Leica Conversations: The Art of Leica Lenses with Peter Karbe

Leica Conversations is a series of educational and enlightening Zoom webinars dedicated to the fascination and love of photography.
This episode's topic:
Head of Leica Optics Development, Mr Peter Karbe gave an exclusive insight on the long traditional of Leica M lens engineering, as well as described in detail how the acquired knowledge and many years of experience have played a role in the development of the Leica SL lenses.
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[@reisgc]

Mr Karbe sells Leica much better than most of its Mkt Dept. He really brings admiration and respect to the brand. Quite technical, quite clear and sincere. The content of his presentation should become a series of marketing brochures.

[@tweed0929]

I've learned about the optics in one sitting more than during my whole photographic career. Thanks to herr Karbe for his effort of explaining everything in intricate details.

[@rg3412]

I can’t believe this video hasn’t gotten more views, as this is truly gold content from a legendary lens designer at Leica. Thank you. I wish more people on KZbin would take the time to interview Peter Karbe.

[@danfloresmusic]

1:54:56 -Peter expressing his thoughts about his favorite lens, the 35SL summicron: "It's so... so.... high performance.. its amazing (smiles)" That moment right there sold me the lens, I'm receiving it tomorrow :D

[@vadimhsu5114]

Peter Karbe is a giant, period, full stop. The only thing greater than his lenses is his genius, fueling the energy and passion of his enormous intellect. Such humble but absolutely certain confidence. He owns it, and watching him in action is a beautiful thing. What a major contribution to our own sliver of understanding. Thank you for this amazing video production. Indeed, it is “The Art of Leica Lenses”. The science and precision of his design and production standards are the proof of the Art. It’s like the proof of a higher spiritual power, I know that sounds crazy, but that’s how this leaves you - filled with joy...

[@tjmanou6422]

i am BLOWEN away with Leica lenses and I have used pretty much every system last 15 years of my career. Thank you Leica.

[@turboplopp]

Sehr geehrter Herr Karbe, vielen Dank für den Einblick in Ihre faszinierende Arbeit. Außerdem möchte ich mich für Ihre Offenheit und augenscheinliche Bescheidenheit bedanken. Möglicherweise haben Sie der Marketingabteilung nicht mit jeder Antwort einen Gefallen getan, jedoch sind Sie gerade deshalb und aufgrund der offensichtlichen Leidenschaft für Ihre Arbeit in meinen Augen das beste Aushängeschild, welches sich die Firma Leica oder jede andere Firma nur wünschen kann. Noch einmal vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre Zeit!

[@zehnleicafotos3450]

stimmt!

[@observationsfromthestreet1907]

This is an absolute masterclass, thank you so much for sharing all this information in a very honest way. Would love to hear the same kind of presentation about the TL lenses!

[@JoeWehry]

After watching this, I will never complain about a Leica lens being expensive. It's amazing. Excellent presentation.

[@MB-or8js]

Would love to see how Cosina-Voigtlander makes their lens designs.....maybe the difference is not as much as we might think....

[@artjomkutuzov1350]

@@MB-or8js Apo-lanthar lenses are great

[@joaquimmalatodesousa9527]

Peter Karbe is the genius of Leica lens. Congratulations to You.

[@EncheTjin]

Thank you Leica Store Singapore to upload this precious conversation with Mr. Peter Karbe :)

[@tamilhoward9708]

I saw this when it originally posted and watched it again early this morning before work. Still an amazing conversation.

[@friedrichgauss960]

Dear Peter, many thanks to you for your awesome contributions! We really appreciate your seminal work. I am a long-time user of the M-Summilux 35 ASPH and M-Summilux 50 ASPH. The results are wonderful. Viele Grüße aus Bremen/Germany.

[@kenphotos1953]

Thank you, Peter. Not only technically informative but, inspirational from a 'creative' point of view. The more one knows about one's tools, the better the application on location. Regards, Ken

[@FauxtakuLounge]

One of the reasons I appreciate Leica designs is they are one of the only companies willing to make several designs in a specific focal length for different draw styles as well as speeds.

