cfc247 Posted December 3, 2008 Share #1 Posted December 3, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello everyone, I just got my Demo 25 1.4 from B and H. I opted for the Demo to save a 100 bucks. Having no experience with this lens prior to the purchase, I was wondering if anyone else noticed the same characteristics. I find the AF much noisier than the Kit 14-50 lens, and even on MF the focus ring makes that "electronic" noise more noticeably than the kit lens. Also, the Focus ring is a bit more "free" or looser than the kit lens. Are these unique to my copy or is this how the lens was made? Please let me know soon. If its my copy I need to get a hold of B and H and order either a different demo or a new copy. Thanks all! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 3, 2008 Posted December 3, 2008 Hi cfc247, Take a look here Just got my Leica D 25 1.4 lens today. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
cfc247 Posted December 3, 2008 Author Share #2 Posted December 3, 2008 The lens also seems a bit soft, even when compared to my $100 Nikkor 50 1.8. These were taken at f8 on a tripod w/timer. 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 Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/70314-just-got-my-leica-d-25-14-lens-today/?do=findComment&comment=735529'>More sharing options...
goodbokeh Posted December 5, 2008 Share #3 Posted December 5, 2008 The lens tops out in sharpness at f/2.8-4.0, mine doesn't sound like yours. I would send it back, pay the extra $100 and get a new one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted December 5, 2008 Share #4 Posted December 5, 2008 It should be pin sharp and even at 1.4 should be very sharp. It is very slightly noisier than the kit lens but only by a tad, mechanically it should not be loose. I would send it back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc247 Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share #5 Posted December 5, 2008 Thank you both for your comments. Over the last couple of days I have done more shooting with the lens and here is my experience so far. I don't want to fall into the trap of using my ignorance to prematurely judge this copy of the lens. Perhaps this would be a good learning experience in testing out glass. Sharpness--I am able to get sharper images handheld than before. But nothing that has seriously surpassed the kit lens. About equal to it in most cases, which I would say is pretty good. Focus ring--I guess "loose" was not the best way to explain it. It is much smoother than the kit lens and therefore feels a bit loose in comparison. Is this the right feel compared to the kit lens? I don't know why the sharpness was an issue when I was shooting yesterday. Perhaps some of the in-camera settings were a factor. I just adjusted the My Film 1 settings with a push of contrast and sharpness to resemble the D2 more. Here are some shots from the last couple of days. They were all taken as jpegs handheld. The first is of the glove is at 1.4, the second at 2.8. The full crops are below in the same order (I had to lower the image quality setting from 70 to 65 however to get them under 241k. The last is a test shot at 1.4. Please let me know if you think the images are not at the level this lens should be producing. 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 Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/70314-just-got-my-leica-d-25-14-lens-today/?do=findComment&comment=737536'>More sharing options...
cfc247 Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted December 5, 2008 Here is the full crop of the 2.8 shot of the glove and a plant at 1.4. 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 Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/70314-just-got-my-leica-d-25-14-lens-today/?do=findComment&comment=737555'>More sharing options...
ravduc Posted December 5, 2008 Share #7 Posted December 5, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) This is not a stabilized lens and if you really want to see how sharp the lens will be at full aperture or anything else for that matter, you should use a tripod; especially when you get close to your subject. As far as I can tell the lens appears to be very sharp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mp_legend Posted January 6, 2009 Share #8 Posted January 6, 2009 very impressive!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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