Digital BW, The Print

> > I have a "legendary Distagon" lens on my 
> > SL66, and like all other retro-focus lenses, even 
> > when film is used they are second rate compared to 
> > symetrical designs. 

It would have been better to say "more symetrical" lens.  I'm not 
sure there are exactly symetrical ones outside, perhaps, 1:1 copy 
lenses.  The typical SLR "retrofocus" lenses, however, have had to 
stretch the rear lens to film distance beyond what is optimum for 
most image quality factors, particularly for film shooting, and I can 
sure see the differences when comparing them to rangefinder wide 
angles and SLR relatively symetrical "normal" and medium telephoto 
lenses. 

> ...  they all try to get the angle right at
> which the light rays fall on the sensor. 

Yes, the reality of current sensors has caused companies to try to 
get those light rays coming in at a more perpendicular angle.  That's 
why I think progress on micro-lenses over the pixels is part of what 
is needed to get the best digital wide angle images.  Of course, I'm 
speculating.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com