[@Leicashootr]

Dear Peter Karbe, you sounded, I hope you’re not ill, otherwise I wish you a speedy recovery!!!! You are my hero 👍🏻

[@uncertainmage163]

Thanks for the high standard in your products, and honesty in the answers here delivered! Thanks Peter! Regards Søren Troldskov

[@lalengzuala]

90% of the viewers will never understand 100% of the talk. However, this video will be a reference for 'understanding good lens' for a very long period...IMHO. Thanks, Peter Karbe.

[@WatchHobbyist]

This was fascinating. Really appreciate the video and I’d like to hear from peter again now regarding the latest products.

[@matthiaskaiser5913]

Dear Peter Karbe, a great presentation!!!

[@IceCreamGuerrilla]

Excellent!! Thank you. What an amazing insight. What a down to earth bloke. Fascinating to hear that passionate in depth presentation. Cheers Peter

[@zehnleicafotos3450]

What a wonderful masterclass. Vielen Dank, Herr Karbe.

[@ZenoWatson]

It all makes sense now, thank you very much!

[@markkujath]

wow!! My biggest respect - and THANK YOU to Peter!!

[@Sams911]

Leica M10P and Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH on their way to me tomorrow ... can't wait.

[@mikedesimone1783]

As a Leica user' thank you fort his Leica Conversation. Cheers.

[@qnetx]

Excellent presentation! It was very insightful and informative. Thank you!

[@calebpayton]

Durable he says, yet my SL lenses have had to go into Leica 4 times now (granted I have all of them but still I've never had issues with Canon/Nikon/Fuji/Sony lenses/bodies). And this is after the double digit failures my S system had, the issues my CL/T system has had and all the issues I've had with the M system. Do I like the SL lenses, yeah they're alright but so are the 1/5th the price Nikon Z primes (in use, not in theory). But I still have a soft spot for the M rendering. And on the topic of the 35TL vs 50cronSL, man the 35TL is really very similar almost exactly the same save for the FOV differences you get from a crop sensor and if I had to only own one camera and one lens from Leica (not including M) I would go CL+35TL .

[@digipak07]

Greetings from Pakistan. I bought Leica Q2 monochrome and really happy with the purchase

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Incredible presentation :)

[@klausschroiff4405]

Thanks for all the insights! It was really interesting.

[@steveash3110]

My take away from this great presentation: 1) There is still improvement potential for the already awesome M-lenses. 2) I would love to see a 35-Apo-Summicrom including all latest technologies, may be even a 28-Apo-Summicron 3) As long as lenses and sensors have room for improvement the "balance approach" presented by Karbe makes very much sense In my pov if the balance approach is at its ends, i.e if one (lenses or sensors) can not be improved anymore then higher resolving power of the other will still improve image quality

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Impressive demonstration. But not many things said about the SUMMILUX SL 50mm ASPH... the first prime tense of of the SL system. I would have appreciated to learn more about its performances ans it's character. I agree with what Peter says about the SUMMILUX TL 35mm ASPH. it's really really impressive I love mine.

[@harrywmueller4625]

Excellent Peter

[@yungsoohong28]

If the contrast ratio is too high on pair, is it harder to capture and reproduce transition on optic from black to mid tone to white. Since the step in between the distance is shorter.

[@carlover4239]

Wow, this was so informative!

[@RomanatorII]

Excellent presentation!

[@yungsoohong28]

What is the best magnification as optimal to sensor pixel to give the best transition on gradient representation on a CSC system in 135 film as standard on photography.

[@yungsoohong28]

Other than technical which one is the best artistic rendition lens?

[@thorstendoerr5521]

Vielen Dank für dieses Video. Es ist eine sehr gute fachliche Bereicherung für mich gewesen. Zu der ersten Kategorie bzgl. Qualität (ab 16min) habe ich noch eine Verständnisfrage: ist „light flux“ nicht gleich „t-stop“? Danke vorab

[@zehnleicafotos3450]

Thorsten, "light flux" is the total quantity of light that a lens can "transport" to either the sensor or film. The bigger the lens the more light it can carry to it. This is the reason why so modern lenses are becoming very big. Only Leica is able to design and produce "spitzenklasse" lenses while mantaining size in comparison with other manufacturers.

[@yungsoohong28]

Is the sensor pixel smaller is similar effects close to stopping down on on lens.

