World Class lenses.....

[svenning]

In the German photo magazine: "fotoMAGAZIN" - issue 11/2001 - there was an article about the World's best lenses and the following Leica lenses was picked out by the editors:

Leica Elmarit-R 2.8 / 28mm - character: 9.6 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Leica Summilux-R 1.4 / 35mm - character: 9.6 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Leica APO-Elmarit-R 2.8 / 180mm - character: 9.8 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Leica APO-Summicron-R 2.0 / 180mm - character: 10 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Leica APO-Telyt-R 2.8 / 280mm - character: 9.8 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Leica Elmarit-R 4.0 / 80-200mm - character: 9.8 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Leica APO-Elmarit-R 2.8 / 70-180mm - character: 9,8 (optic) / 9,8 (mechanic)

Note: 10 points is the maximum score (!)

The rest of the selected lenses were:
Nikkor AF RF 2.8 / 14mm ED ASPH - character: 10 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Voigtlander 4.0 / 25mm - character: 9.8 (optic) / 9.6 (mechanic)
Carl Zeiss T* 1.4 / 35mm - character: 9.6 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Pentax SMC-FA 1.9 / 43mm - character: 9.6 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Hasselblad X-Pan 4.0 / 45mm - character: 9.8 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Carl Zeiss T* 1.4 / 50mm - character: 9.6 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Voigtlander 2.5 / 75mm - character: 9.8 (optic) / 9.6 (mechanic)
Pentax SMC-FA 1.8 / 77mm - character: 9.6 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Minolta AF G 1.4 / 85mm D - character: 9.8 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Canon EF-L USM 1.2 / 85mm - character: 9.6 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Hasselblad X-Pan 4.0 / 90mm - character: 9.8 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Nikkor 2.0 / 105mm DC - character: 9.8 (optic) / 9.6 (mechanic)
Minolta AF APO 2.8 / 200mm - character: 10 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Carl Zeiss APO-Sonnar T* 2.0 / 200mm - character: 9.8 (optic) / 9.6 (mechanic)
Nikkor AF-S IF-ED 2.8 / 300mm II - character: 9.8 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Nikkor AF-S 4.0 / 300mm IF-ED - character: 9.6 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Carl Zeiss Tele APO-Tessar T* 2.8 / 300mm - character: 10 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Canon EF L USM IS 2.8 / 400mm - character: 10 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Canon EF L USM IS 4.0 / 600mm - character: 10 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Nikkor AF-S 2.8 / 17-35mm IF-ED; character: 9.8 (optic) / 9.8 (mechanic)
Hasselblad FE 4.8 / 60-120mm; character: 10 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)
Canon EF-L USM 2.8 / 70-200mm; character: 9.8 (optic) / 9.6 (mechanic)

All-in-all a very interesting selection by this German Photo magazine - however now to my question the the Leica Forum members:

Do you agree that the above mentioned Leica Lenses are the right Leica World Class lenses?

Personally I would have liked to seen my favorite lens on the list - namely the 60mm Macro-Elmarit (!)

Have a nice debate - all the best - Svenning, Denmark.

[TimF]

No "M" lenses either.

[wizard]

Yes, I do remember that issue, and have mixed feelings about it. They try to make you believe that a Voigtlaender Snapshot Skopar 4/25 optically rates at 9.8(!!) and mechanically at 9.6. This would mean that this lens, optically and mechanically, must play in the Leica league, doesn't it?

Well, I own two copies of this lens, one black, one chrome, and while one of the two actually seems to be a little better than the other one, optically that is, there is no way to deny that even the better of the two simply cannot touch a Leica lens' optical performance, or a Leica lens' mechanical quality. I like the CV line of lenses, and use the 15mm, 21mm and 25mm regularly, but unless you restrict yourself to small prints you WILL notice the difference in optical performance. Best way to judge is a slide projected large: CV lenses have much more pronounced vignetting, and while admirably good in the center, both perceived sharpness and contrast decrease noticeably towards the edges. Not so with modern Leica lenses. Whether the better optical quality of the Leica lenses will make your shots better is another story, but what I want to say is the difference is perceivable in both optical and mechanical terms, yet is not reflected in the markings given by the above magazine.

Personally, I think the Macro-Elmarit-R 2.8/100 is missing from their list

Cheers,

Andy

[luigi bertolotti]

Not a single M lens ! TRASH ! Throw into a WC that report !

[flavio]

I would propose the 180 Apo-Telyt f:3.4, one of the best(est) I have ever seen and use.
Its "reds" are actually legendary.

Cheers

fg

[lammaken]

!!!!!!.................where are the "M" lenses? They even worse than Nikon or Canon!!

[telyt]

Originally Posted by wizard

Personally, I think the Macro-Elmarit-R 2.8/100 is missing from their list

likewise the 280mm f/4 APO

[robert_parker]

180mm 2.8 APO, 60mm 2.8, 50mm 2.0, 90mm 2.0 APO.....

[Canfred]

Hi Svenning , a very simple answer to your question . NO
Manfred

[fernando_b]

Svenning,
I don't have experience of them, but on theoretical base the 100 APO macro Elmarit and 280/4 Apo Telyt are optically even better than others selected by the magazine you mentioned. On same base the 180 Apo Elmarit (9.8 optically) should be better than 180 Apo Summicron (10). May be on the field the behaviour is different but for sure the lack of the 100 and 280 I mentioned is an error.
Fernando.

[fotografz]

"Hasselblad FE 4.8 / 60-120mm; character: 10 (optic) / 10 (mechanic)"

This 10/10 designation undermines the entire report. What a crock.

I have this lens (bought new). Take my word for it, it ain't in the same class as the FE line-up in any form of optical or pictorial measure ... except maybe to the legally blind.