Originally posted by RiceHigh Classic film lenses made in Germany like those Zeiss, Leica and Contax have not been changed over time and they are the best ones I have ever seen in this planet.
Nowadays lenses are all crap when compared with those German designed and made lenses which are the true state of art photographic equipment in terms of optical quality..
Japanese lenses are still Japanese lenses. In the last century, the closest to German lenses Japanese brand was Pentax, I must say. They are not as good most of the time but they are far cheaper!
Canon lenses nowadays, even L ones, are by no means as good as even those old Pentax glass, but then those were the days. (Yet the latest Pentax glass nowadays are by no means match the Canons IMHO)
The problem now is German companies lack the technologies and manufacturing capabilities of the digital parts, but not the optics. And now, there are fewer and fewer genuine German lenses, particularly those designed by human and with talent and unique characters.
So, time will change something but some other things are yet unchanged over time.
I don't know i have an old Leica with a Leitz lens and while it is good, I'm not sure if the lens quality is as good as my older Takumars or new Pentax 16-45 or 55-300. I also have old Zeiss lens (Super Ikonta) again, I think my Pentax lenses are capable of better pix. My opinion, based on being a user and an owner.
I've also had some extensive use of a Leica M4 Rangefinder with the 35mm f2 and 90 mm Leitz lens, back in the '80's. Just for fun way back then I compared the picture quality of my Takumar f1.8 and 135mm f3.5 attached to my Pentax ES 11, compared to the M4 with 35mm and 90mm. Nothing scientific, except I used the same subject, lighting, etc, same time of day, same day and I felt there was nothing to choose from between the picture quality (up to 8 X 10) from the Pentax and Leica equipment. As I have both Leica and Pentax equipment and like them both, I have no axe to grind either way.
Last edited by lesmore49; 09-24-2008 at 08:51 PM.