Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/08/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ken, First, under normal circumstances, newer has better contrast, more apparent resolution, and far less flare. Also, the newer lenses will have a far more abrupt transitions from in focus to out of focus. The Summar, Summarit, Summicron are all double Gauss designs so will share family similarities. Again, the older will have a smaller zone of sharpness at any given aperture, more flare, and an apparent dreamy quotiant as you move to the out of focus areas. The Elmar is essentially a Tessar design so if coated fairly flare resistant, really quite sharp at middle to small apertures, almost no distortion. Age has treated theses with unkindness so a good cleaning will make the old pups much better. The Summarit is an interesting abberation. It resolves coarse details OK at the larger apertures but turns into a pretty good lens by F5.6 or so. Flare can be a real problem without a shade. What makes the Summarit truly interesting is how it renders the out of focus areas when at or near wide open. Sometimes you can get a real Van Gogh look. Under the right conditions the Noctilux will behave similarly. Don't succomb to this disease. Go out and shoot film. If you are for some reason in a shop and see a bright shiny bauble, leave immediately: go and shoot some pictures. Don don.dory@gmail.com On 8/15/05, Kenneth Frazier <kennybod@mac.com> wrote: > dlridings@gmail.com (Daniel Ridings) wrote: > > >I'm looking for a Summitar myself. The Elmar I have is great under the > >right circumstances, but they are not always the ones I'm in (it > >flares easily). > > I know this is debated endlessly, but I don't have a clear sense of how > to describe or, more importantly, take advantage of photographically, > the "different" characteristics of the different Leica lenses. Reading > tech stuff doesn't help me much. > > Aside from the specific characteristics of a particular lens, are there > general characteristics of the Summarits, Summitars, Elmars, Summicrons, > summarized somewhere? (That was unintended, I assure you.) > > TIA, > > Ken > -- > The Rev. Kenneth Frazier > Norfield Congregational Church > CT Conference, United Church of Christ > Weston, CT USA > Leica photos at: http://tinyurl.com/6sc2r > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >