Re: [Leica] Test charts and 28-70 AF-S

[RBedw51767@aol.com]

I am certainly not hard on my camera equipment but I use every piece that I 
own.  I have invested in what I think are the best tools for the type of 
photography that interests me.  It really pisses me off when a piece of 
equipment prevents me from achieving the best image that I can get.  This is 
what happened with the 28-70 AFS.  I was embarassed with the fuzzy, unsharp 
images that I got with two rolls of what could have been excellent studies 
for my portfolio.   In my opinion Nikon is making some compromises in the 
glass that they are using for some of their new lenses.  From what I can tell 
the new 17-35 that replaces the 20-35 may be another example of the 
replacement being optically inferior at higher in price.  

I prefer the quality of Leica products but I cannot see well enough to use 
non-auto-focus cameras except on a tripod....please Leica!

Bob

<< 
 << There is not a choice if you want a fixed aperture Nikon 28-70.  The 28-70
  F3.5-4.5 was the only other option. Don't forget there is a large embedded
  base of Nikon users that have been dying to get a 28-70 F2.8 Nikkor.  The
  only other choices were 3rd party, which for a Nikon user is like a Leica
  user using the Cosina Heliar. >>
 
 Well, when I saw the Photodo charts rate the 28-70 2.8 AFS a 3.7 and the 
 Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX a 3.5 (same as the 35-70 Leica R) I was mildly amused, 
but 
 when my local camera shop had a mint-in-box Sigma for $250 I couldn't 
resist. 
  It doesn't have the internal focusing motor (who needs it with such a short 
 throw and lightweight components?) nor the metal barrel and build quality of 
 the Nikkor (not an issue for my use, and it's at least up to the quality of 
 the 3.5-4.5 Nikkor which ironically costs more than the Sigma) but it is a 
 sharp, contrasty lens.  It certainly out-performs the 28-70 Leica R I tried 
 (also made by Sigma, BTW) and that lens cost $600 *used*.  The really sad 
 news is that the 50 f1.8 AF Nikkor (cost: $85 new at B&H) knocks all those 
 zooms off their perches, and in fact it holds its own quite surprisingly 
 against my current-generation 50 Summicron-M even at f2, although I suspect 
 the Nikkor will be landfill decades before the Summicron needs a re-lube.  I 
 have no problem using second-party lenses with Nikon *or* Leica if they fill 
 a need for me.  For party snaps the Sigma 28-70 is fine, and for occasional 
 "wow isn't that cool" shots the 15 Heliar makes good sense to me also.  In 
 both cases I see them as freeing up funds for serious glass that will be put 
 to continuous, hard use.
 
 DT
 
 
  >>