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Tim Ashley on M240 and 28 Cron


rramesh

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The 28 f2 is brilliant on my M9-P, MM or any of my film Ms; there may well be something a bit wrong with the example being discussed. Oh, and lenses aren't boring, it's how they're used that makes the difference.

 

I do know what Tim means by a boring lens. It is a lens IMHO, which renders in way which is perceived by the eye as very 2D rather than tricking the eye into thinking that the image is 3D. Part of this is down to the way that the photographer angles the photograph and from where he takes it. Part of it is down to the lens. I do have one Leica lens which I think is boring and that is an early (first month of production) example of the 75/2.5 Summarit. On the other hand, its flat reproduction makes it a good lens for technical photographs.

 

Sometimes is the technical imperfections of a lens, which give the images taken with it charm i.e. the f1 and f1.2 Noctiluxes and the series 1 50mm Summilux.

 

Wilson

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I own the 28 Cron and would have to say its the most impressive lens I have owned, period.

 

I sold a 35 Cron ASPH (which was a fine lens but never really excited me for some reason) for the 28 Cron and no regrets whatsoever.

 

The fact is that any modern Leica lens will produce more resolution and sharpness that most of us will ever need. Having said that I have always considered the 28 Cron to be one of the sharpest lens I have owned.

 

I think the author of the original article might own a flawed copy.

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Well, I do not agree with the reviewer because I don't think the Summicron 28 is a boring lens on the new M, but I respect his opinion.

 

M + SC28 open. I like the softness and the dramatical tones this lens can draw.

 

9340909235_d87d3e6858_b.jpg

The little girl and the sea von Blende 1.4 auf Flickr

 

M + SC28 stopped down. I like the sharpness and the colour rendition.

 

9365730733_48463b2f8a_b.jpg

Café zum von Blende 1.4 auf Flickr

 

 

Click for bigger resolutions.

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My last post on the subject of this boring lens, it's amazing how boring it is when shooting directly into boring harsh hazy afternoon sunlight. Try doing that with a more exciting lens.

 

M9, 2.0/28 Boricron ASPH

 

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Now I think that it's only fair to put some balance into this discussion for those non-2.0/28 Boricron ASPH owners who may be considering this lens. It is still capable of genuinely dull photographs if you don't focus or set exposure, or most importantly if you don't make any effort to compose your photo of a cat or brick wall, or especially a cat on a brick wall. Only then, maybe, if you try really hard you may just perhaps get a boring photograph. But be careful as even leaving the lens cap on can produce beautiful blacks.

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Oh well, it wasn't my last post after all...

 

Ecaton, I wonder whether you're unintentionally on to something.

 

Perhaps Tim's comment about the 28 Boricron gives some insight into how he/we see the world differently through different focal length lenses. I think that there may be certain focal lengths that inspire us and that bring out the best in our creativity and photography.

 

For me its 50mm, 28mm and 21mm. Although I have lenses in most other focal lengths, and I get good photographs with them, it's with those three focal lengths that I take what I think are my best photographs.

 

I wonder whether Tim's just not a 28mm kind of guy ;)

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I read the article, then the responses here and don't understand.

 

He's stating a personal opinion, as an artist, about a lens. It doesn't really need rebutting, or proving wrong does it?

 

Tim was also saying the lens was not very sharp and suffered from astigmatism, which is not in accord with the results of other users of this lens. This is a less subjective judgement than the boring/not boring issue and for that reason, I did wonder if Tim has a less than optimum example.

 

Tim had terrible trouble with 35 ASPH Summiluxes and until I posted a whole range of test shots of the Nikon test charts, he would not believe that anyone had a 35 Summilux that did not back focus right out of the DOF on stopping down. The 28 Summicron is notorious for the front section coming undone and the temptation is to screw it back up tight. However if you screw the front section up beyond the detents that the grub screws are supposed to lock into, the performance of the lens will deteriorate (yes I did that :)). I just wonder if this has happened to Tim's lens.

 

Wilson

 

PS I am sure Olaf will tell me that again I have got it wrong.

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I was finding my 28 Cron so boring that on Sunday I went looking for divine inspiration.

There are no boring lenses. Only boring photographs.

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I feel a yawn coming on but at least I found a comfy chair to have a nap in

 

 

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On a more serious side I am finding that focussing needs to be more critical especially on the super wides like the WATE and CV12, whereas before on the M9 I could rely totally on the zone focussing I find the with the M at least when images are viewed 1:1 that I seem to be experiencing less DOF. I can only presume that this is down to the higher resolution of the sensor and all sorts of technical things like circles of confusion which are way beyond me.

I am vey happy with the way the 28 cron behaves on the M(240) and wonder if his problems may be down to lens variation etc

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I had a look for a 'complex' 28 shot, here you go, no sharpening f5.6 and a RHS corner crop, not much wrong with this from my perspective :confused:

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I have to say that the more that I analyse my images taken with this lens on the new M the more I think he may have a problem with his lens and should maybe get it checked out. I find the micro detail when viewing 1:1 even at the edges from say f4 on (and very good at f2-2.8) to be simply stunning and about the best of any leica lens I own.

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I love the summicron 28 so much that it makes me forget the ridiculous price I paid for it. I find it does all the technical aspects incredibly well, but what makes me love the lens is something beyond that. The lens (to my eyes) has this amazing subtle character that works wonders on both my M8 and my MM.

 

I wonder if the "boring" impression comes from the fact that it is indeed a subtle lens, with an almost old-school draw/character to it. The contrast is quite low, but it deals with it amazingly precise. Especially on the MM the contrast thing works wonders, just like many older lenses work well with the MM. And on the M8 I love it's colors as well.

 

But, to be honest, I can imagine it not really working too nicely with the M240, which to my eye seems to work better with more modern-drawing lenses. So perhaps it's more prone to blandness on the M240, unless you really go for subtlety and finesse. It probably could use more post-processing than newer more in your face lenses, is my guess.

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