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Quality of 28-70 3.5-4.5


jip

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If you’re talking about the last ROM version of this lens, then it’s not bad. OK, it is nowhere like the performance of the stellar 28-90 asph. It’s competent, but in Leica terms that means it’s not great.

 

Here’s something I took with the 28-70 ROM lens back in 2006 with my R9/DMR. Cropped lightly from the full image.

 

Oscar Peterson playing at the Royal Albert Hall. It looks pretty good as an A3 print to me.

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Thanks for the quick response,

 

I'm trying to get a 1 lens I can use for a while, I'll probably use it for standard to short tele (portrait) work.

 

So my thoughts where the 28-70, because its a nice zoom range, now I've come across the 35-70 f/4 which apparently is much better(?).

 

It sells for a bit more, but if it's truly better I'd rather get that, I wont be missing the 28-35 gap, since I will probably work more in the 'tele' range anyway. Plus it has a usable Macro range. :)

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The 35-70 has a better reputation. However, the 35 end of it just might not be wide enough for you. The 28-70 has a worse reputation than it deserves, whcih is why it is relatively inexpensive, and why at one point leica offered that lens in a kit with an R8 for a reduced package price. the 28-90 is better, but it's also larger, heavier and more expensive. I've used the 28-70 with excellent results for quite a number of years.

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The 35-70 has a better reputation. However, the 35 end of it just might not be wide enough for you. The 28-70 has a worse reputation than it deserves, whcih is why it is relatively inexpensive, and why at one point leica offered that lens in a kit with an R8 for a reduced package price. the 28-90 is better, but it's also larger, heavier and more expensive. I've used the 28-70 with excellent results for quite a number of years.

 

I am using the 28-70 on the R8-DMR as a standard lens and it is a quite good performer as long as you do not use it for architecture photos.

accoring Erwin Puts, distortion is Barrel 5% at 28mm and pincushion at 70mm of 5%.

However for such photographs I have the Elmarit 24mm, Elmarit 2.8x35, Summicron 50.

While the 4/35-70 has only a distortion of 3% resp. 05%

 

regards Peter

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Okay so my choise has been narrowed down to the 28-70 or the 35-70 both are the ROM edition, but the 28-70 goes for 450 euro, and the 35-70 for 750 euro.

 

If they are both good lenses, then maybe I will get the 28-70 instead of the 35-70...

 

If you guys say the 28-70 is a perfectly fine lens (I wont be doing architecture with the R) then that is okay I guess.

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Hi Jip! Long time no see!

 

You might also consider the Angenieux 35-70.

 

While this is not important in your climate, it is in mine. The Angenieux is actually better in the cold. The focus, zoom and aperture rings don't freeze up like a Leica.

 

The next thing you should know is the UV filter that comes with the 35-70 is not that good (get a BW). I hate UV filters but in the case of an Angenieux, dust has a possibility of getting inside the barrel. This is an extremely minor consideration because it would take years of shooting in dusty environments to actually affect you. Holland is not one of those places.

 

The Angenieux can be extremely sharp... if you speak its language. Just like the Telyt 400mm... if you speak its language.

Edited by sfage
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Hi Jip! Long time no see!

The Angenieux can be extremely sharp... if you speak its language. Just like the Telyt 400mm... if you speak its language.

 

Thanks for the response, but I don't speak French... :D

 

I'm thinking of the 35-70 F4 since it's more versatile for me, since it has a Macro feature. I'm not into macro photography but would like to go try it out a little, and the extra function doesn't hurt. :)

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If I was you, I would recommend a 35 Summilux or Summicon as your first R lens. To get the most from R Leica glass, one should use primes and preferably shoot wide open! Then you you will learn about the lens and how best it meshes with your aesthetics. WIDE OPEN is always the best.

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I'm used to doing that on the M9 and M6, but I am gonna get the R8 with DMR for a zoom lens, that can do various things, standard to tele. Would like to use it for some portrait but also other things.

 

So I think buying a summilux 35 or 50 or something isn't gonna do any good, since I have those typ of lenses for the M9/M6.

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Jip,

 

I agree with Lou; imho you won't find many better portrait lenses than the 80//1.4 Summilux-R full stop. With the R8/DM-R's crop factor that'll give you an equivalent focal length of roughly 105 mm, which is an excellent length for portraiture. It'll cost more that either the 38-70 or 35-70 but it will pay you back in sheer joy with the pictures it can produce.

 

Pete.

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The 28-70 is a Leica-designed Sigma-made lens that was offered as a kit lens with the then new R7. That's how I got it and kept using it for a while as my only R lens, then sold it.

 

Its results are very good if compared to non-Leica equivalents, but it is NOT up to the Leica standards. The 35-70 is a true Leica lens, while the 28-90 is superb but its price has gone up, after its use as the demo lens for the new M introduction.

 

Paul

Edited by atournas
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  • 7 months later...

I bought VE 28-7/3.5-4.5 as a kit for R-E, it is my favourite travel lens with R5

 

German foto Magazin rated Vario-Elmar 28-70/3.5-4.5 as Optik performance 9.6; construction quality 9.6. |

 

It has all metal construction, the Sigma version is plastic with metal

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taken with R5/RE/R4+VE28-70

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28-70 with Canon 5DM2

 

first shot full size

 

second shot detail demonstrates sharpness of VE2870

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Another detail of first shot

 

showing the characters on a board on the first counter

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I bought VE 28-7/3.5-4.5 as a kit for R-E, it is my favourite travel lens with R5

 

German foto Magazin rated Vario-Elmar 28-70/3.5-4.5 as Optik performance 9.6; construction quality 9.6. |

 

It has all metal construction, the Sigma version is plastic with metal

But the optical performance is virtually identical. The difference to the 35-70 is quite marked.

I'm sure it will show up even more on the modern high-resolution sensors, especially in the area of (micro) contrast.

Edited by jaapv
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