View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
kathala
Joined: 13 May 2022 Posts: 128
|
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 3:25 pm Post subject: Two overlooked gems: Brasov with Leica Summitar 5o/2 |
|
|
kathala wrote:
The bizarre ways of life have brought me to the Romanian town of Brasov, and to the Leica Summitar, the often unloved 5o/2 predecessor of the famous Summicron. A walk through the town, at the same time a test run with the Summitar, have shown me two rather overlooked gems - the town, with its charm and not-yet-disneyland restoration, as opposed to so many old towns. And the lens, with its charm, flaws and magic.
Separation is surprisingly low for both a Leica* and a 5o/2, and centre sharpness seems optimal around f/5.6 whilst corner sharpness requires f/11, which already heavily diffracts the centre and still does not render the corners properly sharp.
But look at that bokeh and character. The Summicron might be better technically. Yet I once owned a Summicron and sold it, finding it boring. I can't know the bizarre ways of life, but right now, I see no intention of ever selling the Summitar...
*I once had an opportunity to compare the Canon FD 5o/1.4 to the Leica Noctilux 5o/1, which at f/2 shows as much separation (i.e. shallow depth of field) as the FD at 1.4! Haven't compared FD and Summitar yet.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
_________________ Photography Reference Tables:
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aJ5F8XM6t5AK4bydthcDoiwhsh5CUx3N
My Art and Books: ChristianSchnalzger.de
My Exploration of Panoramic Photographic Storytelling:
flickr.com/photos/hach_und_ueberhaupt/
The better you look, the more you see (B. E. Ellis) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
cbass
Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Posts: 436
|
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 3:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
cbass wrote:
Are those saturated colors out of the lens or from post processing? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3748 Location: Switzerland
|
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 8:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
stevemark wrote:
cbass wrote: |
Are those saturated colors out of the lens or from post processing? |
Differences in lens colors are rather subtle as long as we are talking about coated (and clean!) lenses. They do exist - e. g. my Canon FD lenses usually being duller than the corrsponding Minolta MC/MD lenses -, but they often can be seen only when comparing the lenses side-by-side under identical circumstances.
This, in turn, means that most images above are heavily processed
S _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
|
Back to top |
|
|
iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
|
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 3:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
The Summitart is overlooked by most because it's just not that good. When compared to other early double gauss type designs such as the Ultron 2/50, Xenon 2/50 and Septon 2/50- it's just not that good - poor edges and field curvature being noticeable weaknesses. If people wanted a 50 with character, then the Sonnar offered more for less money, so where was the Summitar's niche? Too expensive for it's abilities. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
cbass
Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Posts: 436
|
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
cbass wrote:
stevemark wrote: |
cbass wrote: |
Are those saturated colors out of the lens or from post processing? |
Differences in lens colors are rather subtle as long as we are talking about coated (and clean!) lenses. They do exist - e. g. my Canon FD lenses usually being duller than the corrsponding Minolta MC/MD lenses -, but they often can be seen only when comparing the lenses side-by-side under identical circumstances.
This, in turn, means that most images above are heavily processed
S |
You are mostly correct, but I have seen exceptions specifically with Leica/Leitz lenses where the color saturation was almost unreal. But this is with more modern lenses and not older ones. Still, I think you are correct here as this is over the top even for a modern Leica when it comes to color. Those greens do not look natural. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3748 Location: Switzerland
|
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 5:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
stevemark wrote:
[quote="cbass"]
stevemark wrote: |
I have seen exceptions specifically with Leica/Leitz lenses where the color saturation was almost unreal |
1) Did you see a side-by-side comparison on the same camera (!) with other lenses?
2) Which camera(s) was/were used?
3) What were the settings of the camera used?
Of course - by tweaking RAW data and their "development" one can make a certain camera/lens combination looking "almost unreal". Question remains whether "almost unreal" is also looking good ...
I remember the typical "Nikon green" around 2012 - everything slightly greenish seemed to get that same intense green color on Nikon DSLR images. All nuances lost, and a big difference to the Konica/Minolta (and to soime extent also early Sony) approach.
S _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Himself
Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 3209 Location: Montreal
Expire: 2013-05-30
|
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 8:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Himself wrote:
Those reds on the roofs are overly saturated, cartoonish like.
