Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/06/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Quoth Mark Rabiner: >The concept of a 35-70 fixed 2.8 being a gentlemans zoom not as big and >bulky as >one extending to 28 or even 105 and perhaps having a quality advantage is >going >out if it ever was in. I've got a Vivitar Series 1 35-85 f/2.8 (non-variable aperture) for my minolta SLR kit. (Small m bodies, AF gives me hives.) Other than it being a really BIG (67mm Filter) one-touch zoom (I prefer two step constant focus) it is the BEST lens that I've ever owned for the applications that I put it to. (my limited Leica lenses included.) I will respectfully disagree with Mr. Gandy here and say that, depending on your mission, this is the perfect range. I shot with an MD 35-70 f/3.5-5.6 for years before getting the larger, consistently faster Vivitar. A 35-70/2.8 is a lens that I would love to buy for the Leica SLR system that I will build after I get my M system completed. Of course, my primary use for a zoom in this range is Weddings, which I understand are generally feared and/or reviled by your average LUGger. I haven't had much call for wider than 35 or longer than 70 for my average wedding. When I do, I have fixed lenses that fill those needs. This shorter range is not as consumer oriented as a 28-300 zoom, but it's made me a lot of money by satisfying my clients needs for 15 years. So it has worked for me. Carpe Lumen, Michael E. Berube http://www.goodphotos.com