It isn’t every day that we get the opportunity to go out shooting with Leica’s legendary lens designer, Peter Karbe. But last week it happened. Peter was in London and joined a two-hour stroll through its famous streets. He was in the company of several enthusiasts selected by Ivor Cooper of Red Dot Cameras. Robin Sinha of the Leica Akademie had plotted a leisurely route, giving us all the opportunity to speak with Peter.
Using a lens he designed himself
We meandered through some photogenic backstreets of Mayfair. Our route took us between the Leica Store in Duke Street, near Selfridge’s, down to Berkeley Square where Leica UK previously lived in Bruton Mews. Not surprisingly, M-digitals were in the majority. Just one SL2 appeared, in the hands of Ivor Cooper. By pure coincidence, Peter and I both chose the Q3, incorporating the now-legendary 28mm f/1.7 Summilux. This lens, designed by Peter, is so good that it has lasted for three generations of the Q.
Mayfair bling
As we walked the gold-plated streets of the exclusive neighbourhood, I had a good opportunity to chat informally with Peter Karbe, something that has not been possible on previous occasions when I have met him at various events in Wetzlar. I hope that one day he will be willing to share some of his wonderful insights into optics and his love of Leica history with Macfilos readers.
Don’t stop down
Previously, I had been impressed by his “Don’t Stop Down” presentation, in which he argued that today’s high-performance lenses are designed to be used wide open without compromise. Equally important is his contention, which I first heard five years ago during a presentation in Wetzlar, that cropping has become respectable as an alternative to using zooms. Thanks to the excellence of modern optics (from Leica, of course) and the latest high-resolution sensors. The Q3, with its 35, 50, 75 and 90mm crop modes, is a current example of this thinking.
Legend
Peter Karbe is one of the world’s leading lens designers. He has been responsible for much of the current line-up of M and L optics from Leica, and it is no exaggeration to say that he has become a legend in his time. It is likely he will find his place in the history books alongside Max Berek and the great Walter Mandler.
Peter is quiet, thoughtful, and modest. Originally from the Dortmund area, he much prefers living on the outskirts of the small town of Wetzlar where he has easy access to the countryside for walking. When it comes to optics, he enjoys nothing more than discussing his favourite flavour of glass and his theories on optical design.
Tree-lined city
Peter is also a keen photographer in his own right, and one of his current projects is taking images of trees in cities. I pointed out to him that London is fertile ground for the tree enthusiast, with many tree-filled parks and squares, not to mention the presence of so much greenery in the streets.
All in all, I believe he enjoyed the opportunity to seek the nooks and crannies of Mayfair. It was, he said, the first opportunity he had had to get off the beaten track in London for over 40 years.
A cup of coffee works wonders in supporting Macfilos
Did you know that Macfilos is run by a dedicated team of volunteers? We rely on donations to help pay our running costs. And even the cost of a cup of coffee will do wonders for our energy levels.
Very jealous of your photo walk, but it was great to hear Peter give his talk to the society in the afternoon.
Sadly I had to miss that. I had set aside the morning without realising the TLS meeting was taking place on the same day. I am sure the presentation was great.
For all who had not the privilege of joining this party, there are two superb webinars on YouTube with Peter Karbe, produced by Leica Australia with Nick Rains as an excellent host:
On Leica M lenses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ1xM7qVSXo
On Leica L lenses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vyoAIOTIcs
They take both about 90 minutes to watch. Definitely worth while!
Jörg-Peter
Lovely read. I’m inspired by Herr Karbe’s tree project. I reside in Sacramento, CA, which is meant to have the second highest count of trees of any city in the world, second only to Paris!
Thank you, Chris. It isn’t every day you get the chance to meet such a senior and extremely talented executive from a world-renowned camera and lens manufacturer. Peter is a remarkable person.
Ah! What fun – definitely jealous – Peter is great – but it would have been great to meet up with the other Peter (Farnsworth) – it’s been much too long!
Glad you all had a great time
best
Definitely and I’m sorry they didn’t think to send you an invite (plus ça change…) I hadn’t seen Farnz for years and it was good to catch up, especially with him looking so dapper. I didn’t ask if he reads Macfilos so not sure if he will see this.
It was great that this got organised. Peter is a lovely quiet man, but very good at his job. When I brought him to the Guinness brewery last year he would not have a Guinness, but settled for a Coke instead. I have met him about 5 or 6 times and he is nearly always there when I go to Wetzlar. One of his hobbies is studying the history of optics. Mike, you may recall that last year in Dublin he started with Newton, the ‘father of optics’, before he worked his way up to the modern APO lenses. I occasionally send him some historical material on lenses which may interest him and he always writes back to thank me.
Yes, I think that history will look favourably on his work and that he will be right up there with Berek and Mandler and, indeed, the great lens designers outside the Leitz fold, such as Dr Paul Rudolph of Zeiss who gave us the Tessar and the Anastigmat. I think that he would like that.
William
I met Peter Karbe once in Wetzlar. He’s a very nice and approachable chap. I think this is what Leica really differentiates from other camera brands that there’s a face behind the product, someone who seems to personally care about giving us lens he likes himself. Still not to forget that there’s of course a team behind him who are equally committed to the task.
Indeed. We often forget that there is no other camera company of substance where you can actually meet and chat to the senior people.
Mike, were your conversations made in German?
What a great opportunity to share time with the great lens designer. I would have been delighted to have shared the occasion…maybe next time…
Kind regards
Chris
Teilweise… yes, we did have a chat in German. But Peter’s English is excellent, and we spoke mainly in English. Yes, it was a great occasion and a wonderful opportunity. Unfortunately, this was probably a unique occasion and I don’t anticipate a repeat performance any time soon.
So jealous you make us! Wonderful time!
I was even jealous of myself. It wasn’t until after the event that I remembered all the things I’d forgotten to ask.
A wonderful opportunity to meet Peter Karbe – the Leica Camera AG ‘Lens Maestro’ who is a legend in his own lifetime. And I can certainly vouch for the fact that modern Leica lenses are very usable at full aperture – including its zoom designs. I’m amazed at the Leica SL 24-90mm lens’ full aperture results throughout its zoom range – and also those of the Leica X Vario lens which is another Peter Karbe Team design.
Agreed… that 24-90 is one of my favourite lenses, although I wish it were not so heavy. But, I suppose, that is the penalty we pay for all that goodness. I bought the lens when it first came out, sold it later and regretted it. Then I had the chance to acquire another from our president David Suchet when he bought the new 24-70 for the lighter weight.
A truly unique experience!
Generally, I avoid the use of unique. But you are right, I think this occasion does deserve it.