Technical Babble & Gibberish

[RonVol]

In case anyone is thinking that all the talk of MTF Curves, Test Charts, etc, etc is a modern phenomenon.............think again.
This article from 1964 suggests that all the technical babble & gibberish has been distracting photographers from their work for quite-some-time.

"that we won't forget why we have lenses - not to test, not to discuss, not to trade, not to worry about, not to compare - but to take pictures with.............we are not holding out for the most perfect lens ever made."

Scans are from Modern Photography, Dec 1964.
See the originals here - https://flic.kr/s/aHskRL5yvG

[abergon]

Hi Ron,

excellent reading. Puts the technical debate in perspective. Thanks for posting.

[pluton]

Yes, thanks for posting this Ron.

[Erik Lund]

HE he nice one How time flies,,, Thank you for sharing 

[John Geerts]

Interesting article!  Nothing really has changed actually 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The following Kepper quote should be mandatory reading for all the measurebators out there:

... You could quite easily spend the rest of your life charting, analyzing, tabling and thus give up making pictures completely.
...

It has the ring of truth and a strong message to our own times. No fake news there.

[Jakov Minić]

Thank you for this lovely post.

[PedroS]

I was a kid at that time 

thanks for sharing

[David H. Hartman]

I figure you shoot a few charts. Check for decentering and alignment problems. If it looks good the lens is probably is probably in spec. Then take it out and start practical shooting.

I once was asked to test about a half dozen enlarging lenses. The best was a 50/3.5 Fujinon-EP or something like that. I took back all the lenses but that one. The owner's son who asked me to do the testing asked several time why I hadn't brought the Fuji back. I made excuses. When the books closed for the month I brought in the packaging in and charged the lens on my open account. I don't know if it was better than typical but I wasn't about to find out. I wanted that very lens. I had to wait until some invoices came in to pay for it.

Once I ran off five, 105mm Nikkors. Only once have I calculated the resolution of a lens. It was a 55/2.8 AIS. It offered up 110 lpmm (line pairs if you prefer) on Tech Pan developed as a continuous tone negative.

My feeling is testing is a good thing to do but it should never be allowed to become an obsession. It should not interfer with practical photography except as truly necessary.

Most lenses today are sharp enough. Some are better than others. Most often poor results come from poor technique, tripod or collar faults or bad light.

Dave Hartman

[Hugh_3170]

Great article Ron.

Herbert Keppler was another of the Modern Photography stalwarts, who along with Jason Schneider, is sadly no longer with us.  (BTW Ron, you are giving your age away mate.  LOL  )

[Mongo]

Very interesting and timely read Ron. Mongo wonders if it will change any notions or habits

[Jack Dahlgren]

Very interesting and timely read Ron. Mongo wonders if it will change any notions or habits

I think those notions are deep seated and are getting stronger. Choosing a single vector for performance is a way to stand out. I think it leads to imbalance.

There are also those who become expert on that one thing - since it is easily measurable and thus they can have certainty about their statements and their choices. And apparently such certainty has enough value to them that they chase it with money and time.

I am not without fault. I chase charm and cheapness and tell myself it is all about the images and the experience.

[MILLIREHM]

Thanks RonVol, very interesting

Also find it amusing that Reflex-Nikkors have been advertised so prominently then. The views about their usability became less optimistic at later stage

[simsurace]

Thanks for sharing.

This essay is a variation of the theme "can all of human's interest be reduced to scientific questions?". Any sane person knows that this is not possible, at least not right now, and attempts to force it often lead to pseudoscience. But what I don't agree with is the "don't ask too many questions" sentiment that often seems to be part of the message (I'm not directing this at the article specifically, but I've seen this type of explorations interpreted to deride principled/scientific approaches in general).

I think the most productive attitude would be to help each other answer our questions. The goal is to reduce confusion, and we should never discourage anyone who is trying to learn. It is a very personal matter which question is the right one to ask.

[Macro_Cosmos]

Oh man, the Reflex-Nikkor 1000mm f/6.3 is certainly compact, I can shoot it handheld all day long!

It even comes with its own handles! How convenient! Hey, it's only 14kg too, compact and light weight (on the moon since f=ma).

Am I the only one that found the title to be very funny?