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Sweet spot of lenses


Muizen

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it would be stupid to buy a low light lens to use it as at f/4 to get sharp corners. Then it would be wiser to buy an f/2.0 or f/2.8 lens to begin with.

 

While I generally agree with your post, this part seems overly simplistic to me. I own some relatively fast lenses such as the 50 Summilux asph to use for a variety of purposes, sometimes wide open IF desired or needed, but often not. I like the flexibility a fast lens provides, including the fact that, with Leica, it still comes in a relatively small package. Better for me than carrying multiple lenses for various situations. And the 50 Summilux has a wonderful quality at all apertures IMO (preferable to my former Summicron). The sweet spot is on the front of my camera.

 

Jeff

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Maybe I've spent too much time visiting dpreview - but over there, "sweet spot" of a lens usually refers to the part of the image used by cropped cameras (no fuzzy corners or color aberrations), rather than the best aperture.

 

I'm with Jeff - I make full use of the aperture ring as needed. If I need f/1.4 for low light, that's what I buy, and then use the same lens at most of the other apertures in bright light.

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Maybe I've spent too much time visiting dpreview - but over there, "sweet spot" of a lens usually refers to the part of the image used by cropped cameras (no fuzzy corners or color aberrations), rather than the best aperture.

 

Thats what I had in mind when I read the thread title initially, also.

 

But the term 'sweet spot' has - at teast - two different meanings -> Digital Shot: FIND YOUR LENS SWEET SPOT

 

Not necessarily makes things easier...

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Not wishing to complicate matters further, but I can see an objective and a subjective element to this; the technical (objective) "sweet spot" where a given lens delivers optimum performance and the personal (subjective) "sweet spot" where the lens delivers the result that the photographer is trying to achieve. Maybe some of the debate so far is conflating the two?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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Not wishing to complicate matters further, but I can see an objective and a subjective element to this; the technical (objective) "sweet spot" where a given lens delivers optimum performance and the personal (subjective) "sweet spot" where the lens delivers the result that the photographer is trying to achieve. Maybe some of the debate so far is conflating the two?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

Definitely, yes. And I said so.

 

The irritating old man

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I wonder whether information exists regarding the so called "sweet spot" of Leica lenses?

 

Yes it does, Leica and Zeiss publish MTF diagrams for current lenses, Hove have a cheap booklet for antiques 1930 to 2005.

 

But sweet spots ignoring the earlier dialogue, are subjective, I can loan out Canon LTM lenses on outings to people who want a given signature, like a near water colo(u)r effect.

On dull days I might use MC lenses on bright SC lenses.

 

Leica Camera AG - Photography - LEICA ELMARIT-M 28 mm f/2.8 ASPH.

Leica Camera and Lens Pocket Book ;Laney & Puts Hove Collectors Books

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While I generally agree with your post, this part seems overly simplistic to me. I own some relatively fast lenses such as the 50 Summilux asph to use for a variety of purposes, sometimes wide open IF desired or needed, but often not. I like the flexibility a fast lens provides, including the fact that, with Leica, it still comes in a relatively small package. Better for me than carrying multiple lenses for various situations. And the 50 Summilux has a wonderful quality at all apertures IMO (preferable to my former Summicron). The sweet spot is on the front of my camera.

 

Jeff

 

Agree, I would go for low light/exotic lenses, and then use the f-stop for control of depth of field and sharpness (never as light control).

 

But if the aim - and it is for a very few - to head out in mountains to shoot landscapes in sunshine, and never use a camera at night(clubs), I would recommend a f/4 lens for that.

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