28-90 vs. 35-70 -- share your knowledge

[lct]

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...Which do you prefer?

Would have been fair to choose f/5.6 perhaps but London's weather did not permit it i guess.

sequence 1, pic 1

sequence 2, pic 2

sequence 3, pic 1

As i've never seen a zoom outperforming a prime so far i'll bet they all come from the 35/2.

[earleygallery]

LCT - For each sequence pic 1 is the Summicron 35, pic 2 the 35/70 and pic 3 the 21/35.

 

You're correct the light was very poor, I think the shutter speed was 1/30-1/60th. I shot at F4 because, if I traded the Summicron for a 35/70 I'd probably use it at f4 a fair bit, but yes, all at 5.6 might have been a more even comparison. I reiterate I didn't do this 'test' to post results on the forum, I was just curious to see if I could notice any significant increase in quality from the 35/70 as I'd seen one for sale and was contemplating buying it instead of repairing my Summicron.

 

Brian, indeed these are from the London meet and thanks to you and Robert for letting me play with your lenses.

[wizard]

...and that IIRC the 35-70 f4 was the one I lent you for that purpose. If so it is a late one - no.3849885 ROM, and these are supposed to be better than the earlier f3.5 versions.

 

Brian, I had no intent to criticise your or anyone else's lens. I was assuming the last shot to be taken by the 35/70, whereas it is now clear that the last one was in fact the 21-35. I think the 35/70 holds up well against the Summicron, but am a little surprised that the 21-35 seems to be somewhat weaker, at least in the examples shown. I do not own that lens myself (only have the 28-90), but have heard only praise about it, so it is indeed a bit confusing.

 

Regards,

 

Andy

[macos]

I can contribute to the comparison between the 2.0/35 last version and the 4.0/35-70 later version. At 35mm the 4.0/35-70 seems to me 'clearer' and 'crisper' than the prime, with more details through the entire field. But it shows more distortion than the prime which might be an issue in architecture. The 2.8/35 prime outperforms the 2.0/35 prime, wheras the 'weaknesses' of the 2.0/35 seem to be most evident on full frame.

 

The 4.0/35-70 shows up to my experience an amazing performance and you can get it for 500 EUR. At least the later versions are much better than sometimes said. If the 28-90 adds extra punch (which it probably does), you have to compare the price in the 1000+X EUR range and for which applications you need it.

 

Just my 2 cents

[dhsimmonds]

Another couple of sample images R9/DMR first using the R vario 28-90 and the second using the R4 35-70.

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[tom0511]

I have used the 28-90 on the DMR and think its a very good lens and very flexible-even with the crop. IMO 90 instead of 70 (like many mid range zooms) is a real advantage.

Sometimes I zoomed in for focusing and then zoomed out for taking the image.

combine it with a 19mm and a 80-200 and you have a very nice range.

[mwilliamsphotography]

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I'm not much for zooms and own one for each camera system just for versatility when needed. The R28-90 is quite well suited to some of the event coverage I have to do for clients.

 

On the DMR it translates to approximately a 35- 117mm field of view ... which is perfect for shooting people without excessive distortion on the wide end ... and enough reach for isolating out individuals on the short telephoto end.

 

I've shot this zoom shoulder-to-shoulder with my Canon 1DsMKII and 24-105/4 ... and a blind person could pick out the Leica shots as superior. Color, lack of distortion and snap.

 

Coverage of Memorial Day salute to the US Polar Bear Expeditionary forces of WWI who fought in Russia. One wide shot, one tele from the R28-90 on the DMR:

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[hm1912]

I can say that if you want a zoom lens, I don't think you could get any better. But get a good neck strap, it's a bit heavy (anybody got one they want to get rid of?).

 

I got the 28-90 because I wanted one lens and with limited resources it seemed like the way to go. With the one lens I don't have to carry around many other lenses, change lenses on the go, as it were, and keep my camera gear more compact. Sometimes I find the pictures a bit flat with the 28-90, as opposed to the prime lenses I used to use (which I no longer have), but this could be due to film choice, poor developing, etc.

[usefeet]

Another couple of sample images R9/DMR first using the R vario 28-90 and the second using the R4 35-70.

 

Dave, I like your captivating second image taken with your R4 35-70 lens, although I realize it has nothing to do with the lens!

 

But to the thread, ...with reference to LFI 4/2005:

An article written by Erwin Puts on vario lenses mentions

"For general use the Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm f/4 with aspherical surface is the better choice.

 

And:

"in optical terms, is on the same level as the famous Vario-Elmarit Asph 35-70 mm f/2.8."

 

And:

"The 35-70 mm f/4 and the Vario-Elmarit-R 28-90 mm f/2.8-4.5 Asph both deliver decent performances at lower cost and a greater range of focal lengths."

 

BTW, I use the smaller of the two (35-70 mm f/4) because it is more user friendly for travel.

 

Hope this helps.

[earleygallery]

"For general use the Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm f/4 with aspherical surface is the better choice.

 

Better choice than what & why?

[usefeet]

Better choice than what & why?

 

Well I had the same thoughts when I read that line, and quoted. I guess the writer was possibly referring to the extra bulk and weight of the 28-90.

The larger lens would be the choice in another application of course.

 

Personally, I don't much like zoom-lenses due to their imposing presence when snapping informal people shots, particularly in travel,

...and therefore prefer to carry and use primes such as a 28mm Elmarit and a 50mm Summilux (with the second lens in my pocket).