L mount zoom vs. R mount zoom

[elroustom]

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Hi all - new to SL and loving it. I got it to use with my R lenses, and I'm quite pleased. But I'm finding the limitations of the Rf3.5/35-70 not so much in image quality, but the min. focus distance, and I've noticed that with hood extended it vignettes on the wide end ... The Sigma f2.8/24-70 is in my price range, but so is the revered Rf4/35-70 ... any thoughts? I'm no so concerned about the 35 vs 24. Image quality comes first, but if it comes with added convenience of AF and a wider range I'd welcome it. 

Thank you!

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[frame-it]

11 minutes ago, elroustom said:

Image quality comes first, but if it comes with added convenience of AF and a wider range I'd welcome it. 

you answered your own question?

[elroustom]

Of course I have only half answered it ... I have half asked the question. Does anyone have experience with the two lenses? Or at least the Sigma 24-70 to say whether it's IQ is made up for by the convenience of AF & range? Thank you.

Edited April 14, 2023 by elroustom

[BernardC]

Your 35-70/3.5 dates back to the 1980s, so any modern zoom should perform better.

The R 35-70/4.0 is quite good, if you enjoy manual focus, but a decent one costs almost as much as a new Leica 24-70/2.8. I'm sure there are deals to be found, but excellent ones from reputable dealers seem to go for over $2,000.

There are no bad choices in this group, it depends on the image characteristics that you want (modern vs. film-era), your budget, and any other requirements (like R-mount compatibility).

[elroustom]

Thank you Bernard.

[dpitt]

2 hours ago, BernardC said:

Your 35-70/3.5 dates back to the 1980s, so any modern zoom should perform better.

The R 35-70/4.0 is quite good, if you enjoy manual focus, but a decent one costs almost as much as a new Leica 24-70/2.8. I'm sure there are deals to be found, but excellent ones from reputable dealers seem to go for over $2,000.

There are no bad choices in this group, it depends on the image characteristics that you want (modern vs. film-era), your budget, and any other requirements (like R-mount compatibility).

I still see the R 35-70/4.0 coming up at dealer shops at around half the price of the Leica 24-70/2.8. It is also more compact and lighter. Unfortunately I can not compare since I do not have the 24-70, but I am very pleased with the results the 35-70 produces on the SL.

[BernardC]

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2 hours ago, dpitt said:

I still see the R 35-70/4.0 coming up at dealer shops at around half the price of the Leica 24-70/2.8. It is also more compact and lighter. Unfortunately I can not compare since I do not have the 24-70, but I am very pleased with the results the 35-70 produces on the SL.

It's a great lens, but prices have increased along with its reputation. It's certainly worth getting if you find one at the "old" price.

[jaapv]

The Vario-Elmar 35-70 4.0 R has an effective Macro setting. I like to use this lens on the SL for its image quality. I have the Sigma as well, a nice lens with quite acceptable IQ and AF of course, but the Vario-Elmar beats it hands down.

 

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[BLeventhal]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

The Vario-Elmar 35-70 4.0 R has an effective Macro setting. I like to use this lens on the SL for its image quality. I have the Sigma as well, a nice lens with quite acceptable IQ and AF of course, but the Vario-Elmar beats it hands down.

 

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I love to see gear that gets used!

As I enter the L-mount with my new to me SL, I am still trying to determine whether to stick with AF lens or pursue Leica R glass w/ the mount adapter. I've become a bit spoiled with AF in my other camera system. As a nature photographer, AF has saved me more times than I can count. So far, I've been impressed with the Sigma DG DN I-series on my SL (I have a 45 and 90), but I would love to add some Leica glass to go with my Leica body.

[elroustom]

5 hours ago, jaapv said:

The Vario-Elmar 35-70 4.0 R has an effective Macro setting. I like to use this lens on the SL for its image quality. I have the Sigma as well, a nice lens with quite acceptable IQ and AF of course, but the Vario-Elmar beats it hands down.

I'm happy to hear this. Thank you for sharing @dpitt & @jaapv

 

[hansvons]

10 hours ago, jaapv said:

I like to use this lens on the SL for its image quality.

It's a highly sought-after zoom for video folks, as it's easily adaptable to EF like any R lens. And it's sharp but has that Leica vibe (to understand why cine guys love R lenses, check the 35mm Summicron R). If I were in the market for a zoom lens for video, I'd buy the 35-70 f 4.0 R in a heartbeat. 

[Eclectic Man]

I have the 35-70 f/4 VE, bought new, many years ago (probably still have the box), and was thinking about getting the 24 - 70 f/2.8, but thanks to the posts above, I reckon I'll try using it on my SL2 for a bit longer and see how it goes.  If the issue is being able to focus the lens though, however sharp, and whatever 'Leica vibe' it gives to pictures, if you cannot focus it, then it is not the lens for you.

