I-61, 2.8 Elmar Comparison

[brachal]

A couple of weeks ago I went out on my porch and attempted an amateur lens test/comparison between my I-61ld and Leica 2.8 Elmar. I didn't have a tripod, so the f/11 and f/16 shots have too much shake to be useful. The other apertures came out pretty well. Film was Fuji 100. Focus was on the title of the book at about 1.2 meters. Overall, I'm pleased.

You can see the images at this link.

Files are named by camera, aperture, and shot number, leica281 is the 1st shot at 2.8 by the Leica for example.

I don't think there's too much difference between them. The Leica lens is much better built and feels better to use, but of course it cost as much as 10 I-61's. I look forward to hearing what others think.

 

[Thardy]

Leica seems to have more DOF at 2.8 to me. The book and camera are in focus, but only the top portion of the book is in sharp focus for the I-61. Or maybe something else is going on?

 

[brachal]

Leica seems to have more DOF at 2.8 to me. The book and camera are in focus, but only the top portion of the book is in sharp focus for the I-61. Or maybe something else is going on?

I see it too, but can't really explain it. I moved a little bit, but the book was not touched. I freely admit it wasn't the most scientific test.

 

[payasam]

Your test may well provoke people to buy the lens. While I respect my I-61 L/D for its optical performance, I feel no pleasure while using it.

 

[Florian1234]

Interesting test.
I'm looking forward to have my recently bought Fed-5 with I-61 L/D in the mail soon.
Hope that it will have more contrast than the otherwise very good J-8 that I have.

 

[nzeeman]

nice test - only problem is that on f2.8 industar was focused a bit behind the book (the frame of the window behind is very sharp on industar photo and on elmar is blurred). have you shoot both lens on same camera or you put industar on fed and elmar on leica?
on f4 aperture i61 seems much much sharper or with more contrast (i hardly make difference between those two 🙁 ) but on f5.6 leica wins, on f8 they are even. but on all photos window is sharper on fed so i think it backfocuses a bit.

 

[xayraa33]

That I- 61 l/d is very good for the price you pay for it.

 

[nzeeman]

Leica seems to have more DOF at 2.8 to me. The book and camera are in focus, but only the top portion of the book is in sharp focus for the I-61. Or maybe something else is going on?

top of the book is sharper because it is closest part of the book to the window, and i61 sharpest focus is on the window frame...

 

[brachal]

Your test may well provoke people to buy the lens. While I respect my I-61 L/D for its optical performance, I feel no pleasure while using it.

That is exactly how I feel as well.

 

[brachal]

nice test - only problem is that on f2.8 industar was focused a bit behind the book (the frame of the window behind is very sharp on industar photo and on elmar is blurred). have you shoot both lens on same camera or you put industar on fed and elmar on leica?
on f4 aperture i61 seems much much sharper or with more contrast (i hardly make difference between those two 🙁 ) but on f5.6 leica wins, on f8 they are even. but on all photos window is sharper on fed so i think it backfocuses a bit.

I shot the Leica on the Leica and the Industar on the Fed. The Leica is easier to focus because of the high finder magnification, but I wanted to eliminate any claims of FSU Standard vs Leica Standard by using each lens on its intended camera. On the other hand, the Fed is easier to hold steady on slow shutter speeds because of its larger size. If I get time, I may try the test again.

 

[Florian1234]

Today my Fed-5 with I-61 L/D arrived. I will test it with a Tmax100 film tomorrow and post some results then. 🙂

 

[nzeeman]

I shot the Leica on the Leica and the Industar on the Fed. The Leica is easier to focus because of the high finder magnification, but I wanted to eliminate any claims of FSU Standard vs Leica Standard by using each lens on its intended camera. On the other hand, the Fed is easier to hold steady on slow shutter speeds because of its larger size. If I get time, I may try the test again.

try both on leica - i think that standard is myth. especially for industar because it was developed only in ltm. so it was adjusted for leica standard for sure. problem with fed is that its rf usually isnt so precise on 1m...

 

[nzeeman]

Today my Fed-5 with I-61 L/D arrived. I will test it with a Tmax100 film tomorrow and post some results then. 🙂

put it on your leica too you will be surprised how nice it is... 😉

 

[Florian1234]

put it on your leica too you will be surprised how nice it is... 😉

😉 I intended to use it on my Leica. Since there were no single lens auctions in Germany or other EU countries, only from Russia or Ukraine, I got myself the lens with camera attached😀 (yes, not the way around😛), to avoid customs trouble and long ways to the airport to fetch it etc.

 

[Florian1234]

try both on leica - i think that standard is myth. especially for industar because it was developed only in ltm. so it was adjusted for leica standard for sure. problem with fed is that its rf usually isnt so precise on 1m...

Well, in another thread I wrote last week that I was not able to put my Jupiter-8 lens on a Fed-2 body. I could screw it in, but then the focus ring did not turn anymore. Coincidence?

 

[jan normandale]

I think the big thing about the Elmar is being able to get the 'bokeh' when it's used wide open. The Industar doesn't perform that way.

If you want sharpness shoot the Elmar at f 5.6 - f 11.0 same for the Industar. It's this point which make the Industar "the deal" because it provides crisp images. I use one for this specific purpose.

 

[mh2000]

+2 me too

That is exactly how I feel as well.

 

[mh2000]

the problem is that in FSU bodies standards are not followed very well... measure the mount distance on 5 cameras and they are all different... read Maizenberg etc. and you are advised to get the mount shimmed to 28.8mm, not something different... if you lens doesn't work at that you lens is poorly adjusted... get it all working and can get good results...

Well, in another thread I wrote last week that I was not able to put my Jupiter-8 lens on a Fed-2 body. I could screw it in, but then the focus ring did not turn anymore. Coincidence?

 

[mh2000]

Mine too... very baffling.

"last week that I was not able to put my Jupiter-8 lens on a Fed-2 body. I could screw it in, but then the focus ring did not turn anymore. Coincidence?..."

 

[dll927]

What is all this about "pleasure" when using a lens? Is it because it doesn't say "Leitz" on it??? That's a new twist on things.

Manufacturers have this strange habit of plastering their names on everything they put out. Suppose they didn't do that. In such a case, one might not even know which was the Leitz and which was the Industar.

In general, FSU lenses seem to get better press in these forums than the cameras do. It may be because there's less complication in the lens, but I don't see too many mentions of CLAs on lenses. And, individuals aside, in reality it would surely take a professional and scientific comparison to settle such issues.

I'm reminded of an article by the late Herb Keppler in Pop Photo, in which they did a comparison of an old 50's Zeiss Biotar f/2 lens (at home on the old Exaktas) and a modern Nikkor lens. The tests came out so close they were almost left wondering what those guys knew 50 years ago.