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What is the Leica 'glow'??
- Thread starter Moonshine
- Start date
JimCollum
Member
yea.. there are some really nice non-leica lenses that have a 'glow' to them as well (not counting the numerous portrait lenses from large format cameras)
a recent acquisition Zeiss 8.5cm 2.0 Jena Sonnar (from 1930 according to the serial #)
(wide open at the same Pet Cemetery)
btw.. some excellent examples of different lens renderings in this thread (falling within the 'glow' heading)
PeterA
Well-known member
I get a glowing feeling smetimes when I use my Leica gear- but it requires assistance..
Photoshop has a glow filter - older uncoated lenses spread light in random fashion into a camera housing and over your film which some see as glow...
really it is a nonsense word - and attempts to define this are embarrassing to write and to read.
Photoshop has a glow filter - older uncoated lenses spread light in random fashion into a camera housing and over your film which some see as glow...
really it is a nonsense word - and attempts to define this are embarrassing to write and to read.
That's what my friends and I used to call a "conversational door slammer"... and it's very good one :ROTFL:
Wow! That's a beautiful MP!
JimCollum
Member
none taken at all... it brought a smile to my face
You didn't even attempt the first thing and nobody forced you to do the second, but thats whats counts, getting stuck in and having an opinion...
Better yet, partially corrected spherical aberation! It's often responsible for what is described as a lens's "character" and/or "glow". Problem is, balancing out the other good performance characteristics of a lens vs. how much spherical aberation one would hope it would have, is often quite subjective. A lot depends on having some of this "good thing" vs. having too much of "it".
Dave (D&A)
Last edited:
Ben Rubinstein
Active member
How much do those 35mm's go for these days? I've never seen that look on so wide a lens before? Isn't one of the fast Canon LTM lenses famous for this look as well?
Ben Rubinstein
Active member
I doubt it is either of the above having been designed like that from all accounts for those who do appreciate the look. In any case an individuals predjudice against the look is hardly grounds for the inability to use a phrase which is based on a large groups appreciation of said effect is it?
jonoslack
Active member
I'd like to post something as good as Stuart's excellent post . . . but he's already done that!
One thing I'm sure of is that there is no definition of it . . .is it the odd effect of an f1 Noctilux wide open? . . . or the splendid concentration of detail and bokeh of a modern 75 'cron asph? . . . the rather jittery out of focus of the 35 cron IV? or the perfection of the modern 50 'lux asph?
I think that the point is that many of the leica lenses have notable characteristics which are there for us (as photographers) to take advantage of: some of them aren't to everybody's taste (see Chris C above), and perhaps some of them are just an example of the emperor's new clothes . . . But it's hard to resist the draw of a well made shot with a good leica lens.
We recently scanned a lot of pictures from a family photo album from the 30's to the 60's for a wedding anniversary . . . . it was obvious that lots of them had a real presence, and a little thought showed that these had all been shot with a Leica and a 5cm lens.
One thing I'm sure of is that there is no definition of it . . .is it the odd effect of an f1 Noctilux wide open? . . . or the splendid concentration of detail and bokeh of a modern 75 'cron asph? . . . the rather jittery out of focus of the 35 cron IV? or the perfection of the modern 50 'lux asph?
I think that the point is that many of the leica lenses have notable characteristics which are there for us (as photographers) to take advantage of: some of them aren't to everybody's taste (see Chris C above), and perhaps some of them are just an example of the emperor's new clothes . . . But it's hard to resist the draw of a well made shot with a good leica lens.
We recently scanned a lot of pictures from a family photo album from the 30's to the 60's for a wedding anniversary . . . . it was obvious that lots of them had a real presence, and a little thought showed that these had all been shot with a Leica and a 5cm lens.
Stuart Richardson
Active member
Thanks Jono! I think it is clear that the Leica glow is like a mirage or trying to find shapes in the clouds or stars -- we see what we want to see. But here's some Leica glow taken using a coke bottle Canon 35/1.8 RF lens.
