SVE 16 -35 versus 21/28 APO! Can anyone Provide Comparisons?

[nemendes]

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Years ago i have used zoom lenses for my other brand cameras and when i came to leica i have used 24-90 also for a couple months. Primes have better IQ but it really depends how much you can tolerate. It’s not a big difference, for example with 24-90 or i think with 16-35 as well, you can be happy about results. 

I am not using zoom lenses anymore because of something different. When i had zoom lens, for example 24-90 sl, maybe %95 i used them only at 24mm or 90mm focal lengths. There were really few shots taken at 40, 50 or 70mm. It was weird for me because my favourite focal length is 50mm and with zoom i didnt use that focal length. I figured that i mostly intend to use zoom lenses at two extremes, so instead of sl 24-90, i started to use 28mm and 90mm primes. Therefore you can look at first which focal lengths you use with zoom lens. If you use it at various focal lengths, then dont think about IQ much and keep using zoom lenses like 24-90 or 16-35. But if you are like me, primes welcome you everytime  

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[crf59]

Ha! I like this whisky in the veins part! I will also confess that part of the fun for me is trying to figure out the best setup. My buying and selling history on Fred Miranda tells you I have a "problem". 🙄

[jansjo]

On 10/14/2024 at 2:55 AM, crf59 said:

I have 3 of the SL APOs (28-35-90) and they are quite good. But I don't think in a 11x14 print or even somewhat larger anyone could tell the difference between them and my SL zooms for IQ. I think there is too much hype over lenses these days. My complaint with the zooms is that they're are beastly - otherwise they're terrific. I think the 24-90 is still one of the best of the SL lenses. It has great color, great sharpness and covers what you'd have to have the 28, 35, 50, 75 and 90 APOs to cover. The 16-35 is at least as good as the 24-90, but it's not as useful for my purposes. Wonderful lens though.

Oddly, if you carry just 2 of the APO primes, the weight is greater than with the 24-90. My constant dilemma is what to take when I travel. My Ms don't do it for me for travel anymore. I'd love to take the 16-35, 24-90 and 90-280, but that's a HUGE load. So normally I go with the 24-90 and 35 APO for low light. I wise SOMEONE would make a 180 or 200mm prime that didn't weigh a ton.

I tried my M lenses on my SL bodies, but they just aren't as good. 

There is one excellent 180mm lens: Leica R APO 180mm elmarit. And add the best tc I know, Leica APO 2x extender, you have an excellent 360mm. (It is best on a Leica SL camera, but even on Sony it is really good). The results are comparable to the SL zoom 90-280mm

[Doc_P]

Am 14.10.2024 um 02:55 schrieb crf59:

I have 3 of the SL APOs (28-35-90) and they are quite good. But I don't think in a 11x14 print or even somewhat larger anyone could tell the difference between them and my SL zooms for IQ. I think there is too much hype over lenses these days. My complaint with the zooms is that they're are beastly - otherwise they're terrific. I think the 24-90 is still one of the best of the SL lenses. It has great color, great sharpness and covers what you'd have to have the 28, 35, 50, 75 and 90 APOs to cover. The 16-35 is at least as good as the 24-90, but it's not as useful for my purposes. Wonderful lens though.

Oddly, if you carry just 2 of the APO primes, the weight is greater than with the 24-90. My constant dilemma is what to take when I travel. My Ms don't do it for me for travel anymore. I'd love to take the 16-35, 24-90 and 90-280, but that's a HUGE load. So normally I go with the 24-90 and 35 APO for low light. I wise SOMEONE would make a 180 or 200mm prime that didn't weigh a ton.

I tried my M lenses on my SL bodies, but they just aren't as good. 

Did you consider the S Apo 3.5/180 with the S-to-L-adapter? Imho stellar performane near L ApoCrons…

[Levon]

My pic with Leica SL1 + APO-S-180mm/3.5 + S-to-L-adapter.

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