[Leica] 28/3.5 Color -Skopar

[leica at screengang.com (Didier Ludwig)]

I use this lens a lot, first on the M6 as compact combo on hikes, now as 
standard lens on the R-D1s. It's very sharp and contrasty, but, thanks to 
the classic double gaussian design, does not have that brutal oversharpened 
look of many newer asph lenses. The bokeh, if you ever manage to get one, is 
quite creamy (f3.5 and subject 70cm away, it works). Handling/ergonomy are 
on Leica standard, which is not the case with the other CV lenses (which 
often tend to be quite stiff in the beginning). I think the 28 Skopar has 
the best built quality of all CV's - except the paint which gets some 
brassing, but that's something I do not care about. The only real minus is 
it's vignetting - acceptable on film, but on the R-D1 it often needs some 
digital correction. But nevertheless, it's a keeper.
Didier




>Just received this little lens from Camerquest. Very quick service. 
>
>My 28/2.8 Elmarit is big in comparison. The Elmarit is heavy too,
>although the little Skopar is just as solid pound for pound. Maybe more
>solid.  
>
>I wanted a compact 28 to team with my 50/2.8 Elmar. OTOH, I really
>didn't need another lens.  I bought it because I hadn't purchased
>anything new in a long while. Plus it was silver (for my chrome M6),
>discontinued (watch it become a classic when it's out of stock), 28mm
>and tiny. 
>
>Hopefully I'll love it. You just never know if you'll use a lens 'till
>you own it. If it's a Color Skopar will it work for B&W?  ;-)
>
>I wish it were fast, but you can't have it all. I had a 35/3.5 Summaron
>for many years. It was a fantastic little lens. Negs from that lens were
>so easy to print. Always my benchmark of a good lens. I shouldn't have
>sold it. I had a 35/2 at the time. Then I got rid of the Summicron and
>bought a 35/1.4 ASPH. I've lacked a small wide angle since. 
>
>I appear to be building two rangefinder systems; one big and fast, a
>second tiny and slow. It'll be interesting to see which one gets the
>most use. 
>
>Now if I can only find that SM-BM adapter I picked up at a camera show
>long ago knowing that I'd need it someday. 
>
>DaveR