Need your Help with Deciding on the S 70mm CS lens or the S 30-90 Zoom

[rollsman4]

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I just purchased a leica S 007 and a 70mm 2.5 CS lens.  I am thinking of getting the Zoom 30-90 Lens and selling the 70 CS lens. I am trying not to buy another lens( wide angle) to add to the 70Cs

   I would like to know is there any difference in Image Quality with the Zoom VS the 70CS lens.  I mainly shoot Portraits on Location and outdoors so I dont need F2,5  

  Any suggestions. Thanks   

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[LeicaR10]

Rollsman4,   Congratulations on your purchase of the most excellent S007 camera and lens.  When I owned the S system for over a decade for my business, I used the S 30-90 lens for both landscape and portraits on occasion.  The S 30-90 is an excellent lens, effectively a 24-70mm in 35mm terms.  The S 70 is equally as good for its focal length.  The only issue with the S 30-90 is sometimes and I mean sometimes, the lens is soft in the corners.  Not every copy has this issue.  While I owned the S 30-90 when it first came available, I sent my copy in for a CLA under warranty and Leica fixed the soft corners issue.  You will read on the S forum others has similiar issues but this was resolved by Leica.  The great aspect of the S 30-90 affords you flexibility in your shooting.  As far as IQ between the two lenses, both are excellent.  It will get down to your intended use and needs.   If you haven't read this article by David Farkas on S lenses, it might help you.  Happy Holidays.  r/ Mark

Try:  www.reddotforum.com/content/2020/04/the-definitive-guide-to-leica-s-lenses

PS  If you are not using strobes or studio lighting, you really do not need the CS version of the S lenses.

Edited December 24, 2021 by LeicaR10

[ropo54]

Either of lenses produces superb results.

The S 70 is the smallest and most compact of the S lenses, and as you've noted a faster f 2.5.  The S 30-90 is the most versatile one option with multiple focal lengths, but that comes in a bulkier, heavier package.  Having the wider angle is quite convenient.

Rob

Edited December 24, 2021 by ropo54

[rollsman4]

Thank you both for your feedback. I might just stay with the 70 and eventually get a S wide angle.   I am anxious to start using the S 007. 

  Any suggestions as far as setting the camera up and quick user guide .  Thank you Happy Holidays    Dennis

[Pieter12]

Price, size, weight and speed all are better with the 70. If you shoot mostly portraits and only want one lens, I would stick with the 70 or maybe the 120 (about the same size and weight as the 30-90, still a faster lens).

[Arif]

Agree on the versatility of the 70 especially with portraits and the 2.5 really helps with the background isolation.  The 30-90 I have does not get used as often,

[LeicaR10]

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Rollsman4 aka Dennis.....I found this Leica S Quick Start Guide that should get you off the ground.  Also the Leica S006 and S3 Users Manuals are on line for download.   The S3 manual is pretty much the same as the S007, so I suggest using it unless you can find the S007 manual on line.   I checked the Leica Camera Ag website and it was recently "updated" into a disaster.  Why Leica would change the website during the holiday season is beyond me.  The Leica website use to have manuals for download for the S cameras.  Maybe the website will eventually get up to snuff.  In the meantime, try the following links.  The first is a quick start guide for the S006.  Second link:  Quick start guide for the S3.  Third:  Leica S3 Users Manual.   Merry Christmas from down under...r/ Mark

https://www.central-manuals.com/download/camera/leica/S-Type006-QSG_EN.pdf

https://www.central-manuals.com/download/camera/leica/S3_QSG_EN_.pdf

https://www.central-manuals.com/download/camera/leica/EN_S3_2019.pdf

PS...Remember the S007 is nearly the same as operating the S3.  

Edited December 25, 2021 by LeicaR10

[davidmknoble]

The 70 and the 30-90 are for very different purposes.  The 30-90 is a great lens for tripod landscape work and has a long depth of field wide open.  I have used the 70 for landscape work, but it also excels at portraits and other images with much slimmer depths of field.

I think they are both good lenses and using them both on the S007 would be great.  Note that I have not personally used the 30-90, but I have used the 30-70 f/4 R lens and the 28-50-35 MATE M lens, both similar to the 30-90.

Just my opinion.

[tom0511]

I would say that the 30-90 at the long end also works fine for portrait and background blur. And its very flexible.

for some reason the 70 is my most used S lens. It depends formthe type of portraits younshoot, it could be a little short focal length. I thin 35-70-120 is a great combo.

 

[LeicaS2]

I use the zoom as a primary lens. It replaced my 35mm. But I also have a 120 and a 24.

I wanted to avoid the zoom because of the price, but in rain or dust I don’t want to change lenses. Never has an issue with soft corners.

[Sarnian]

4 hours ago, LeicaS2 said:

 I also have a 120 and a 24.

That's the same 3 lens combo that I went with (although I recently sold the 24mm only because I have a converted Samyang 24mm which is smaller and lighter). I've since added the 70mm CS but have yet to use it yet. My copy of the 30-90mm is also excellent - after a trip to Leica to adjust it. 

[setuporg]

The 70 is a must.  Then you can play.

[ropo54]

The S70 is a keeper!  Leica's smallest option for the S system, and giving a 56mm perspective, which Leica Miami compares to the M 50 1.4 summilux rendering.

 

See my post 169 on the "S4 product recommendation" topic: 

I've opted to sell my S24, S35, and S45, choosing to use the S30-90 as the one option more versatile choice. Again, I'm just a hobbyist, so others may have different imperatives. For my purposes, I'd prefer not to lug more than 2 S lenses, nor change lenses in outdoor settings. (I've kept my  S 30-90, S 70, S100, S120, and S180)

These were taken yesterday on a beautiful but very breezy south Florida afternoon: 1st and 2nd were taken @ 30mm, the 3rd at 60mm, and the last one @ 75mm.  (All cropped from original).  

Rob

Edited January 31, 2022 by ropo54

[Sarnian]

1 hour ago, ropo54 said:

choosing to use the S30-90 as the one option more versatile choice.

Nice set, Rob.

Personally, I think that the 30-90mm is a vastly underrated lens. Maybe this is because of its price tag as well as its size and weight? My second-hand copy (there's really no need to buy new these days) was decentered so I had to send it away to Leica but I'm glad that I did as it's on my 007 probably 95% of the time. 

 

[davidmknoble]

@rollsman4, not sure anyone ever responded to your setup question.  Personally, I use the custom buttons to help me switch ISO, metering method and white balance.  I prefer the back focus method, which means I press the rear joystick to focus, but not to set the metering.  I do a lot of landscape work, so I prefer to adjust the while balance manually sometimes using the grey scale setting.  Otherwise,  the more you use it the more you will figure out what settings you want to access most often.  Hope this helps.

[John McMaster]

He sold the camera and lens on getdpi after a month, gone back to Hasselblad X1Ds which he has bought and sold before!

john