pensacolaphoto

<p>I have used DAG's services many times, and once I sent Youxin Ye a camera and lens. I would say that if the repair may need extra finesse and maybe a crafted part for the camera or lens, I would choose Don Goldberg to service my camera or lens. Standard repair/service would be equally well done by both gentlemen.</p>

<p>I have owned two Rigid Summicrons for a while, and recently I added a DR Summicron. While the regular Rigid Summicron is a wonderful lens, the DR is "extra sharp". </p>

<p>Hi Mark, How do you feel about using the D Lux, considering its high cost? Is it worth the $1000+ ? </p>

<p>The Steinheil 80/2.8 is an excellent portrait lens for around $100 as ltm.<br /> The Canon 100/3.5 is tiny and very sharp (usually requires haze removal).<br /> The Elmarit 90/2.8 is hard to beat for overall quality and cost.<br /> The old version 2 Summicron 90/2 is beautiful and very sharp. It is not expensive either.<br /> The Canon 100/2 is praised by many to be "the best" ltm tele lens.<br /> The 50mm/1.5 CZJ Sonnar is excellent for portraits.The Canon 85/1.8 and 85/1.9 both are excellent lenses.<br /> There are many excellent portrait lenses for under $1000. Most are ltm.</p>

<p>Most of my cards are Class 4 cards.</p>

<p>I do not pay any attention to what Ken Rockwell posts online. Just take photos, and don't worry about the differences in opinions. The elegance of Leica M cameras is one factor that I find important to me as I see other brands with more bulky camera bodies .The rangefinder experience is extremely important to me too. Which other full frame digital RF camera competes with the digital M series?</p>

<p>"But I'd rather be reading about them in Sony/Minolta forum to be honest. Of course, from the looks of the traffic over there, it is one lonely place...."<br> <br> There may exist a good reason for why such forums are near vacant. </p>

<p>I am getting color images with my M9 that I cannot see getting by other digital rangefinder camera :)<br> It is all about the RF experience. The Leica optics are superb, as are many Zeiss and Schneider and Nikon and Canon RF optics. The Leica optics do best on a Leica camera, though.</p> <p>Enjoy your SONY cameras if this has been your choice. I am enjoying what works best for me. </p>

<p>correction: visit was on May 31, 2016.</p>

<p>Try visiting SONY headquarters, and request to meet with the CEO and a couple of VPs while you are there.</p> <p>A small group of Leica users went to Wetzlar on June 31, and we were given a VIP treatment for several hours there.<br> Stefan Daniel spent one hour touring the history of Leica in the splendid new hall in the new Leica building. He addressed all questions put to him by us. This was a special treat. (Leica Director of Product Management)<br /><br /> Oliver Kaltner (CEO) gave us about 45 minutes of his busy time, and he was very nice to all of us. Herr Kaltner shared with us his vision for Leica, explaining to us how optical engineering was the foundation and also the future . A treat indeed.<br /><br /> Silke Benrhardt did first class organizing and hosting of the events. Her role was crucial. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /> Peter Karbe (Chief Optical Designer 2002 - current) gave us a detailed slide presentation of Tradition and Innovation at Leica. It was a 75 minute presentation. Again, a real treat.</p> <p> </p>

<p>It is an unlikely event to have CEO and other high level administrators and scientists take such personal care of visitors who are users of their cameras. It showed us the attention that Leica users are getting from the top.</p>

<p>Everybody is entitled to an opinion. Everybody has an opinion.</p>

<p>I am biased towards Leica optics and Leica RF cameras. In comparison, other camera systems with digital cameras are not even faintly of interest to me. </p>

<p>Hi Greg,<br> Yes, the Leica Museum (first floor only) is open to the public. It is worth visiting.</p>

<p>It is an unusual event when a photography company such as Leica welcomes members from a photography website the way have done. We were first invited to have lunch at the Leica Cafeteria, and it was a very friendly event overall.</p>

<p>A small group of dedicated Leica users met in Wetzlar (Germany) on May 31 to receive from Leica a special VIP tour of the Leica Museum, in addition to a 45 minute meeting to chat with the Leica CEO, Oliver Kaltner. <br> Stefan Daniel spent one hour touring the history of Leica in the splendid new hall in the new Leica building. He addressed all questions put to him by us. This was a special treat.<br /><br />Oliver Kaltner gave us about 45 minutes of his busy time, and he was very nice to all of us. Herr Kaltner shared with us his vision for Leica, explaining to us how optical engineering was the foundation and also the future . A treat indeed.<br /><br />Silke Benrhardt did first class organizing and hosting of the events. Her role was crucial. Thank you!<br /><br /><br />Peter Karbe gave us a detailed slide presentation of Tradition and Innovation at Leica. It was a 75 minute presentation. Again, a real treat.<br> We had a great experience that day at Leica.<br> <br> Raid<br> </p>

<p>It took me years to accept the fact that I could be using a Leica digital camera, and since then, I am using each week my M8 and M9 cameras. The Leica and the Zeiss lenses are awesome lenses. Of course, I could have opted to use these lenses on another brand digital camera, but O have stayed with Leica. This summer I will meet with the Leica CEO in Wetzlar!</p>

<p>The 50mm Summicron is one of my favorite rangefinder lenses. In particular, I use the first version Rigid Summicron more than any other 50mm RF lens that I own. It is a high resolution, medium contrast lens that is very well built. It can be used on film cameras and on digital M bodies, unlike the magnificent Summicon Dual Range that cannot easily be used on Leica M digital cameras.</p>

<p>color image with this lens</p><div></div>

<p>Here is a color-removed image with this lens.</p><div></div>

<p>The lens is very well built. Most likely, it is a much better built lens than a Samyang 85mm/1.4, say.<br> Not that many 85/1.5 Canon lenses were built, so it is an uncommon lens. </p>

<p>I need to start using my 1.4x magnifier too.</p>

<p>I decided a few days ago to use (again) my old Canon 85mm 1.5 rangefinder lens. It is a heavy lens that is not easy to focus quickly. Depending how good your eyesight is, I find it difficult to get it in perfect focus when the light is dim and when the camera does not have a magnified focus assist, such as found in the Olympus E-PL1, say.<br />I used my Leica M9 with the lens here.<br> Brian Sweeney told me that this lens has the same design as his Simlar5cm 1.5.</p> <p><img src="https://raid.smugmug.com/Canon-85mm-15/i-MHfjvCn/0/X2/CAN-42-X2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="852" /><br /> <img src="https://raid.smugmug.com/Canon-85mm-15/i-VKMwx9r/0/X2/CAN-38-X2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="852" /></p>

<p>The Canon 85/1.5 sells these days on ebay for about $1000. </p>

<p>Thank you for the review.</p>