Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

So most people say this is the best there is. I have 24-70 Leica and I think it's great for a zoom lens. Now I have 24-90 on a test. I have taken maybe 50 test photos, using tripod, same settings F4 to match sharpness. 90% of times 24-70 is sharper.

Here is some landscape test shots. Focus to background, SL3 60mpix 100% crop. 24-70 on left=sharper. Image corner. The lamp picture is 24mm and rock is 70mm. What is going on? I have tried to take portraits, landscapes... 24-70 is almost always better. A bad copy?

Click to enlarge.

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!

Edited by Mikko Kankainen
Link to post
Share on other sites

But here at 35mm and close distance 24-90 is clearly better. Subject was on corner. F3.2 vs F2.8=max aperture.

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

Mikko, my Leica SL 24-70 & 24-90 have similar but different performance patterns:

- Below 50mm the 24-90 very slightly edges out the 24-70 in acuity and CA.

- At 50mm and above the 24-70 is sharper with more contrast and CA is similar.

Regarding your photos of the eyes, the focus point is slightly different with the small forehead hairs (between the eyes) sharper on the left and the eyes sharper on the right. So I can't conclude much from those photos other than both zooms are working well at their focus points.

I'm thinking of sending in my 24-90 for a CLA to see if the 50-90 performance can be improved. OTOH Leica Miami in one of their Red Dot YouTube videos mentioned the 24-90's contrast is lower compared to the 24-70...You know the 24-90 in "zoom years" is getting to be an old lens in optical design but mechanically of course it's still superlative. Maybe its rendering of lower contrast/resolution at longer focal lengths should be appreciated for what it is, much like that of classic M lenses.

Link to post
Share on other sites

vor 1 Stunde schrieb Mikko Kankainen:

Thank you! And yes I just pressed the shutter and this is not a real test. But it is how I take photos so in my view it's as real as it gets for me. I was suprised to see that 24-70 as other modern 24-70's are actually in real life very similar. I think I'll return it. 

Very interesting indeed.
It would be very interesting how the 28-70mm DG DN Sigma lens performs compared to the 24-90.
Until recently, the 24-90mm was in my eyes the best you could get, but lighter and cheaper alternatives are now available. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

49 minutes ago, satijntje said:

Very interesting indeed.
It would be very interesting how the 28-70mm DG DN Sigma lens performs compared to the 24-90.
Until recently, the 24-90mm was in my eyes the best you could get, but lighter and cheaper alternatives are now available. 

Can you point me to other zooms covering 24-90 that are lighter, cheaper & better IQ replacements for L-mount (native or adapted)? I'm not arguing with you (I don't have the knowledge). I thought the alternatives were either no longer than 70, or were longer and not as good. I want both the 24 and 90 focal lengths.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Did shooting again. 3 meters F4 35mm. Has anyone else really tested these against each other? This Leica Miami.... They see things that I just dont see, even at full res Youtube to my eye lenses are similar at F4.

Is there something wrong with this one or is this just not so great lens as told?

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

Three comments on your license plate tests Mikko:

- Like you I have the Leica SL 24-70 and it's a very fine lens. Every bit as good on my SL2 as my Sony 24-70 GM II is on my Sony A1 & A7R5. But...

- I'm really surprised the Sigma 35mm Art didn't show superior resolution to the 24-70. In fact it looks a little less sharp. 

- Lastly, when the SL3 was on the tripod did you have the image stabilization turned off? If not that can degrade the resolution, maybe more so for the 24-90 because of its older OIS feature and the Sigma because of its third party firmware.

Thanks for the test and that old Peugeot looks to be in very nice shape. I wish they still sold them over here in the States. I really liked the 504 model of the late 70's, tough as a Brick you know what 🙂

Doug

 

Edited by goodbokeh
Additional information added.
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes I was expecting prime to beat 24-70. In full res it is a bit sharper but not much. In real life it is a very sharp lens, clinical and I dont like it but use in some application.

IBIS was on like it is always on. But I get similar result when hand holding. But good point. I used tripod just because I did not want camera to shift.

Peugeots are great, this is 403 from 1963.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Stabilization turned off. 1/160 tripod. 35mm F4. Yes I should wash my car 😀

But same story. Colors are different look at blue in license plate and greens also. I bet colors are better in 24-90 and that would be great but I dont want to loose sharpness..

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!

Edited by Mikko Kankainen
Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, the 24-70 has the edge no doubt about it. I would agree Mikko, return the 24-90. The owner may not want to hear it, but why not give him/her the advice to have the 24-90  given a CLA maintenance service. Having those CLA papers may allow for a higher selling price afterwards, getting back at least part of the CLA cost.

I've discovered that these premium zooms, given their complex nature, can and will be out of spec, even from the factory. When I first received my silver SL2/24-70 kit I immediately tested it up against my Sony 24-70 GM II and Sony A1. I discovered that in the comparison the GM II was much softer in the right field from 50mm-70mm, it just didn't seem right. Since it was still under warranty I sent it in, describing the issue. Sure enough Sony overhauled the lens with new parts and calibration and it came back fixed.

Doug

PS: Olaf_ZG does have a good point about sharpness not being the only arbiter of image IQ. I do like the bokeh of the 24-90, that also may be influenced by the lower contrast, it's hard to say. That's why I have both zoom lenses still...I like older M lenses also, so I'm often conflicted like this 🙂

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I just traded my 24-70 for the 24-90.  The extra reach is great.  The extra weight doesn’t seem horrible (I’ll use my 35mm cron hiking anyway).  Initial thoughts on images - slightly sharper and slight lower contrast.  
 

Shot on sl3  

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!

Edited by rcusick
  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

I visited my local Leica dealer today hoping to try the 24-90. They said it is special order only and that since the L-system launch, when there were few lens options, it barely sells at all.

I was very much hoping to try it in person before parting with my cash!

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Took the 24-90 with me on holidays. A portrait of my waitress…

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!

  • Like 8
Link to post
Share on other sites

FYI: My 24-90 crashed (...) on my Canada Trip, it takes up to  four (!!!) month of repair -  I got a SIGMA 24-70 - II  ART  and took more than 1000 pics.
I do love my 24-90 (which I own since 2017) but the Sigma works....

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I just made the switch. I enjoyed the Leica 24-70, but wanted the reach and felt the focus wasn’t always as accurate.
 

So far I’ve been very happy with the 24-90. I’m finding the focus is more accurate for moving subjects and very much enjoying the rendering. Only complaint is the lens stops down very quickly - already 3.2 by 35mm.

Link to post
Share on other sites

SL2s, morning walk…

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!

  • Like 6
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

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