Jump to content

24-90mm or 90-280mm?


Einst_Stein

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

It is a frequent comment that SL native zooms are 'big and bulky','I have no need for AF'. All sounds reasonable without much consideration.

Once I was planning to bring along my camera for my business trip on very limited baggage. It was a decision I had to make between bring my SL + 24-90 or M240 + 21lux,35lux,90con. Weight & bulk wise my M system would not be less than my SL with one zoom. The final decision came with consideration that I would not have to change lenses during not so friendly weather conditions plus my SL with native zooms are more weather resistant than with M lenses.

In reality, the SL+zoom is not as bulky to me comparing to M with primes. Rather it is the enjoyment that I receive more bringing along and using my M10 (replaced my M240 since) with m primes over my SL with zoom when I can afford the leasure to do so on holiday.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Buy the 90-280, it is a lifetime purchase that fills a gap nicely in the current Leica lineup.  For many years I have wanted to purchase a 280/4 Apo but their local availability has been zero.  The 90-280 is state of the art, optically in a league of it's own (for a zoom) and should be a lifetime lens.  Leica hit a home run with this lens.  Btw- the 16-35mm will be the next zoom with announcement next year.

Link to post
Share on other sites

24-90mm is in a way redandent to my M primes. It implies, effectively, I am going to struggle to part with my beloved good old M primes. This was and likely continue to be my major used focal range.

 

Getting 90-280 would be simpler.

 

But I am jot sure how useful it will be. Will it be mostly for wild life only? Very often I wish I had a wonderful super tele for bird or animal watching, which I never did. But after thinking the expensive super tele lens, the heavy tripod, the camerouge clothes and face painting, I becane reluctant. Only the recent viewing on the Iceland pictures makes me wanting the 90-280. What I am looking for is the advise how likely this enthusiatic of wanting the bird/snimal watch would last.

 

How many of you tried it then find it is not as fun as you think and quit in the end.

 

Or, what is the other more normal usage of 90-280 other than go wildness?

 

The 90-280 is not a super-tele. It is actually often too short for small sorts of wildlife.

As you had on the old SLRs a 70-210 to go everywhere, it is exactly that for me. But it is of much higher quality and with OIS you have hardly any misses (mostly keepers).

I use 90 mm or 135 or around that very often - and this lens gives you a very short distance to the subject (0.6m). That is exactly what I need and this is the first lens that delivers that at optimal quality.

 

If you take photos mainly for fun, go for the smaller SL 90.

But for "serious fun" the 90-280 can make your day. For me it is the most useful lens on the SL.

The 90-280 is for the fun seeing/getting the results, not for the fun of shooting.

 

 

By the way, that is exactly what happened with the 24-90. First I thought what a wonderful lens giving me everything in one go. Then I thought how unwieldy it is compared to my R and M and Contax lenses. Then I simply had enough of it.

So the 24-90 is also no fun lens. For fun buy the Summicron primes.

Link to post
Share on other sites

If you ask me before I have purchased the SL, 24-90 and 90-280.  I would say go for the 90-280 since I have most of the Leica M lens that covers the range of 28-90.

 

After using the SL with both the 24-90 and 90-280;  I found that I hardly use the 90-280 SL lens, most of the time the 90-280 SL lens was in my backpack together with my Leica M240 fixed to a 35 mm Summilux.

 

I would recommend that you get the 24-90 mm.  

 

There are circumstances (seldom with my style of photography) whereby there is a need for the 90-280 mm lens, so I would recommend that you get the 90-280 mm lens for completeness.  

 

I am waiting for Leica or a third party to produce a 2x extender so that I can use my 90-280 mm for wild life.

Link to post
Share on other sites

 

 

I am waiting for Leica or a third party to produce a 2x extender so that I can use my 90-280 mm for wild life.

 

 

Silly me.....it just came to me that all I have to do is to buy the Leica T2 and I am within range for wild life !!!

 

Interesting........worth considering....

Link to post
Share on other sites

Doug, your needs are very specific. I suspect that my needs could be covered well with either approach, particularly when taking into account myriad processing variables in my print workflow.

 

As you note, subjective.... as with most picture rendering discussions, especially when comparing different gear.

 

Whatever works. I always recommend that people make their own tests and decisions, as you do.

 

Jeff

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...