Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/06/13

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Subject: [Leica] Leica M Monochrom
From: mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 02:23:45 -0400

My opinion or strong feeling is that the difference between these two
current generation in effect just out 50's from Leica would be too small to
see even in mural sized prints.
In other words you set both cameras up to shoot the same scene at the same
time and printed the two prints so they matched and placed them side to
side.
No ones going to be able to say "that one was shot with the 1.4 and that one
with the f2." not even with a loupe.
And that's on a tripod with the slowest iso setting.
Stopped down a little.
Tripods
Cable releases
Lens shades.
No UV filters.

The Summilux is just out a year or two ago. Leica went all out with it to
beat all other 50 1.4's.
A Summicron is slower and that I always tend to trust a tad more.
And I don't need f 1.4 to make my groundglass brighter and pop in and out
faster. But I would like f 1.4. Especially if its from a Leica lens.

If I had the money now I'd get the Summicron APO.
Its a tiny bit newer which would not make on real difference. But I would
know it was there.
I also like Summicrons the best. I think it's Leica's main Marque.
And I like it when they put "Apo" and or "ASPH" on a lens.
I'm impressed like hell by things which start with A. on the rim of my lens.

- - from my iRabs.
Mark Rabiner
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/springdays/


> From: John McMaster <john at chiaroscuro.co.nz>
> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:44:50 +1200
> To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica M Monochrom
> 
> What I am getting at is that you can see the differences in the 50
> APO-Summicron and 50 Summilux asph MTF curves, mostly in the 40lp/mm and 
> the
> extreme corners. Given the 50mm Summilux is no slouch, at what real world
> magnification are you likely to see a difference? If you want the sharpest
> 50mm then it will be the AA, but is it worth upgrading to from a Summilux
> asph? I doubt it (or rather hope not!) in normal magnifications.....
> 
> john
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> 
> I don't think there's ever been a break off point of print size which can 
> be
> used to justify the use of a better lens over one not quite as good.
> As far as I go its a kind of maybe interesting concept which you just
> invented. Perhaps there's some validity to it I'd have to give it some
> thought. But I'm never heard in the past: the difference between lens a and
> lens b can be see in 11x14's while the difference between lens c and d 
> you'd
> need 16x20's. I don't think people in the business in the past ever did
> think that way. And I have a sneaky feeling its likely they're going to in
> the future.
> For the reason that few people have any experience at all in print sizes
> over 5x7 or 8x10. Even unfortunately people who paid many thousands for a
> Leica lens.
> Another aspect is how big can you blow them up on a screen with a quality
> lens before its defects start to show?
> 
> - - from my iRabs.
> Mark Rabiner
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/springdays/
> 
> 
>> 
>> Yes, but at what size will you really notice a difference between the
>> 50mm Summilux asph and 50mm APO-Summicron asph? That is what I would
>> like to know....
>> 
>> john
>> 
>> Well the bigger the print the more you'd notice.
>> 
>> - - from my iRabs.
>> 
>>> 
>>> That is why I said I would like to know the difference in a 16" x 24"
>>> print, all the Leica shown ones at the announcement sound to have
>>> been 27" x 40"ish (one metre on the long side) and stunning - but few
> print that big.
>>> 
>>> john
>>> ________________________________________
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Screen size: They make for 11 x 16 inches on a 72 pix per inch screen.
>>> 
>>> A Print: But its only on one of my 240 pix per inch matt prints a
>>> measly
>>> 3.33 x 5 inch inch image.
>>> 
>>> So that's not critical work. Nor would one which makes a 4x6 " jumbo
>>> Walgreens snapshot. We'd hope for an 8x10 inch or 11x14. Maybe even a
>>> 16x20 to call it critical work. Typical portfolio sizes for
>>> photographers and typical print sizes on the gallery walls as well.
>>> And typical for what you'd give a portrait client. So your gear would
>>> need to be good enough to do these and do them well.
>>> And the newest cutting edge optics from Leica at these sizes are
>>> going to give your work an evident edge.
>>> I should say that photographers, commercial ones for sure often use
>>> tripods and studio strobes. And slow film or nowadays slow iso settings.
>>> 
>>> The demand of websites and web galleries are very low as they are for
>>> images a few hundred pixels across. And those could all be done on
>>> cell phone cameras for all anyone would no or care.
>>> 
>>> And I think people who think they're never going to do critical work
>>> under estimate themselves often. Because if you plan your workflo
>>> around making 5x7's sure as hell someone's going want a row of 8x10's
>>> of yours on their wall and not all your images are going to maybe look so
> great at that size.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> - - from my iRabs.
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Jono Slack's was with present(ish) glass - 50mm Summilux asph, 75mm
>>>> APO-Summicron and 90mm Elmarit-M.
>>>> 
>>>> A test to see at what magnification the 50mm APO-Summicron asph
>>>> betters the Summilux asph would be useful, if little difference in
>>>> 16" x 24" what is the need?
>>>> 
>>>> Puts has just added to his blog
>>>> http://www.imx.nl/photo/optics/styled-5/chromatic.html
>>>> 
>>>> john
>>>> ________________________________________
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Everyone is using the new 50.  I wonder how it performs with the
>>>> other present day and past Leica glass.
>>>> 
>>>> Aram
>>>> 
>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> For those interested. Of course, Forbes Magazine likes it (-:
>>>>> 
>>>>> As for me, I am waiting for someone who takes part in Print
>>>>> Exchanges to buy it, so I can see a print of a photo taken with it!
>>>>> 
>>>>> www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-news/2012/05/leica-m-monochrom-links/
>>>>> 
>>>>> Cheers
>>>>> Jayanand
>>>>> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information




Replies: Reply from photo.forrest at earthlink.net (Phil Forrest) ([Leica] Leica M Monochrom)
In reply to: Message from john at chiaroscuro.co.nz (John McMaster) ([Leica] Leica M Monochrom)