Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/01/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Sat, 22 Jan 2005, Feli wrote: > I doubt that Daniel. Even Nikon shooters can see the difference between > one of their primes and that zoom. > As I said ... I don't doubt it. I AM a conservative Nikon shooter (too). I only use AIS primes and mostly F3. I got the zoom as a package on the D100. Didn't like it (on the D100) set it aside and that was that. I ran across an F90x for about 150 dollars and decided to buy it. That would give me an autofocus camera that could actually use the zoom. I still don't use it as a rule, but just yesterday I had a couple of frames to finish off before processing the film, so I put it on. All Tri-X @ 1600 with Xtol 1:1 http://www.dlridings.com/temp/05v03-0001.jpg (around 50 wide-open) http://www.dlridings.com/temp/05v03-0002.jpg (24 wide-open) http://www.dlridings.com/temp/05v03-0003.jpg (85 wide-open) There's still dust and crap on the negatives. I never really expected to ever scan these. The Elmar I have is not totally comparable, but it was also just a test. A text of the new Tri-X when it came out. I remember they were also wide-open: http://www.dlridings.com/temp/v14-0014.jpg http://www.dlridings.com/temp/eyes.jpg My point is that consumer glass has reached the standards of Leica glass from years back. Actually, it has surpassed it. I never liked this lens before, but I never had a body I could use i on either (its a G lens so it only works at f22 on an F3). Now if you take Nikon or Canon's pro-line lenses. There is no way I can see a Canon pro opting to buy a Leica lens instead of a Canon one. I can fully understand those who have an investment in Leica glass use them on their Canons instead of buying new Canon lenses. But when the discussion was about Leica making lenses for other makes ... why? Who would buy them at a premium? It is against that background I said that a fantastic lens (Canon pro-line) can easily be adjusted in PS to equal a Leica lens. The difference is oh so small ... and undoubtedly a few time in favor of the Canon. I'm not Leica banging. I like their stuff. But when it comes to digital, it's the software that counts. Leica doesn't have it and has never been known for its cutting edge technology. That's what you're going to need to survive in digital. I hope they do. It's going to be tough. Daniel