Leica Glow

Whenever this "discussion" comes up, interestingly there are people who will swear that something doesn't exist, simply by the fact that they don't see it.
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There are also people who want to believe in something so badly that their senses deceive them.

Is 'glow' supposed to be a good or a bad thing? Some of the images which are supposed to illustrate 'glow' suffer from flare or burned out highlights. The ones which look okay just look like good photos. If this is some kind of joke, it's not very funny.
 
Edward Felcher said:
When I read serious discussions on audio forums about the "sonic properties" of $12,000 AC MAINS WIRES (scout's honor, this is for real), or $4,000 RCA cables, then it's perfectly plausible that people believe all sorts of things induced by camera marketing or self perpetuating myths reinforced by mutual delusional posting on internet forums.

It's interesting how people who do not understand how things work create a latter day witch doctor/voodo mythos for themselves by ascribing mystical properties to inanimate objects.
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Sorry to have to disabuse you of that view Edward but subtle differences exist in high end audio components. The fact that cables have a distinct audio signature seems ludicrous to some people but it is very easy to demonstrate. This can also be done with power supplies, mains filters and plugs.

We simply don't understand enough of the physics to be able to explain why they sound different and in the same vein, many aspects of current quantum physics would appear ludicrous to the man in the street.

Modern man's greatest failing is his erroneous view that we understand the science of the world that we live in.

Regards
Ernst
 
I agree with Gabriel about the Summitar and Summarit glow; enve the Collapsible and Rigid Summicrons produce nice glow. But as strange as it is, I've never had the glowing effect from my Elmar red scale (very sharp, even wide open, very contrasty). Finally, I'm not sure it's a property of Leica lenses only; I've had a Jupiter 8 in Contax mount that produced pretty glowing pictures.
About the definition of Leica glow: when you see it, you know what it is (sorry I can't suggest a better definition). You may call it optical defect, but I don't see why aethetic "perfection" would be a defect. Gabriel's pictures are beautiful examples of the Leica glow. A few samples from my gallery:

Summitar 1

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Summitar 2

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Summitar 3

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No doubt there's a strange charm to strings of quarky components when you string them together.

The whole cable nonsense comes down to slight variations of impedence. AC mains cables? Total snake oil.

I'll bet you have a Linn Sondek.

How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?


ernstk said:
Sorry to have to disabuse you of that view Edward but subtle differences exist in high end audio components. The fact that cables have a distinct audio signature seems ludicrous to some people but it is very easy to demonstrate. This can also be done with power supplies, mains filters and plugs.

We simply don't understand enough of the physics to be able to explain why they sound different and in the same vein, many aspects of current quantum physics would appear ludicrous to the man in the street.

Modern man's greatest failing is his erroneous view that we understand the science of the world that we live in.

Regards
Ernst
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George Bonanno said:
I said this before and I'll say it again...

The Leica Glow is a farce.

What it really means is an old lens infested with foggy elements and a dirty objective.

Best,
George
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Hi George,
I respect your opinion, but I disagree for you can have glow from clean lenses. You're right about the fact that it comes from old lenses, and other members pointed out that it's because old lenses were less corrected than modern ones. IMHO, it's not a defect; for some portrait, a Summitar or a Summar is much much better than a modern Summicron.
In oder to get some glowing effect, people put expensive filters on extremely expensive lenses, while a cheap old Leica lens gives perfect glow 🙄
Best,
Marc
 
Flat earth?

Flat earth?

Edward Felcher said:
No doubt there's a strange charm to strings of quarky components when you string them together.

The whole cable nonsense comes down to slight variations of impedence. AC mains cables? Total snake oil.

I'll bet you have a Linn Sondek.

How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?
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There's some good punning there but alas, it doesn't alter the fact. You've conceded that differences in cable construction (and therefore potentially impedance) DO make a difference.

I may be a loyal Scot but I chose a Gyrodec over the Sondek ('tho I do use an Ekos arm) and both are still way ahead of most CD players.

Permit those of us with good ears and open minds the ability to hear the difference, just as I'll allow you not to 😎

Ernst
 
wordpress said:
I don't know if Leica glow exists. I don't care. What I hate about "the concept of Leica Glow" is this: It's just another way to turn the discussion of a good/great photo into yet another gear discussion.
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You may be right. IMHO, the quality of lenses is of very little importance for street photography. (The masters only shot with the most expensive gear though ... well, not true altogether ... for instance Doisneau and Ronis started with cheap cameras). Anyway, the quality of gear becomes more important for portrait, nature photography, architecture ... etc. I hold that the Leica glow is an essential feature of a good portrait.
But all this is very subjective. Nobody holds the everlasting truth in this matter, since we have different tastes, experiences, goals ... that's enough to explain our disagreement on what is a good picture and what is the Leica glow (if it exists ... I believe in it 🙂 ).
Best,
Marc-A.
 
Uh, oh.

Straying into audio fanatic territory is like getting into the middle of a religious war.

Nobody will budge from their beliefs.

Does anybody here have an AC Mains cable that they paid over $100 for (or equivalent) that they believe makes their system sound better?

Just curious.

How much did you pay for your interconnect cables?
 
OK GUYS, LEICA GLOW THREAD!!!
We're not talking about best cables for audio, or best wood for gispsy guitar (do you want to discuss this issue???), or best tyre brand for F1 cars (which is not Bridgestones ... want to discuss that also?) but LEICA GLOW.
 
Marc-A. said:
OK GUYS, LEICA GLOW THREAD!!!
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Thanks for the bons mots Marc. However, I think there are many relevant parallels between the topics.

And on a more childish note, we didn't start it!🙂

Regards
Ernst
 
If a Leica lens shines light on film or sensor in the middle of the woods but no one can see the glow.......

(Just joshing ya Magus🙂 )
 
Gabriel M.A. said:
Whenever this "discussion" comes up, interestingly there are people who will swear that something doesn't exist, simply by the fact that they don't see it.

tajine d'angeau.
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Some people swear they've seen aliens from outer space and ghosts and some believe in the tooth ferry and santa clause too. I think the tooth ferry is keeper of the glow.
 
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