Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Good post DT, Most of the 50mm lenses seem to be really good. Sometimes its worth savings a few buck so you can put it toward what you really use the heck out of. Peter K - -----Original Message----- From: InfinityDT@aol.com [mailto:InfinityDT@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 2:03 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: [Leica] Test charts and 28-70 AF-S In a message dated 10/19/99 2:44:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, peterk@lucent.com writes: << 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