bono0272 Posted April 29, 2009 Share #1 Posted April 29, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Would any memebers please advise the experience of using this lens? How is the performance and a good stuff to buy? Thanks in advanced. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 Hi bono0272, Take a look here R 35-70mm F4 macro ROM. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Michiel Fokkema Posted April 29, 2009 Share #2 Posted April 29, 2009 Why not search the forum a bit. But yes it is a very good lens. As good or better then the equivalent primes. But slower of course. Cheers, Michiel Fokkema Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bono0272 Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted April 29, 2009 Why not search the forum a bit. But yes it is a very good lens. As good or better then the equivalent primes. But slower of course. Cheers, Michiel Fokkema Thanks a lot, sometime just being lazy to search around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted April 29, 2009 Share #4 Posted April 29, 2009 I find it an excellent lens which I don't have much respect for because it's f/4 and inexpensive. But per tests, it's actually a VERY good lens. I have two mages on the 35-70/4 and 35-70/2.8 you might find useful. And I must say that apart from the f/4.0, it's as great as the f/2.8 - but much much more compact. leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Sites - Leica Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm f4.0 zoom test photos leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Pages - Leica Vario-Elmarit-R 35-70mm f2.8 ASPH test photos and samples Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted April 30, 2009 Share #5 Posted April 30, 2009 You can currently obtain these lenses new at about 60% off list price. So if you're interested in the lens, make sure you get a good deal. Word is that the optics are excellent, but I've never seen much use for this lens, because of the slow speed and limited focal length range. The way I look at is that a zoom lens should replace at least two primes, you would otherwise need, because with the zoom you're paying a penalty in terms of speed and weight. But as a practical matter, the 35-70 range really only replaces one prime lens, because most folks are only going to carry around one lens in that range. So instead of this zoom, why not get a 50/2 or 35/2 or 60/2.8 and take a step or two forward and back. That was my thinking in not getting this lens, but its' optics are very good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterJC Posted April 30, 2009 Share #6 Posted April 30, 2009 Well, moderate 'wide', standard '50' and short (portrait) telephoto. I would suggest that this excellent little lens replaces 3 primes. Sharp, good contrast and at current prices a very good buy indeed. To be honest I didn't think it overpriced at the original price. Admittedly not fast but balances so well on an R8/9 that really low shutter speeds are readily obtainable hand held. Buy it and enjoy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 30, 2009 Share #7 Posted April 30, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) In use, the 35-70 zoom range is very convenient, I disagree that its not a long enough range. It makes a good 'walkaround' or travel lens. It depends on what you intend to use it for and personal preference, but you will still get better quality and more speed from an equivalent prime lens - a 28 or 35 and a 90 would make a good alternative. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 30, 2009 Share #8 Posted April 30, 2009 35-70 zoom lenses replace 3 primes roughly: 35, 50 and 75mm. Many pics are taken within that range in practice hence 35-70s being standard zooms at Leica and other brands selling 35mm cameras. Setting aside the Angenieux 35-70/2.5-3.3 and the Vario-Elmarit-R 35-70/2.8 (code # 11275) that i have never used so far, the Vario-Elmar-R 35-70/4 (code # 11277) is sharper than the other 35-70 Leicas (code # 11244 & 11248) in my experience. Of course it is not a fast lens and it is not as good as Leica primes at f/4 IMHO but it can be used really a la Leica, i.e. at full aperture w/o disturbing loss of contrast and resolution. BTW it works fine on the Canon 5D. See the Leica brochure and Erwin Puts' opinion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan States Posted April 30, 2009 Share #9 Posted April 30, 2009 I had one for years and it was a great lens, especially compared to what Nikon was offering in the zoom world at that time. As time has passed Nikon and others surpassed Leica's zoom offerings in spec and equaled them in many ways in quality. One nice feature of the 35-70 is the outstanding Macro performance. I found it very close to the 60R. It's also quite resistant to flare. Best wishes Dan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted April 30, 2009 Share #10 Posted April 30, 2009 Well, moderate 'wide', standard '50' and short (portrait) telephoto. I would suggest that this excellent little lens replaces 3 primes. Sharp, good contrast and at current prices a very good buy indeed. To be honest I didn't think it overpriced at the original price. Admittedly not fast but balances so well on an R8/9 that really low shutter speeds are readily obtainable hand held. Buy it and enjoy. Yes, in theory, but I was speaking in practical terms. As a practical matter, most shooters will only carry one prime in that 35-75 range, because they are very duplicative. A step forward or a step or two back is all you need with a 50mm lens, for example, to give the same focal length range, and the benefit is that a single prime in that range is both faster and weighs less. