R
ruben
Guest
I am taking some vacations from my Kievs, to go back towards the fixed lens rangefinders, from which I have a respectable dusted collection, and I am still buying here and there.
Now what is the connection between this, me, and our respected member and RFF friend Trius? If you happen to know a bit both of us, take some moments to guess.
Yeap, the legendary Olympus 35SP.
Both me and Trius agree that this is the most serious candidate for the award winining optics among the fixed lens rangefinders. Of course, as much as I am concerned I have not conducted nor a kitchen test, nor even used all the most serious contenders. So I am speaking here rather from intuition, after seeing the results of the SP along the years.
Trius, on the other hand is to my opinion a much more trustable source, and according to his posts several times I had the happy opportunity to measure his deep knowledge.
But along the short time I have been dwelling at this neighbourhood, I have publicly slandered the Oly SP for its Exposure Index scale at the viewfinder, for its untasty Program, and a bit for its shake and noise at the act of public execution. With a great spirit of tolerance, Trius never discussed these complaints, as far as I remember, but underlined my appreciation of the SP optics.
Now, the Oly SP optics will be contended in my ranch in an ugly fight: Against the Yashica Lynx 14e, at widest apertures, at night streets mostly, with Neopan 1600. Light metering will be done with a great spot meter.
Now, why am I doing it beyond some sadist deviation?
Its due to a practial problem. The Lynx 14 is biggie and heavy and for this sole reason I have been looking among what I have for what could be a smaller and lighter camera to take for some opportunities in which the size and weight of the Lynx will be an overkill.
Thus for example, at a day in which I know beforehand I will be shooting at evening and night time, the Lynx 14 and a spot meter will be used. But at other opportunities in which I may have a full day available and this means other cameras too, the Oly SP f/1.7 is the best compromise I can imagine by now to replace the f/1.4 of the Lynx
It should be said that while the Lynx 14 optics were formally and outspokenly designed for low light and 1.4 respectability, the Oly SP at its max f/1.7 is a mystery.
Why f/1.7 instead of conceeding it the mercy of an f/2 ? For the simple reason that at a full stop difference from the Lynx, it will be too much of a difference for my needs, despite the fact that to my modest knowledge, for a lens not specially prepared for f/1.7, the image degradation between f/1.7 and f/2 can be significant.
On the other hand, my SP has a better viewfinder and patch than my Lynx 14.
Therefore it will be a sort of an unfair battle, with the SP as a respectable underdog. Make your bets, and the results will be shown within 2 months.
Cheers,
Ruben
Now what is the connection between this, me, and our respected member and RFF friend Trius? If you happen to know a bit both of us, take some moments to guess.
Yeap, the legendary Olympus 35SP.
Both me and Trius agree that this is the most serious candidate for the award winining optics among the fixed lens rangefinders. Of course, as much as I am concerned I have not conducted nor a kitchen test, nor even used all the most serious contenders. So I am speaking here rather from intuition, after seeing the results of the SP along the years.
Trius, on the other hand is to my opinion a much more trustable source, and according to his posts several times I had the happy opportunity to measure his deep knowledge.
But along the short time I have been dwelling at this neighbourhood, I have publicly slandered the Oly SP for its Exposure Index scale at the viewfinder, for its untasty Program, and a bit for its shake and noise at the act of public execution. With a great spirit of tolerance, Trius never discussed these complaints, as far as I remember, but underlined my appreciation of the SP optics.
Now, the Oly SP optics will be contended in my ranch in an ugly fight: Against the Yashica Lynx 14e, at widest apertures, at night streets mostly, with Neopan 1600. Light metering will be done with a great spot meter.
Now, why am I doing it beyond some sadist deviation?
Its due to a practial problem. The Lynx 14 is biggie and heavy and for this sole reason I have been looking among what I have for what could be a smaller and lighter camera to take for some opportunities in which the size and weight of the Lynx will be an overkill.
Thus for example, at a day in which I know beforehand I will be shooting at evening and night time, the Lynx 14 and a spot meter will be used. But at other opportunities in which I may have a full day available and this means other cameras too, the Oly SP f/1.7 is the best compromise I can imagine by now to replace the f/1.4 of the Lynx
It should be said that while the Lynx 14 optics were formally and outspokenly designed for low light and 1.4 respectability, the Oly SP at its max f/1.7 is a mystery.
Why f/1.7 instead of conceeding it the mercy of an f/2 ? For the simple reason that at a full stop difference from the Lynx, it will be too much of a difference for my needs, despite the fact that to my modest knowledge, for a lens not specially prepared for f/1.7, the image degradation between f/1.7 and f/2 can be significant.
On the other hand, my SP has a better viewfinder and patch than my Lynx 14.
Therefore it will be a sort of an unfair battle, with the SP as a respectable underdog. Make your bets, and the results will be shown within 2 months.
Cheers,
Ruben
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