Winsor,
I think it is human nature to find some subliminal "something" to
justify the extra expense. My completely unscientific opinion is that
Leica lenses (LTM and M) were "better" because they did not have as many
compromises. My 90 mm Elmar and 135 mm Hektor are not telephotos, they
are long-focus lenses. A rangefinder doesn't have the swinging mirror,
to deal with, so a retrofocus design isn't needed for the wide-anlge
lenses. It's probably still easier to design a rangefinder lens,
compared to the SLR design.
BTW, there were some Leica lenses produced after W.W.II that WERE
radioactive. The early Summitar* and Summicron lenses used Kodak High
Refractive thorium oxide glass. This stuff was radioactive enough that
it could not be used for the rear element of the lens, to prevent film
fogging. Leica later used their own lanthanum oxide glass, which they
proudly advertised as thorium free.
Dick Gilcreast has an article on this in Volume 34, No. 1. 2001 issue of
the Viewfinder. It is available as a PDF file on-line at:
http://www.lhsa.org/
Scroll down to the "viewfinder" link, and pick the article from the
list.
Bill Stanke
Winsor Crosby wrote:
>
> >Hi Richard:
> >
> >It was hard for me to tell, since the "discussion" was in full swing
> >when I subscribed. Apparently some thought that Mr. Puts was a tool in
> >the hands of E. Leitz, some felt he had the resolution vs. contrast
> >argument wrong, etc. I think some folks were mad that he didn't
> >discover the elusive "Leica Glow", that's supposed to be present in
> >lenses of the 50's and 60's.
> >
> >Bill Stanke
>
> So they must have used a lot of rare earth glass? I don't think the
> OMs lenses with rare earth glass ever glowed.
>
> "Leica Glow" sounds like hypnotic suggestion to me. Ineffable
> qualities only perceived by cognoscenti and imparted to things that
> cost a lot like $200 speaker wires.
> --
> Winsor Crosby
> Long Beach, California
>
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