Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/11/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I find that understanding why something works makes me better able to capitalise on its strengths and avoid its weaknesses. >how much does it cost and who did it? It was done in a research lab that doesn't take commercial work. If you could find someone to do it and had it done, I'd imagine it would cost $US 200-250/surface - a lot more than Focal Point charges for excellent modern single coating. Arax in the Ukraine has stopped offering a polish and recoating service. >Can every one imagine the Edward Weston, Man Ray, HCB... and many >others improved pictures?, H C-B had his collapsible 50/2 Summicron multicoated by Leica. He thought it was worth it. The difference between uncoated and single coated is HUGE, the difference between single and multicoated is less enormous. Modern coatings are hugely advantageous for maintaining lens condition into the future. The increased control of flare is interesting to observe and the design freedom that they allow is amazing. The Tessar was designed to work as an uncoated lens because Planar types flared too much because they had too many air-to-glass surfaces - few of our post-WWII designed lenses would work at all if coating did not exist, including 'classics' like the seven element 50mm Summicrons. >low contrast combined with very high resolution allows a unique smooth >look...and you can always increase the contrast if desired... >I am not sure how the coating impacts, or what the coating is for the DR... This is not about coating - this results from lens design and glass types. The contrast/resolution paradox applies only to lenses that are limited by spherical aberration. Modern glass types and design allow spherical aberrations to be almost eliminated, meaning that you can now have a high contrast _and_ high resolution lens. The DR and other lenses are very nice but their look is derived mostly from the available glass types and design limits of the 1950s and 60s. Many users would find a DR with good modern coating an improvement - you retain the look but the flare is decreased. Out-of-focus rendition is also a function of design and how the design controls aberrations, and is not related to coating. Marty Gallery: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com