Re: [Leica] Re: Japan vs. Germany in Korea

["Raimo Korhonen" <raimo.korhonen@pp2.inet.fi>]

Hi, LR!

Couldn=B4t agree with you more - just a small typo: Canon Serenar, not
Serinar. Nice to hear from somebody who was there.

Best regards

Raimo
- ----------
> From: LRZeitlin <LRZeitlin@aol.com>
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: [Leica] Re: Japan vs. Germany in Korea
> Date: 10. toukokuuta 1998 22:37
>=20
> A lot of misinformation about the recognition of Japanese optical qua=
lity
> during the Korean War has been promulgated to the LUG by apologists f=
or
the
> German camera industry. I am a Korean vet with a personal knowledge o=
f
the
> facts of the situation.
>=20
> In 1951 I had just graduated college with a degree in optical physics
only to
> be drafted to assist in the Korean "Police Action". I was assigned to=
 the
> Armored Corps research center (CONARC) at Fort Knox, to help evaluate
tank
> gunsights and rangefinders and found myself detailed to photograph
armored
> equipment in combat action in the Korean theatre. While not a combat
> photographer, I worked side by side with a number of representatives =
of
news
> agencies and freelancers.
>=20
> My official Army issue photography kit consisted of a Leica IIIf, wit=
h
Signal
> Corps engraving to prevent my selling it on the black market, a 35mm =
F3.5
> Summaron lens, a 50mm f2.0 Summitar lens, and a 90mm f4.5 Wollensack
(Leica
> mount) lens. At the time (early 1952) this was the best available Lei=
ca
gear.
> No doubt there were some first edition Summicrons in Germany, but not=
 in
> Korea. Correspondents using 35mm equipment had either Leica stuff sim=
ilar
to
> mine, or a Contax II or Contax IIa setup with a f1.5 50mm Sonnar. In
> comparison to the combined viewfinder/rangefinder of the Contax with =
its
> opening back, the Leica was harder to use and far more difficult to l=
oad
in
> field conditions. On the other hand, the Leica shutter proved more
reliable.
> Contaxes, with their complicated internals failed after a couple of
months of
> dirt and humidity. The guys we really envied used Nikon S RF cameras
picked up
> in Tokyo. They had the simple rugged shutter of the Leica and the
combined
> viewfinder/rangefinder and opening back of the Contax. I picked up on=
e at
a PX
> in Seoul, with three Nikkor lenses and a universal finder for about $=
250,
and
> used it in preference to my Army issue Leica gear until I was rotated
back in
> 1953. The Nikon pictures were at least as good and often better than =
the
Leica
> pics.
>=20
> Remember when this was. Don't let the current state of Leica cameras =
and
> lenses cloud you reason. There were no Leica M series. There were no
> Summicrons. There were no Tele-Elmars. Leica had no decent wide angle
lenses
> shorter than 35mm. No=20
> ASPH. Lenses screwed in. Bottom loading with no inspection flap. The
synch
> setting varied for each shutter speed and type of bulb. No lever wind=