Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/03/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Peter: In regards to the Leica Telephoto zooms, you may have mistakenly looked up the older Leica 70-210 which was Minolta made. It was a fine lens, but the new design is much better. The old 70-210 rated a score of 3.3, while the newer 80-200 rates at 4.2. The 4.2 rating is better than Canon's 70-200 2.8 lens and on par with Canon's new 80-200L lens. It also surpasses the Nikkors which only rated 4.0. This would make the Leica a fine performer even though it is a pretty conservative F4 lens. Even the older 70-210 Minolta made lens rated pretty high amongst its peers if you exclude the 2.8 lenses. If the Leica's lowly 80-200 F4 can best or match the best from the competition, I imagine the 70-180 would probably trounce them with a rating in the 4.4 to 4.5 range. If you read Leica's literature, they tend to rate their lenses in the descriptions. For example in Leica's latest literature, they make no mention of the optical qualities of the 28-70, but say it is easy and pleasant to use. The description of the 80-200 F4 says it offers good to very good imaging quality. While they describe their 100 APO macro as outstanding imaging performance. This 100 APO macro rated 4.5 at photodo. All we need is the translation of these terms to a grading scale. This all brings us back to the validity of ratings compared to use in the field. I have seen a series of slides taken in China with the 28-70 that definately had the Leica look to them. They were contrasty and sharp, with great colours. As I have said before, who needs Velvia, when you have Leica glass to provide the saturation and contrast? Regards, Robert At 07:47 AM 3/2/99 -0800, you wrote: >I checked Photodo and it appears that the lens is the 28-70mm F3.5-4.5 which >I believe is made by Sigma. Interesting to note that this lens and the >70-200 F4 whicg I believe is a Kyocera made lens, both test below the Leica >made lenses. As Mr. Spock would say, "..Fascinating." > >Peter K >SD dujour > >-----Original Message----- >From: Eric Welch [mailto:ewelch@ponyexpress.net] >Sent: Monday, March 01, 1999 8:23 PM >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us >Subject: Re: [Leica] LUG, Leica culture, lens testing and No BS > > >At 07:29 PM 3/1/99 -0800, you wrote: >>Take a look at the latest >>Photodo.com test of the 28-70. > >Are you talking about the Leica 28-70 made by Sigma? > >Eric Welch >St. Joseph, MO >http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch > >Computers can never replace human stupidity > > > >