Hello

[kenneth]

Hello

I have just become a member of this forum. I spent many years in the wilderness using Nikon, Pentax and Olympus. During the 80,s I owned a R3 MOT and later that decade an M3 but for some reason or other gravitated back to Nikon. Yesterday I finally came to my senses and bought a R9 with a 50mm Summicron F2 and a 28/ 70mm 3.5/4.5. I must say that I am very pleased with my purchases, all second hand, of course but in mint condition. At last I will be able to view transparencies taken with my R8 on my much cherished Pradovit projector. One question if I may. I noticed that the 28/ 70mm 3.5/4.5 Vario Elmar-R lens is stamped Made in Japan for Leica. I assumed that all Leica R lenses were German. Can someone elaborate on this matter please?

[spydrxx]

The first and second versions were made by Miranda in collaboration with Leica. Legend has it that the 2nd version better met Leica's QC standards and was marked "Made in Germany".

[rubenkok]

Hi Kenneth

Welcome to the forum.

Have a look at:
Leica Forum: Leica vs Canon zoomlens
- Vario-Elmar-R 28-70mm f3.5-4.5 (made by Sigma, Japan)

Leica Vario-Elmar-R F3.5/4.5 28-70 lens: Good? - Photo.net Leica and Rangefinders Forum
The first version of this lens (3-cam, pull-out hood, 1990) was made for Leica by Sigma and used Sigma's design and glass.
It was released along with the R-E body and for a time it was sold as a kit.

Leica Camera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leica 28-70 mm f/3.5-f/4.5 Vario-Elmar-R zoom (Sigma design)

Hope this is some help.

Looking forward to see your pictures.

All the best,
Ruben

[kenneth]

Thank you for the welcome and links to discussions on the 28/70 zoom Lenses. If I read you right I think it would seem that I would be better of not bothering with the zoom and opting for the other option available to me, namely, swapping the 28/70 for a 28mm 2.8 primary lens. In fact I have never been a fan of zoom lenses in the past from any manufacturer, or in-fact, just sticking with the 50mm Summicron F2 that came with the camera?

[stunsworth]

Hi Kenneth, welcome to the forum.

The 50mm Summicron is a cracking lens, as is the 28mm you mention. I can't imagine you being disappointed with one.

A group of us in the North had a get together last weekend, it's a pity you weren't here then, since if you could have made it to the gathering I could have let you borrow my 28mm for the afternoon.

Leica lenses for the R system are a bit of a bargain at the moment, and you can't really go wrong with any of the primes. 28mm and 50mm would make a good combination.

[DTD]

Welcome to the forum.
Next meeting oop north looks like being in Morecambe, hopefully we'll see you there.

[kenneth]

Dear David and Steven

Thank you for you kind comments. Following my original comments on the 28/70mm zoom neither of you commented on that lens. Am I to read in that, that like me you are not a fan of zoom lenses. I am thinking of taking it back for a refund and then waiting for a while before I add any more lenses. As you said Steven the 50mm Summicron, I am sure it will be a cracking lens. Also, I realise that this might sound a little silly but I feel a bit of a poser walking around with a zoom lens on my camera.

[DTD]

Originally Posted by kenneth

Am I to read in that, that like me you are not a fan of zoom lenses.

I've got an M with a 50mm lens, so haven't got an opinion on the zoom.
Generally I prefer fixed focal lengths, although I'm happy to use zooms on my dSLR (Olympus E-1).

It sounds like you've talked yourself into the 28 and 50mm primes – I can't see you being disappointed with them.

[masjah]

Kenneth

A warm welcome to the Forum.

It is probably true to say that the 28 -70 zoom is a bit less highly regarded than the current 35-70 or the current 28-90. These things are relative though - the main problem with the 28-70 is (I understand) a significant degree of geometrical distortion at the wide end.

I don't think people are prejudiced against the zooms per se - the new 28-90 is really excellent, and is my travel lens of choice, and the 21-35 is my wide-angle of choice when I don't need the aperture of my 35/1.4 or the specialised scope of my 28/2.8PC.

Give the 28-70 a go and see how you like it.

[topoxforddoc]

Kenneth,

I've had both the 28-70 that you have and the 28-90. The 28-70 is pretty good lens by most people's standards. Yes, there's some barrel distortion at the wide end, but otherwise, it's pretty good. The 28-90 is better, but it costs 2-3 x the money.

Enjoy your new camera.

Charlie