens is highest quality" shtick. > > Every lens has its own unique qualities, it is not a matter of the 35 > Summicron is better than the 50 Summicron, that sort of comparison leads > you nowhere. To me, the only rational analysis is to begin from ones > photographic interests and decide which lenses will best help you > achieve your vision. If one's photographic aesthetic is limited to > producing negatives as sharp as measurably possible, than one should be > looking into large format. > > Forget about Irwin's site. Forget about PhotoDo. Just about all modern > lenses produced by reputable manufacturers will produce fine images on > 35mm film shooting hand held. Ask yourself what kind of pictures you > want to take, evaluate your shooting style, and balance your checkbook. > However, I for one find it absolutely ridiculous to simply throw open > the question of which among a gaggle of lenses are "the best," and > expect other people to either tell you what to buy or confirm a > reluctant expenditure. > > Rant over. For now. > > Buzz Hausner > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of > Garrettson, Dr. Charles > Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 4:27 PM > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > Subject: [Leica] RE: Leica Users digest V26 #95 > > Hello all. I am looking for advice. My current WA/normal lens lineup is: > > 35mm Leica ASPH > 21mm Voigtlander Skopar > 15mm Voigtlander Heliar > > which has served me extremely well. In looking towards next year, > however, I have been thinking this: > > The latest generation of the Summicron 50 appears to be perhaps the > highest quality lens in the Leica lineup [as Erwin Puts says, for > example: "at f/2.8 it exhibits perfect qualities." I have never seen ANY > reviewer ever make any such comment about any other lens, in my memory. > If I recall correctly, PhotoDo ranks it a 46 or higher--about as high as > it gets for ANY lens, period, etc.]; 28mm would be wider than the 35, > with very little distortion still, and the widest I could go without > needing to use a separate viewfinder, so why not sell the 35mm ASPH and > get a 50 Summicron and the excellent Voigtlander 28 f/1.9 Ultron until I > could afford a 28mm Leica ASPH? > That, to me, makes a lot of sense, but in perusing Erwin's site > of late, I saw a reference in his article on the 28mm ASPH that the 50mm > Summicron is now last in quality in the Summicron line, behind the 90, > the 28 and the 35. If that is true, then much of my incentive to make > the change is gone. > I welcome the group's thoughts on any advice anyone might care > to offer: Should I stick with my current lineup or make the change? If > you wish to email me separately, that would be fine. > > Many thanks, > Chuck Garrettson > > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html