new website about info in M lens in the works - give your ideas and wants

[proenca]

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Hi there,

 

I'm creating a website about Leica M lens ( Leica and Leica M mount, so Voigts and such ) information.

 

The idea is to create a website that features all Leica M lens ( I'm gathering info ) , and people will be able to compare them ( stats, etc ) but also to upload pictures of them, so we can appreciate bokeh, sharpeness, etc.

 

When lusting a new lens, I end up serching google and flickr for information about that lens, opening countless flikr photos that were taken with that lens to appreciate the bokeh, the way it will handle flare, how it "draws" etc.

 

So thats its when I came up with this idea for this website : not a forum, just a collection of all the stats for all the M mount available lens , along with pictures of it and if it was taken with a digital or film camera - ofc you can specifiy in a search something like :

 

- ONLY 50mm Summilux pre-ASPH photos

- ONLY Leica M8 and M8.2 camera

- ONLY WIDEOPEN photos

 

and so on.

 

what you guys think ? what other funtionalities could I add to the website ? Please mind that I'm not creating a forum, for that this one does the job very well .)

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[Gerard]

Hey there. Most M-mount lenses have been reviewed by highly regarded photo journalists, there is a stack of searchable info on this forum and, with Flickr and Pixel Peeper, it is easy to search for image results from specific glass on specific bodies. To build a site would be quite a bit of work, and serving it would take a fair bit of change each year. Are you hoping to make it work financially?

[proenca]

Thanks for the heads up - atlhoug the idea isnt to review lens - but to collect info on them.

 

I wont compete with Steve Huff and so on, I would rather list a lens and its specifications and point to link on review on them - I wont be doing any review.

 

Just a point to centralize information and collec pictures about lens

[redbaron]

It could also be a copyright nightmare.

[efix]

I think it's a great idea!

[proenca]

It could also be a copyright nightmare.

 

Why ? I wont copy and paste anything - just link to other sites and the photos would be uploaded by the users - not by me !

[mikki]

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I think it's a GREAT idea. When I was in the market for new lenses for my camera, it was a nightmare to find accurate information about them. For DSLR-lenses, there are already several good websites that provide information to potential buyers, for M lenses, there're none.

If you eventually seriously think about starting such a website, I may even consider to participate with it it, if you need help of course.

[redbaron]

Links might get around the copyright issue, but how is that different or better than Google?

[proenca]

Links might get around the copyright issue, but how is that different or better than Google?

 

different : google is a generic web search

 

the website will be specific for lens.

 

you would click for example, on the 50mm Noctilux 0.95 ASPH and first all its tech data ( blades, weight, variations, etc ) will appear, then all the reviews there is on the web about that lens and then opens 8 random photos uploded by users taken with the noctilux.

 

all central, all in one click.

 

the idea is to centralize information and be easy to find. not to replace any forum, flickr, or google

[leicashot]

Hey there. Most M-mount lenses have been reviewed by highly regarded photo journalists, there is a stack of searchable info on this forum and, with Flickr and Pixel Peeper, it is easy to search for image results from specific glass on specific bodies. To build a site would be quite a bit of work, and serving it would take a fair bit of change each year. Are you hoping to make it work financially?

 

 

"Highly regarded photo journalists?"

 

Can you please provide a link? I think that is what is missing from Leica reviews.

[andybarton]

Why not just contribute to the lens wiki here?

[erg]

Why no M9 ?

[andybarton]

What do you mean "Why no M9"?

 

[proenca]

Why not just contribute to the lens wiki here?

 

hummm because I dont know it exists ?

[andybarton]

There's a Wiki tab at the top of every page.

[Guest]

If the Leica Wiki was not so incomplete, big books on the the subject would not sell at all.

 

Copyright did not keep Brockhaus and Encyclopedia Britanica in print, once internet provided the same information.

 

Information about historic data is no infringement against copyright laws imo.

But I'm not a lawyer, better ask one before proceeding.

 

I remember though, Rogliatti could not do much against finding info provided by him in other books.

 

Please allow a layman's question: how could an individual hold copyrights on historic data?

 

Attracting youg collectors and then helping them in their education to connaisseurs is bad for a few book writers and good for heirs of collections.

 

Please also accept the legitimate discouragement when attempting to divert traffic from this site.

 

So imo helping bring the Leica Wiki (which is not part of the public Wikipedia) on par with print sources would be the way to go.

[andybarton]

It's the copyright to the photographs that was in question.

[jaapv]

That could be a simple matter of asking.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[chanyr]

Top | Olympus Users' Photo Library | Olympus Imaging

 

You could try doing it like the Olympus website where you can search for a combination of lens only or lens paired with a particular camera. I would like to see an option for straight out of camera as well. i.e. no sharpening or post-processing and other options like photographs of test charts.

[Guest]

Let's not stray please: 1. having technical data about all Leica lenses of the last 70-75 years, the versions and the differences between them, their quantities, their serial numbers and their accessories would be great.

2. A data base of each one of these items and the (date related) prices in completed e-bay deals during the last years and months.

3. Photos taken with each lens under standardised conditions on a M9.

 

All dealers would not like 1. and be aghast for seconds seeing 2. being made public in a transparent manner. Then they would fight such a list on the net not only overtly. It is understandable, since they make a living paying prices below that. There was a thread here where members were boasting about bargains. What's that compared to see one's business been interfered with in such a way? 3. Would of cause be quite something... Going on for a while consisting of endless discussions untill the whole project is derailed.