nigel_s._lee

I was also interested in hearing what other people have to say about the quality of Voigtlander's 40mm Ultron F2 lens - it's certaintly a very useful general purpose focal length - and by its very nature pretty compact and light weight too. Unlike Nikon's 45mm P type Ais lens, it's also reasonably fast (Nikon's 45mm pancake lens was/is a modest F2.8 ... not a problem in itself but it didn't produce the brightest focusing screen in my FM2 that I've looked at).

 

I only used my Nikon 45mm a little mainly for this reason, but perhaps it was also a little too compact for handling ease (I would say that it's a bit smaller than the Voigtlander 40mm lens).

 

Finaly, there seems to be a lot of talk on the net and in these photo forums about 'bokeh'. I must confess it's not a word I'd come across until fairly recently (and now I seem to see it everywhere), however, I would like to point out, that this phenomenon is NOT caused by lenses.

 

I'm not a scientist but I do know that it is merely a characteristic OF LIGHT as it enters and comes out of an opening.

 

The 'opening' in our case is the aperture of a lens ... any 50mm lens set to an aperture of F2 (for example), will have an 'opening' of 25mm ( that is 1/2 the focal length, hence F2), and thus light travelling through it will behave in exactly the same way as with any other lens of this focal length with an aperture of 25mm ( = F2).

 

If most lenses operated at apertures of F64 or F128 there would be very little discussion about so-called bokeh - because there wouldn't be any! Pin hole cameras likewise don't have bokeh, because the light travelling through their very small apertures doesn't behave in the same way as when travelling through a hole which is (for example) 25mm or so in diameter as is typical with a modern fast lens.

 

I'm glad to get that one off my chest!

Dear Roger

 

Also meant to say that in principle the 'a la carte' philosphy is a brilliant one, or I think it would be, if it was only about the optional leather trim and final finish of the camera.

 

But I think that by now, the design of both the MP and the M7 should in theory at least, be beyond improvement. If for example, the rewind knob on the MP was its weakness, Leica should have re-designed it, rather than just re-using the old style rewind knob from the 50's models.

 

If their clever solution is the add-on lever (which clearly makes it more efficient), this in my view should come supplied with, or fitted to the camera - i.e. when it is bought, and optionally be detachable for those who insist on sticking with tradition.

 

But then again, they wouldn't then be able to charge us the exorbitant sum for the small add-on accessory (I think in the UK it's something silly like 175 Sterling) ! That must be I reckon, something like - or more than - its weight in gold .... so I think someone's having a laugh.

Does anyone at Leica ever do any market research into what their customers might want? If they do, they must decide in advance to offer it only in the 'a la carte' programme, for which of course the purchaser is surely fleeced. I'm sure Leica would sell more cameras and make more profit by not being so utterly ... what ever the word is.

Hi Roger and Trevor and others ...

I've really enjoyed this forum and feel now that I must put my own OAR in. Roger surely is right in pointing out that the 'a la carte' option makes good economic sense for Leica; but surely not in all cases from a potential buyer's point of view. How can anyone (except those with a lot more money than sense), be prepared to pay EXTRA to have the top plate of the 'a la carte' camera UN-ENGRAVED ? In the U.K. the 'extra' charge for this option is priced at 190 Sterling.

Overall, I think that the 'a la carte' programme does offer those people, who are bent on buying a Leica camera, more choice in buying one that suits them as individuals. But, I can't help feeling that it is only necessary because Leica in reality offers a limited choice. Even with their 'a la carte' programme it is not possible to order the 'M7' with the traditional rewind knob ! Why is that?

According to well-informed literature I've read about the new black finish on the Leica MP, it is a BLACK PAINT (a polyurethane based paint, like most modern paints). It is applied to the camera by a lacquering process - producing a perfect and flawless finish - at least this is the impression I've got when I've held a few black paint MP's. Unlike the black anodized finish, which is a type of electro plate (found on, for example the black M7), this black paint will, with use, chip-off if knocked hard against something, and wear away to reveal the brass underneath giving that cherished (by some) patina.