Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/05/11

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Subject: [Leica] What's the Best All-Around 50?
From: smcj35 at yahoo.com (Colin J)
Date: Thu May 11 12:34:26 2006

Mark Langer wrote:
> 
> I have another naieve question -- what constitutes the "best"?


Mark, it is a good question. I think you must look at all
features of a lens that are important to you.  You must weight
the relative importance of each.  

You might say:
1) Sharpness (resolution/contrast)
2) Bokeh
3) Speed (maximum aperture)
4) Light fall-off
5) Control of distortion
6) Control of aberrations
7) Color rendition
8) Size
9) Weight
10) Handling and finish
11) Accessories (hood etc)

You may have different priorities.  But some of them will be the
same for you. You must then evaluate each available lens
according to how important its strengths are to you.

I suggest that the current 50mm Summicron satisfies most of
these requirements, especially the ones that are most important
to me.  You might choose a different lens because you have
different needs.  But you have to look at many things, many
aspects of a lens, to make just one decision.

Or you can just decide with your heart instead! 

Or you can buy one of every 50mm lens ever made and spend whole
days trying to choose between them! ;-)

Colin


                
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Replies: Reply from chs2018 at med.cornell.edu (Chris Saganich) ([Leica] What's the Best All-Around 50?)
Reply from msmall at aya.yale.edu (Marc James Small) ([Leica] What's the Best All-Around 50?)