No calibrated monitor? Or IPS at least? _________________ Moderator Himself |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Alex Kraus
Joined: 06 May 2023 Posts: 67 Location: Germany (Upper Bavaria)
|
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 9:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Alex Kraus wrote:
Sorry, but these colors are just horrible! They hurt my eyes! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kds315*
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 16497 Location: Weinheim, Germany
Expire: 2021-03-09
|
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
kds315* wrote:
Yep, certainly over-saturated, but nevertheless brings up nice memories from having visited beautiful Brasov and its German history... _________________ Klaus - Admin
"S'il vient a point, me souviendra" [Thomas Bohier (1460-1523)]
http://www.macrolenses.de for macro and special lens info
http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos for UV Images and lens/filter info
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kds315/albums my albums using various lenses
http://photographyoftheinvisibleworld.blogspot.com/ my UV BLOG
http://www.travelmeetsfood.com/blog Food + Travel BLOG
https://galeriafotografia.com Architecture + Drone photography
Currently most FAV lens(es):
X80QF f3.2/80mm
Hypergon f11/26mm
ELCAN UV f5.6/52mm
Zeiss UV-Planar f4/60mm
Zeiss UV-Planar f2/62mm
Lomo Уфар-12 f2.5/41mm
Lomo Зуфар-2 f4.0/350mm
Lomo ZIKAR-1A f1.2/100mm
Nikon UV Nikkor f4.5/105mm
Zeiss UV-Sonnar f4.3/105mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f1.8/45mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f4.1/94mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f2.8/100mm
Steinheil Quarzobjektiv f1.8/50mm
Pentax Quartz Takumar f3.5/85mm
Carl Zeiss Jena UV-Objektiv f4/60mm
NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha II f1.1/90mm
NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha I f2.8/200mm
COASTAL OPTICS f4/60mm UV-VIS-IR Apo
COASTAL OPTICS f4.5/105mm UV-Micro-Apo
Pentax Ultra-Achromatic Takumar f4.5/85mm
Pentax Ultra-Achromatic Takumar f5.6/300mm
Rodenstock UV-Rodagon f5.6/60mm + 105mm + 150mm
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
cbass
Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Posts: 436
|
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
cbass wrote:
[quote="stevemark"]
cbass wrote: |
stevemark wrote: |
I have seen exceptions specifically with Leica/Leitz lenses where the color saturation was almost unreal |
1) Did you see a side-by-side comparison on the same camera (!) with other lenses?
2) Which camera(s) was/were used?
3) What were the settings of the camera used?
Of course - by tweaking RAW data and their "development" one can make a certain camera/lens combination looking "almost unreal". Question remains whether "almost unreal" is also looking good ...
I remember the typical "Nikon green" around 2012 - everything slightly greenish seemed to get that same intense green color on Nikon DSLR images. All nuances lost, and a big difference to the Konica/Minolta (and to soime extent also early Sony) approach.
S |
It depends on which part you are in disbelief about. My comment of color saturation being almost unreal or that there can be differences in saturation and color between lenses. When I say almost unreal, I don't mean anything close to the originally posted pictures.
As for your bullet points 1-3. I always do a controlled test to confirm. I use the same settings. Shutter speed. ISO. Aperture. Manually set white balance. I used a Fuji X-T1 APS-C camera, but also see the same results with a Fuji GFX 50s. I would have to look up the exact settings, but they were the same.
The camera body especially with film simulations is steering the colors in a certain direction especially when it comes to JPEG's. The RAW file is better, but almost any mainstream processing software that you use is doing the same thing via a default profile.
My classic comparison was a Summicron-R 90 pre-asph to a Elmarit-R 90 Version 2. The yellow and blue was obviously different between the two lenses. There is a long color analysis on the Summilux-M 75. My Summicron-R 90 pre-asph behaves very similar to what is described there. The best description is saturated pastels. The Elmarit has strongly vibrant colors in comparison.
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/leica-m-summilux-75mm-f1-4/#Color
My Leica R 35-70 F4 in comparison has even more strongly saturated colors. I have compared this against my Zeiss Contax 35-70 F3.4, which is not a muted lens, but not nearly as saturated. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
hasenbein
Joined: 15 May 2020 Posts: 93
|
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 7:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
hasenbein wrote:
Most probably Kathala is a fan of Ken Rockwell |
|
Back to top |
|
|
cbass
Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Posts: 436
|
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 5:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
cbass wrote:
hasenbein wrote: |
Most probably Kathala is a fan of Ken Rockwell |
Ken Rockwell was the original Peter Lik. If he had a better website and marketing skills he could have made the big bucks instead. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ultrapix
Joined: 06 Jan 2012 Posts: 547 Location: Italy
|
Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 11:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
Ultrapix wrote:
While everyone has the right to express their own point of view, it seems to me that the critical reactions to these images are excessive. The colour interpretation is clearly personal (author's choice), and hardly suitable to show the qualities of a lens, but it is consistently expressed and although it does not meet my taste it has its own logic. These are images that proposed in a less 'technical' context would have full rights |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|