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted April 30, 2009 Share #11 Posted April 30, 2009 35-70 zoom lenses replace 3 primes roughly: 35, 50 and 75mm. Many pics are taken within that range in practice hence 35-70s being standard zooms at Leica and other brands selling 35mm cameras.Setting aside the Angenieux 35-70/2.5-3.3 and the Vario-Elmarit-R 35-70/2.8 (code # 11275) that i have never used so far, the Vario-Elmar-R 35-70/4 (code # 11277) is sharper than the other 35-70 Leicas (code # 11244 & 11248) in my experience. Of course it is not a fast lens and it is not as good as Leica primes at f/4 IMHO but it can be used really a la Leica, i.e. at full aperture w/o disturbing loss of contrast and resolution. BTW it works fine on the Canon 5D. See the Leica brochure and Erwin Puts' opinion. Yes, in theory, but not so much in practice. See above. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 30, 2009 Share #12 Posted April 30, 2009 Yes, in theory, but not so much in practice... Not sure if i comprehend your point. Some photogs like using 35, 50 and 75mm primes or 35-70mm zooms because a single 50 is not enough for them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted May 1, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 1, 2009 Erwin Puts did a full review of it a few years ago and really liked it. Downloads Download his ebook on Leica lenses for the review. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 1, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 1, 2009 An excellent lens. A bit of a body cap for my DMR, and the 28 in my pocket. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bono0272 Posted May 1, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted May 1, 2009 You can currently obtain these lenses new at about 60% off list price. So if you're interested in the lens, make sure you get a good deal.QUOTE] Sorry I am here in Hong Kong, but what price is this lens selling in your area, say in the States or in Europe? Here I found a 2nd hand Mint condition with full packing is selling at around USD 750, will this be over-priced? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 1, 2009 Share #16 Posted May 1, 2009 ...Here I found a 2nd hand Mint condition with full packing is selling at around USD 750, will this be over-priced? Same price as mine (EUR 569) last year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted May 1, 2009 Share #17 Posted May 1, 2009 You can currently obtain these lenses new at about 60% off list price. So if you're interested in the lens, make sure you get a good deal.QUOTE] Sorry I am here in Hong Kong, but what price is this lens selling in your area, say in the States or in Europe? Here I found a 2nd hand Mint condition with full packing is selling at around USD 750, will this be over-priced? That will just about buy a new one from a European dealer w/o VAT tax. Take a look at Leica Shop in Vienna and there's also a German dealer that advertises on Ebay. My impression is that when Leica stopped the R line, a few dealers got their remaining inventory of lenses and cameras. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted May 1, 2009 Share #18 Posted May 1, 2009 $787 US new on Ebay, and that's from a European dealer w/o VAT. Just to give you some perspective, the list on that lens is $1995 US. What I'm seeing -- and I've looked into this because I'm just now putting an R system together -- is that prices on many new R items (apparently whatever Leica had inn inventory and liquidated) is the same now for what used, mint would go for just several months ago. Now that seems to be a pretty good deal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bono0272 Posted May 4, 2009 Author Share #19 Posted May 4, 2009 I have one more question: is this ROM version 35-70mm/F4 only one version so far which is Japan made? Manufactured since 1998? Any Germany made model which is the same range of 35-70mm, F4 with Marco function, and ROM equipped? Thanks a lot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 4, 2009 Share #20 Posted May 4, 2009 The place of production is not very relevant for this lens. Are you not confusing it with the 28-70 which was a Sigma design ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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