kuau Posted October 20, 2016 Share #1 Posted October 20, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) As I get closer to purchasing the SL with the 24-90/2.8-4 zoom lens I have been reading Ming Thein review and how he describes there is a issue with the Zoom lens at 90mm being soft even at F8 I am really interested in the SL system because of its excellent build quality and weather sealimg like I have on my S system. If the Zoom is soft at 90mm can anyone tell me how long I can go on the Zoom before I see a real decrease in IQ. I'm am not planning to adapt m or R lenses maybe in the future when Summicron primes are released i may invest in those but for now I am looking for a very well built mirror less full frame camera with the best quality standard zoom and I believd that the SL with the Zoom as of today is as good as it gets. I have read the Zoom even outperforms the newmSony 24-70/2.8 GM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 20, 2016 Posted October 20, 2016 Hi kuau, Take a look here Vario-Elmarit 24-90mm sort at 90mm. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
kikouyou Posted October 20, 2016 Share #2 Posted October 20, 2016 I have not seen any softness at 90mm with my sample. In term of resolution, micro contrast, color the lens is very good at all focals. The only issue I have with is is the bokhey that could be a bit complex sometimes. I tend to prefer the bokhey of my M primes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD_50 Posted October 20, 2016 Share #3 Posted October 20, 2016 I've not seen any issues at 90mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted October 20, 2016 Share #4 Posted October 20, 2016 Hundreds of posts on the issue, which is really a non-issue now......see my links here for summary statements... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/264004-ming-thein-on-24-90-focus-shift/?p=3104401 Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
profus Posted October 20, 2016 Share #5 Posted October 20, 2016 No issues observed at 90mm. Very happy with my purchase of 24-90. And I have a number of M lenses. That says a lot Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted October 20, 2016 Share #6 Posted October 20, 2016 No issues in over a year of use. Leica are quite categoric that performance hardly varies at the full range of focal lengths. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted October 20, 2016 Share #7 Posted October 20, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I agree with all the previous opinions. My 24-90 is razorsharp at 90mm, even at close range. Handheld at 90mm - the minute lettering on the bottle is razor sharp. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265678-vario-elmarit-24-90mm-sort-at-90mm/?do=findComment&comment=3132340'>More sharing options...
Peter Branch Posted October 20, 2016 Share #8 Posted October 20, 2016 No problem at 90mm with my 24-90. One has to recognise that the depth of field is rapidly reducing as the focal length approaches 90mm. This may account for the perceived drop in performance by some users. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
orc999 Posted October 21, 2016 Share #9 Posted October 21, 2016 Mine looks great at 90mm/f8 until I compare it to 90mm fixed M lens which will be even sharper(both summarit and APO). The 24-90mm kept really good results for me also in 'macro' distances up to f16. I would say for studio work at f8 it does the job. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephan_w Posted October 22, 2016 Share #10 Posted October 22, 2016 I use my lenses wide open and find the 24-90 a bit disapointing at 90 (no comparison with the 90-280 at 2.8, which is much better). Not really bad but not as excelent as what I hoped for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted October 22, 2016 Share #11 Posted October 22, 2016 The MTF and this test http://www.lemondedelaphoto.com/Leica-Vario-Elmarit-SL-24-90-mm-f,11616.html and my own experience leave me perfectly satisfied, other than with the weight and bulk, even at 90mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted December 17, 2016 Share #12 Posted December 17, 2016 At least one person has found that firmware 2.2 improves the performance of this zoom at 90mm. (I have not tried, as I saw no problems to start with.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted December 17, 2016 Share #13 Posted December 17, 2016 I had an exchange with Ming Thein some weeks ago over whether or not the 24-90 was soft at 90mm over on his website. He said this: ... The f4 result will be sharper because of focus shift. I don't consider this a good lens at all for any purposes, creative or technical - in fact, , it's really quite unacceptable at that price and size, and when you have a mirrorless body that can focus directly at the sensor plane ... Tested with v1, v2, and a whole bunch of cameras and lenses that Leica supposedly selected not to have the problem before allowing me to use. Basically - try any include subject with about 20-30m focus distance, 90mm, and you'll see f11 is much softer than f4 0 to the point the focal plane may be out of the frame entirely in some cases - but it gets much sharper towards the camera This thread has spurred me to redo the test and publish it here, as, frankly, I don't believe a word of what Ming says. With an AF lens, I see no reason why focus shift should be an issue. If you take a shot at f4, then decide you want to take it at f11, the lens will refocus. Ordinarily, I'd get out a focus chart, set the tripod at 45 degrees and focus at close to minimum focusing distance; but Ming says do it at 20-30 metres, so I tossed my bike on the lawn and took this short - roughly 20metres, I didn't bother measuring it. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! This was AF at f4, with the spot focal point roughly on the S in Moser on the crossbar. The camera was on a tripod, and I used the double magnification (bottom left button pressed twice). Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! This was AF at f4, with the spot focal point roughly on the S in Moser on the crossbar. The camera was on a tripod, and I used the double magnification (bottom left button pressed twice). ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265678-vario-elmarit-24-90mm-sort-at-90mm/?do=findComment&comment=3168987'>More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted December 17, 2016 Share #14 Posted December 17, 2016 Okay, so here is a crop of the crossbar at f4 (AF) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! I have made not other adjustment after importing into LightRoom. Considering the crop, I'd call that acceptably sharp. I'm using my MacBook Air, so the screen isn't particularly big or clear, but it looks like the AF may have focussed on the joint of the seat post - that is consistent with Thighslapper's finding that the AF probably hits on the bottom of the circle marking the focusing spot. Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! I have made not other adjustment after importing into LightRoom. Considering the crop, I'd call that acceptably sharp. I'm using my MacBook Air, so the screen isn't particularly big or clear, but it looks like the AF may have focussed on the joint of the seat post - that is consistent with Thighslapper's finding that the AF probably hits on the bottom of the circle marking the focusing spot. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265678-vario-elmarit-24-90mm-sort-at-90mm/?do=findComment&comment=3168989'>More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted December 17, 2016 Share #15 Posted December 17, 2016 Same deal at f11 (AF), unmoved. Only adjustment to the f stop. The camera was on Aperture priority, so for some reason the exposure is slightly different. To avoid camera shake, all exposures made using the SL App on my iPhone, with 2 second timer. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Doesn't look soft to me, nor can I see any obvious focus shift. But then, I'm looking at a crop on a small computer screen. Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Doesn't look soft to me, nor can I see any obvious focus shift. But then, I'm looking at a crop on a small computer screen. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265678-vario-elmarit-24-90mm-sort-at-90mm/?do=findComment&comment=3168991'>More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted December 17, 2016 Share #16 Posted December 17, 2016 Okay, if there really is focus shift, that will be negated by AF, so I repeated the process with MF - again, double click on the magnification button, and tried to ignore the focus peaking. SL App, and 2 second timer. f4 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265678-vario-elmarit-24-90mm-sort-at-90mm/?do=findComment&comment=3168993'>More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted December 17, 2016 Share #17 Posted December 17, 2016 And finally, f11, also manually focussed as above Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265678-vario-elmarit-24-90mm-sort-at-90mm/?do=findComment&comment=3168995'>More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 17, 2016 Share #18 Posted December 17, 2016 Also dismissed as an issue months ago by Godfrey and Jono... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/264004-ming-thein-on-24-90-focus-shift/?p=3104401 Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted December 17, 2016 Share #19 Posted December 17, 2016 I don't see f4 sharper than f11 in any of the crops and I see no focus shift. I don't know if this gives the OP any comfort, but in practical terms I find all focal lengths with this lens more than acceptable. I certainly see nothing to justify Ming's comments. DiggyLloyd doesn't surprise me; he has a lifetime commitment to being the first to discover fatal flaws in Leica equipment (I was similarly unable to replicate the shift in the depth of focus with red filters on the Monochrom). But from Ming, somehow I expected more. Doubtless, if he responds here (I've pm'd him), he will say it is sample variation, or that he can not replicate his findings because he doesn't have the camera or lens. The thing about peer reviewing is that tests must be capable or reliable replication. So, I'm calling bullshit on his conclusions. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted December 17, 2016 Share #20 Posted December 17, 2016 There are those that say that firmware 2.2 improves results at 90mm... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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