My friend Rob climbing on his outside wall (the inside one is in the garage). Leica SL2, R f/4 35-70 VE at 45mm, 1/125s at f 9.5, Gitzo tripod and head.

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[BLeventhal]

I have found a 35-70 f4 ROM in about a "9 condition." The lens comes with hood, caps, and case. The price is $925, is this a good price for the lens?

If I plan on using this with my SL Typ601, do I need to buy the the super pricy Leica R to L adaptor or is there a lower priced adapter that will work well? I am willing to spend a few hundred dollars, but I'm not sure I'm up to buying the Leica R to L tube for $1000 US

regards,

bruce

[hamey]

I had the same feelings about the Leica  R  to  L  Adapter but I am glad that I did buy it, it's superb, beautifully built  conveys all ROM Lens data (information)  to the SL.

I also have 35-70mm f4  lens simply a great Lens to use within the SL system.

My current Leica Rom R Lenses are the 50mm f2, 21-35mm, 35-70mm, 28-90mm and the 80-200mm all are great with my SL2S's even my other non Leica R Rom lenses work well on the Leica R to L Adapter, yes it's expensive but it ensures confidence to me that my Leica R lenses are safely attached to my SL cameras.

Good Luck.

 

[BernardC]

14 hours ago, BLeventhal said:

If I plan on using this with my SL Typ601, do I need to buy the the super pricy Leica R to L adaptor or is there a lower priced adapter that will work well?

Leica's adapter is the best, but you can also use lower-priced adapters if you don't need EXIF/ROM data. I wouldn't go too cheap, but the Novoflex adapter is quite good, as are some Japanese adapters in the same price range. I wouldn't bother with suspiciously cheap adapters.

[AZN]

10 hours ago, BernardC said:

you can also use lower-priced adapters if you don't need EXIF/ROM data

I agree.  Athough I have the overpriced Leica R→L mount adapter to preserve the EXIF info from my ROM lenses, for mounting my R lenses on Sony mirrorless, or Nikon F lenses onto the SL-601, I use Japanese Rayqyal adapters.  Not mindlessly expensive and the manufacturer takes care to ensure the mount adapter spacing is exact.

I had to shim my Novoflex and Fotodiox adapters as they were all a little short, supposedly to "preserve infinity focus".  (Hmmm, are Leica R reflex camera mounts also made a little short to do this?…. No, didn't think so 😀)

I did a google search and found Rayqual make a R → L adapter as well.  No exif info of course, but it may meet your needs:

https://japanhobbytool.com/products/lma-lr-la

 

[jaapv]

If you have a L-M adapter you can stack a  Third-party M-R adapter for versatility. 

[davidmknoble]

@elroustom Another question I would ask is whether you still shoot the R lenses with an R body and film?

I have the 35-70 f/4 R lens and it is compact compared to the larger SL lenses and has a higher image quality than the R zoom you currently use.  It draws very much like the M MATE (28-50-35 f/4) lens.  The macro on the lens is very good (stopped down some of course).

I have not used the 24-70 2.8 Sigma/Leica L lens.  I did use the 24-90 Leica SL lens and both are very good, modern lenses.

I love the ability to use different lens mounts on the SL and use a large number of R lenses on that body. So, I would consider your overall usage as you decide on a lens and look toward the one you will use the most...

 

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[Eclectic Man]

I currently have had the same film (Fuji Provia 100F, 36 exposure) in my Leica R5 for over a year.  The R5 is a wonderfully tactile camera, every time I 'decide' to sell it I simply cannot resist the urge to play with it, but my main camera now is the SL2.  One serious advantage for digital cameras over analogue film cameras is that colour reproduction of particularly synthetic green dyes is costly superior in digital.  I went on a camping / trekking holiday to Africa once and the green wants were rendered blue in the photographs.

I just cannot bring myself to discard a camera I've taken up Kilimanjaro, Ben Alligin, Tryfan, Slioch, Ben Eight, Ben Nevis, Snowden etc. and mountains in Iceland and Antarctica, and to lots of other places, without it ever causing me problems (unless you count the battery shutting down in the cold when I used the mechanical 1/100s shutter speed on Kili').

[hamey]

I also agree that Rayqual also makes excellent adapters, I have an Leica R to Fuji X and it works rather well, but I no longer  use it since I moved to the SL system.

With the purchess of my Leica R to L adapter it was based on having five R Rom Lenses,  so it was practical for me to get the Leica adapter and the beauty of it  gives my Leica R lenses a new lease in life.

As in my humble opinion, my R lenses work better on the SL system then they ever did on my Leica R bodies, so I need bloody good kick up the backside for not

purchessing the Leica SL 601 when it was introduced, but I do love my 2 SL2-S.

 I also must admit I still occasionally miss shooting slide film, I still have the Leicaflex SL, R7, R8, and the R9 as well as the M7 so you never know I might give it a try for nostalgic reasons next summer.

Cheers.