Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/08/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Tue, 2004-08-31 at 14:06, David Mason wrote: > I thought the DR was supposed to be the design to beat all summicron > designs. I have the version right after the DR and it blows me away - > by far the sharpest lens I own. > > Dave There are four optical versions of the Summicron 2/50: v01 - Collapsible 1953-60 v02 - Rigid / DR (7 elements) 1956-68 v03 - 6 elements in 5 groups 1969-79 v04 - 6 elements in 4 groups 1979- current (clip-on hood and built-in) v01 and v02 are of the traditional high resolution / med contrast type. The collapsible is very, very sharp at f8. The rigid / DR was a big improvement over the collapsible. The rigid / DR resolves over 100 lines, but doesn't have the high micro contrast of the later versions. In the 1960's lens designers realized that the perception of sharpness was dependent on contrast, so a new generation of lenses appeared that stressed increased micro contrast (Nikor 2/50 H.C. etc). The DR is very strong from f4.0 to 5.6-8. Wide open the newer models are more even across the frame, with stronger corners and resolve fine detail with more contrast. They are also less susceptible to flare. The current v04 Cron is really hard to beat, at any stop. I am constantly surprised by just how good this lens is. Razor sharp from corner to corner, but without the harsh look and nasty bokeh you sometimes get from the ASPH designs. Supposedly the new versions of the Lux inch ahead, but frankly I I think you will only see that if you shoot test charts. ;-) All of that said, I really like the look of the DR. It is plenty sharp and produces these butter smooth tonal ranges, with the slightest touch of glow in the highlights. It really is the best B/W lens I have. The light out here in California, during most of the year, is very hard and the modern Cron can produce some very harsh pictures out here in broad daylight. Indoors it's a whole different story. I'm going to Europe in a few weeks and think the increased contrast of the v04 will work out really well with the overcast skies. One interesting note is that the non-asph Summilux (v02) falls somewhere in between the DR and current Summicron. Below f4 it's sharper than the DR and has a little more contrast, but it's much smoother and glows a little more in the highlights than a newer Cron. The Lux also happens to be an amazing bokeh machine. Puts describes the Lux as a Cron v03, opened up a stop and I think he's right. Feli -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feli di Giorgio Visual Effects Supervisor "Hostage" creocollective - feli@creocollective.com