Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/02/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]B. D. >>No, I have not owned a Leica 28, and based on what I have read and heard about it, I wouldn't own one.<< I can't recall hearing a negative comment about the 28/2.8. I have the third version 28/2.8 (49mm). I wish it were a bit smaller, like the latest version. I also wish the aperture ring was tighter. It's too easy to change accidentially. Yet, I've never been dissapointed by performance. For more than a decade, I used 3 different Nikkor 28/2.8s, one of which was considerably better than the other two. Still, it was not even close to the 28/2.8 Elmarit M, in terms of contrast and freedom from distortion. After two rolls of Kodachrome 25 I was sold on the Elmarit. It's was that good (and it still is). One photograph still stands out in my mind. It was a large brick courtyard taken at f5.6. Under a 20X magnifier I would read the names imprinted on the bricks in the corner of the frame. I think the fact that Leica hasn't drastically redesigned the 28 says something about performance. Purely speculation on my part, but I would think that if the lens was lacking Leica would have introduced a 28 ASPH. After all, they came out with a 21/2.8 ASPH, 24/2.8 ASPH or 35/2 ASPH. Why is there no 28/2.8 ASPH? Is the existing lens is that good, or are they working on a 28/2 ASPH? I would think that from a marketing perspective, a 28 would be more important than the aforementioned ASPH lenses. I actually like the 28/2.8 more than my 35/2 Summicron. Even though the Summicron is smaller and faster, I very rarely use it. Whereas, I use my 28 a great deal. David