[@yungsoohong28]

Out of the question of optimism of CSC, is it a out of optimal to super mega pixel race, since it is if is like reducing the light entrance per pixel on smaller pixel size. Since aesthetics of DOF and out of focus is also a factor of an artistic picture.

[@donaldslaughter3951]

I would like to put a Summicron on my Sony. Which is superior Summicron M or Summicron R? Thank you.

[@zehnleicafotos3450]

Donald, both are similar in performance. Both are from the best in their class.

[@yungsoohong28]

May I ask why M lens will perform less on SL if M the flange distance is longer. Since in ratio the Mount size is relative similar in ratio of proportion. If affected image circle and light flux is the same. Since in theory the light angle to sensor is the same.

[@carlosnunes5717]

Why doesn`t the SL 90mm data appear in the grafics ?

[@gurugamer8632]

How do Sony G master FE lens compare with Leica M?

[@yungsoohong28]

Is BSI sensor is thicker than general CMOS sensor

[@yungsoohong28]

If Lens group is the same, I. can use two elements to reproduce the same design of one element.

[@GurmeetSingh-fr8uo]

Are Sony GM lens good as Leica ??

[@GurmeetSingh-fr8uo]

Sony GM lens as good as Leica glass ?

[@klausschroiff4405]

BTW, it would have been nice to hear something about the Micro-Four-Thirds Leica lenses (if those have something to do with Leica at all).

[@joaquimmalatodesousa9527]

Good afternoon Leica fellows

[@vadimhsu5114]

Yes, if one could ever possibly actually translate the genius, manufacturing refinements, technical production, and the feeling in the hand of the “robustness” Mr. Karbe describes, the burdens of end cost to the consumer are comparatively insignificant, especially considering the arduous journey developing the resultant image quality. Of course this may not always be realistic to photographic consumers with typical economic means - it isn’t meant to be snotty or arrogant, it’s just what this excellence costs to produce! I’d rather save money for a 75 Noctilux, the 90 Lux, and 50 APO Cron, than to own a closet full of ‘chronic latest-and-greatest’ competition that miss, however subjectively; most plastic obsolescence is exactly as it sounds... Simply put, the best example of photographic evolution is enunciated through understanding and embodiment of optical history, with the passion realizing Karbe’s genius. Proper use of M-glass is an acquired taste and takes time and skill to develop, just as his analogy to learning to write with a quality fountain pen - it’s a good comparison and takes patience, experience, and respect. If you can’t feel and see - or don’t appreciate higher levels of intellectual and critical excellence, then save your money (and time) - and be happy elsewhere.

[@yungsoohong28]

The UV ray can reduce the possible of reproduction of fungus

[@chirag4]

1st view, 1st like, 1st comment I have the M10-P *white* limited edition with 50 summilux

[@robertoposa1120]

Mr Karbe is a gentleman- but the interviewer should not drink while being online for just the little talking he is doing

[@johannesmiller4408]

I fully agree. Especially straight out of a bottle without using a glass. That looks very unprofessional and disturbing in contrast to Mr. Karbe's excellent explications.

[@guenthersinger]

This is a cultural topic. Drinking from a bottle is rather common in the anglo-american cultural sphere and Asia in even in more sophisticated settings. In addition this took a little bit of the stiffness of the situation. So the young gentleman being based in Asia did nothing wrong.

[@robertoposa1120]

The poor interviewer does not know much about photography to make an interview with a high qualified professional

[@DennisLimCY]

To be fair, everyone looks like an idiot around Peter Karbe on the topic of photography/lenses. He is just too head-and-shoulders above the rest.

[@danielmalter3373]

And the highly qualified professional is unable to properly explain the technical aspects to a general audience without pre-existing knowledge of lens design.

[@zehnleicafotos3450]

I absolutely agree with you, Roberto.

[@guenthersinger]

It's tricky to interview such a renowned professional. The interviewer was humble enough not to try to outsmart him. In addition he bridged in the live-stream of the viewers rather well.

[@svtk5104]

everything is perfect, but are you sure that the price is adequate? The germans like to overprice their products, with the excuse that they are very precision made. There are other brands as well, few, but still, where the precision is sometimes even better, and the price over there is 3 times less. In this case actually more than 3 times.

[@mariowanagat1412]

Well then buy the others