lenses compared

[FrankS]

There's an interesting discusion thread on photonet about Canon and Leica lenses that is relevant to some discussions we had here, for me and Joe in particular:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009pPA

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Both are great Lenses.

BUT, the Summicron is WOW Sharp; the Canon is very sharp and has very nice Bokeh.

The Canon F1.4 is one of the only 6-element F1.4 lenses ever made; most are 7-elements. It is a Xenon formula lens. Canon was using high index of refraction glass in this period to cut down on the number of elements that a lens had to increase transmission. The Nikkor-N 5cm f1.1 lens used 11 elements while the Canon dream lens used 7 elements.

It should be added that the current Summulix was not optimized for F1.4, according to Pop Photo the old Nikkor 5cm f1.4 actually did better wide-open. But close it down an F-stop, and it hits pay-dirt.

Shameless Plug: These scans do not do the lenses justice compared to the prints, but here they are anyway.


Summicron Shots

Canon 50mm F1.4, Late version

 

[Huck Finn]

There's a 50/1.5 Canon for sale on ebay right now - this one a Zeiss Sonnar clone. Dante Stella calls it a "sleeper" lens. Very good.

 

[FrankS]

That's the lens that I have 3/4 of. (front lens group, barrel, aperture, but no rear lens group)

 

[back alley]

i saw that post too, interesting.

ya know, the best thing i have read about comparing lenses for 35mm cameras and trying to find the 'sharpest' or 'best' lens is medium format cameras.
if we really want the best, the most detail, great tones etc. we should be shooting 120 film.
i'm fine if my lens is 'good enough', i'm not talking dogs, plastic or fuzzy lenses, but good glass.
think about your favourite pics taken by another photographer, those with 'wow' impact. do you think about which lens they used or what the pics means/says to you?

if it's the lens then i think we are doing something wrong here.

i realized that the machines were getting too important to me when i changed my computer screen saver from my favourite photo to a pic of my favourite camera.

sad...really.

joe

 

[FrankS]

quote: i realized that the machines were getting too important to me when i changed my computer screen saver from my favourite photo to a pic of my favourite camera.


So Joe, exactly what camera would that be?

 

[back alley]

lol

 

[Doug]

ya know, the best thing i have read about comparing lenses for 35mm cameras and trying to find the 'sharpest' or 'best' lens is medium format cameras.
if we really want the best, the most detail, great tones etc. we should be shooting 120 film.

Yeah, I agree. There's often something just smoother and richer about the look. And we don't hear much about MF lens comparisons...

 

[jdos2]

Mamiya Universal 6x7/6x9 100mm f/2.8, WooHoo!