Leica vs Nikon vintage lenses

[George Mann]

I never even stop down to f/8 unless I am desperate for more depth of field.

Most Nikkors perform best at f/8.

 

[Nikon 2]

Oth

Most Nikkors perform best at f/8.

Others are best between f/4 @ f/5.6…!

 

[George Mann]

Oth


Others are best between f/4 @ f/5.6…!

My Nikkor 50mm f/2's provide outstanding image quality between f/4 and f/11!

 

[ph]

Opinions on optics are far less reliable than measurements -providing that one can measure what matters.

I for one, like resolution and contrast which requires less stray light and reflections. The more recent Leitz products (labelled Leica) usually qualifies. Some of their pre millelnium products such as the M-50/2, the R-macro 60/2,8 and R-100/2,8 do well. .Some ancient Nikon stuff is also reasonably good. The oldest design I have is the UW 35/2,5 from rangefinder times with more recent multicoating. That one resides on my NIkonos for use on days with exttreme weather.

p.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Most Nikkors perform best at f/8.

I do not have such a narrow opinion of Nikkors' perfomance. I have found that the preform well at any f/stop.

 

[Huss]

Taken with my Nikon S2 and 50 1.4

Full image:




Center crop showing nice sharpness:




Side crop showing mush:

 

[dave olson]

The Leica M Summicron 50 f2 is considered the standard by which all other 50's are measured. I'll match my Leica M Summilux 75 F1.4 against any medium-length lens.

 

[Ian Grant]

I like that Nikon makes their own glass...!

Nikon don't make glass, cameras and lenses yes, but not glass. The specialist optical glasses are mostly made by Pilkington, then blended by Hoya for Japanese lenses.

Ian

 

[Nikon 2]

Nikon don't make glass, cameras and lenses yes, but not glass. The specialist optical glasses are mostly made by Pilkington, then blended by Hoya for Japanese lenses.

Ian

 

[Nikon 2]

From this brochure…!

 

[Nikon 2]

From this brochure…!

 

[Nikon 2]

Nikon don't make glass, cameras and lenses yes, but not glass. The specialist optical glasses are mostly made by Pilkington, then blended by Hoya for Japanese lenses.

Ian

Yes they do…!

 

[Ian Grant]

Yes they do…!

They buy (or bought) in the specialist glasses needed to blend optical glass. So a pedantic point

Ian

 

[Nikon 2]

They buy (or bought) in the specialist glasses needed to blend optical glass. So a pedantic point

Ian

They buy (or bought) in the specialist glasses needed to blend optical glass. So a pedantic point

Ian

It says, “Makes their own glass “…!

 

[Nikon 2]

It says, “Makes their own glass “…!

 

[Nikon 2]

Maybe it should read “makes their own optical glass” from bought glass stock…?

 

[George Mann]

Maybe it should read “makes their own optical glass” from bought glass stock…?

I know that they have the ability to formulate their own optics, and have done so since the early days of the Japanese photo industry, which is where they got their start.

 

[George Mann]

The Leica M Summicron 50 f2 is considered the standard by which all other 50's are measured.

Yet this wasn't always true. In fact, the very Nikkor I laud so much on this forum was chosen by Leitz to be the lens they used to model the first series of modern Summicrons.

 

[Nikon 2]

Yet this wasn't always true. In fact, the very Nikkor I laud so much on this forum was chosen by Leitz to be the lens they used to model the first series of modern Summicrons.

It should be called a Summikon...!

 

[BrianShaw]

Maybe it should read “makes their own optical glass” from bought glass stock…?

Or... make their own lens elements from raw optical glass stock that they buy from a supplier that they thouroughly inspect and closely scrutinize. That's how I've always understood it.

 

[Nikon 2]

Or... make their own lens elements from raw optical glass stock that they buy from a supplier that they rigourously inspect and scrutinize. That's how I've always understood it.

I congratulate Nikon for its dedication...!

 

[BrianShaw]

I congratulate Nikon for its dedication...!

Now that you/Photrio congratulates them, I'm sure that they can finally rest easy.

 

[Nikon 2]

Now that you/Photrio congratulates them, I'm sure that they can finally rest easy.

Rest assured...!

 

[snusmumriken]

Yet this wasn't always true. In fact, the very Nikkor I laud so much on this forum was chosen by Leitz to be the lens they used to model the first series of modern Summicrons.

Out of curiosity, where does this information come from? It hardly seems the kind of thing Leica would voluntarily admit.

 

[George Mann]

Out of curiosity, where does this information come from? It hardly seems the kind of thing Leica would voluntarily admit.

A magazine article in the '70's that also discussed the fact that Leitz favored using several Minolta lens designs as their own.