So there, Leicaphiles!

[oftheherd]

This seller, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15234&item=3857764259&rd=1 knows best about Olympus lenses over Leica lenses, commenting that Leica users sometimes used to complain that Olympus lenses were "too sharp." Truely Olympus lenses always had a reputation for being good, but ...

Does this belong in the same arena as "... I don't know much about cameras ..." ?

 

[Oldprof]

It's funny that so many photographers obsess over supposed differences in the "sharpness" of various lenses. Composition and content are far more important in making good photographs. Most modern lenses are far superior to those of the 19th Century, yet I have seen many 19th Century prints that are absolutely astounding in their quality. They blow my socks off. Yet I am working with lenses that are much better than those used by the photographers of the late 1800s.

 

[RML]

Re: So there, Leicaphiles!

From the eBay description
All items guaranteed not DOA unless otherwise specified.

Not Dead On Arrival unless otherwise specified? So, even if it is DOA when I get it, it's not? Mi no sabi. 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

It's funny that so many photographers obsess over supposed differences in the "sharpness" of various lenses. Composition and content are far more important in making good photographs. Most modern lenses are far superior to those of the 19th Century, yet I have seen many 19th Century prints that are absolutely astounding in their quality. They blow my socks off. Yet I am working with lenses that are much better than those used by the photographers of the late 1800s.

Hear, hear, OldProf! Those old photographers with their old film, cameras, and ancient image stabilization devices (tripods) did manage to get some great photos. Hopefully when I grow up I will too. 🙂

 

[RML]

Hear, hear, OldProf! Those old photographers with their old film, cameras, and ancient image stabilization devices (tripods) did manage to get some great photos. Hopefully when I grow up I will too. 🙂

Indeed. I'll attain that kind of perfection when I'm as old as those old masters' photographs are now. Hmmm, that could mean I'll have to live to see 150 candles on my B-day cake.... 🙁

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I wouldn't complain about a lens being too sharp, unless they are refering to portrait lenses which tend to bring out unflattering detail (as in the 90mm summicron).
Those Olympus RF's do have outstanding, sharp lenses, my SP is a fantastic camera with excellent lens sharpness and great bokeh.

Todd

 

[Sonnar Brian]

If a lens is too sharp you will cut yourself on it.

Resolution vs Contrast is a different story. My main problem with Olympus was the very high out-of-the box defect rate compared with Nikon, Canon, and Pentax. I have a beautiful Black OM1 MD, need to send it in to have the shutter curtains repaired.

 

[doubs43]

Somewhere I have a book of photographs taken in the late 1800's by a photographer named Vroman, IIRC. He primarily took pictures in the desert Southwest of the US with an emphasis on native Indians. His images are remarkable.

Walker

It's funny that so many photographers obsess over supposed differences in the "sharpness" of various lenses. Composition and content are far more important in making good photographs. Most modern lenses are far superior to those of the 19th Century, yet I have seen many 19th Century prints that are absolutely astounding in their quality. They blow my socks off. Yet I am working with lenses that are much better than those used by the photographers of the late 1800s.

 

[FrankS]

"Leica fans sometimes say the Olympic lenses were too sharp."

Ya, right. I'd like to see those Leica fans. I'm not knocking Oly lenses but I doubt the seller's claim is real. He's in sales.