Michael Geschlecht Posted May 31, 2013 Share #41 Posted May 31, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello Al, Thanx, that seems more diagnostic. If you have time: Do you think you might be able to show photos made with all the lenses set at F8? Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 Hi Michael Geschlecht, Take a look here Size & Sharpness in vintage 90s. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
M9reno Posted May 31, 2013 Author Share #42 Posted May 31, 2013 Well, the Elmarit screwmount has now joined the family! It is 1683xxx (1959). Here are crops from all four lenses at f/8 (2 meter distance, ISO 160, 1.5 sec, M9 on tripod, using corresponding hoods, Manual WB). 3-element Elmar Elmarit 4-element Elmar Macro-Elmar-M Uncropped picture (Macro-Elmar-M) Can anyone spot any differences? Has it all been a huge waste of money and time? Has there been any progress in Leica lens design? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/205156-size-sharpness-in-vintage-90s/?do=findComment&comment=2335671'>More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted May 31, 2013 Share #43 Posted May 31, 2013 Hello Al, Thank you. They all look nice to me. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share #44 Posted June 1, 2013 Magnifying the above to 200% (which I won't bother to post, unless anyone wants me to), I see the sharpness of the crops in this order, from best to worst: 1) 3-element Elmar 2) Elmarit (close runner-up, hard to distinguish) 3) Macro-Elmar-M 4) 4-element Elmar (a long way down, clearly blurry) The third place is puzzling. I can't understand why the Macro-Elmar-M would not blow the first two away in sharpness. The MTF graph of the 20lp/mm line for each lens for this section of the frame (15-18mm radius) at f/5.6 puts the lenses in the order: Macro-Elmar-M (90%), 3-element (80%), Elmarit (70%), 4-element (40%)... Perhaps there is a problem with my Macro-Elmar-M? Or probably more likely, human error, my own, in focusing... In terms of handling, I like the 3-element Elmar decidedly better than the 4-element, although with its hood it creates some viewfinder blockage on my IIIg. A somewhat annoying feature of this lens is that, unless one holds the focus ring while changing aperture, the latter will cause the whole barrel to move, so requiring re-focusing. The Elmarit handles much better than the 3-element, although it is an even longer lens. There was very significant flare when I first used it outdoors yesterday (see below), though I shot against the sun and was clearly tempting the lens, so was not wholly surprised. The Elmarit will join the 3-element for CLA soon, so perhaps this issue might improve. Finally, the size and smoothness of the Macro-Elmar is amazing compared to the others. On the downside, I think the throw is a bit short. This lens also used to annoy me because changing aperture was impossible without unlocking the extended lens barrel, but this issue seems to have disappeared with age. It has a nice character (even when photographing my son's chicken pox! ) and is a joy to use on the M. In terms of character, in real life shooting, there is much else to discover and enjoy about these lenses. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/205156-size-sharpness-in-vintage-90s/?do=findComment&comment=2336003'>More sharing options...
scsambrook Posted June 1, 2013 Share #45 Posted June 1, 2013 An interesting and at least slightly educational exercise which has been interesting to follow. By no means a waste of money either, if only because you can re-sell the lenses and recoup your expenditure should you decide you don;t really need or desire to keep all of them. You might even make a profit! As for what it tells us ... perhaps only that all the lenses are inherently good for actually taking photographs and all are slightly different to each other. As somebody once said (or ought to have said) "There ain't no bad Leica lenses". Still, the Elmarit seemingly has a problem that is causing it to flare so wildly and if the the 4-element Elmar really isn't sharp at f4 then something somewhere is awry. I just love your expression "clearly blurry". My original version Tele Elmarit doesn't flare like that, and according to received wisdom from assorted gurus and recyclers of guru-ology, it's supposed to flare more than the 'long' Elmarit. Having it cleaned will hopefully solve that. My 1950s Elmar isn't as sharp as my Tele Elmarit or my Apo-Lanthar at f4, but it's still sharp enough to be unkind to ladies of a certain age.... Maybe focusing on the subject was a bit tircky? Being even a few inches out certainly knocks the edge off the detail. Anyway, it looks like you're having fun with the exercise so keep on snapping . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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