Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/02/27

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Subject: [Leica] Zeiss Wide Angle 35mm f/2 Biogon T* ZM
From: photo.forrest at earthlink.net (Philip Forrest)
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:33:27 -0500
References: <C7AE4EFC.2CCC5%chris@chriscrawfordphoto.com> <C7AE5726.5E444%mark@rabinergroup.com>

So, does the final image matter at all, or is it just the name on the
lens? The glass type. Materials used.
I have to make sure I get this formula right so my camera can speak for
me at interviews and get me the job cause apparently if I paid so much
money for all that equipment, I must be serious and with Leica lenses,
I won't be able to take any bad photos. Every one will be a keeper.

This choice of material, glass type, etc is hogwash with respect to
Leica vs. Zeiss. One company chooses a specific formulation for a
specific look and the other company does the same. Sometimes the
formulations are very similar.
The problem is that on the print you can't tell what lens shot it or
what camera it was used on.

Phil Forrest


On Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:59:18 -0500
Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> wrote:

> Chris it doesn't look to me like you are looking very hard at what
> makes a lens be a lens at one price point, and what makes a lens be
> at another. The least of it is would seem to me to be lens design.
> Its choice of materials. Glass types.
> Amount made and by which method made.
> Tolerances and care in which they are made which  means:
> quality control (QC?)
> And a one thousand dollar lens is many price points apart from a 3
> thousand. You think its going to be minor differences I'd call that
> very wishful thinking. A huge blurring of basic logic and common sense
> The "You get what you pay for" rule actually does also apply to lenes
> which go on cameras. If there is an exception to that rule I'm afraid
> camera lenes do not happen to be it.
> 
> When I shot nikon in the 80's and 90's and I got a job and If needed
> something wide I blew a few hundred bucks on a lens and the job would
> pay for it.
> When I went Leica I shot with a 50 for a year and saved a whole year
> till I could afford a 90. Basically it took me a year  to get any
> lens for my Leica M system. Ten years got  me ten lenes.
> Worth it. Worth the wait.
> But now on the lug we get our bodies and we want to buy and sell
> lenes on a whim like we did with cheaper systems.
> And we do becaue we can. Third party glass made to an entirely
> different price point. I say have fun with it. But don't fool
> yourself into thinking its the same as a Leica or even close.
>  
> A camera is a life support system for its lens line.
> Leicas are used by people who would be rather be using SLR's and DSLR
> s. But use Leica becaue it is simply by far the best 35mm glass made.
> Despite the crazy rangefinder.
> Spend big money on a camrea body and put cheap glass in front of it
> I'd call that foolish.
> Put your money in glass. If you have any left over. Get a camera.
> It'll keep your film dark. Its that simple.
> 
> 
> [Rabs]
> Mark William Rabiner
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
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In reply to: Message from chris at chriscrawfordphoto.com (Chris Crawford) ([Leica] Zeiss Wide Angle 35mm f/2 Biogon T* ZM)
Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] Zeiss Wide Angle 35mm f/2 Biogon T* ZM)