Leica R Zoom Combo:35-70 f/4 & 80-200 f/4 vs. 28-90 &

bigbuddha319 · Joined: 12 Aug 2017 Posts: 13

Which Leica R Zoom Combo?

1. 35-70mm f/4 & 80-200mm f/4

or

2. 28-90mm f/2.8-4 & 70-180mm f/2.8 APO

How much better is the 28-90mm f/2.8-4 vs. the 35-70mm f/4?

Ditto for the 70-180mm f/2.8 vs. the 80-200mm f/4?

I know there is a huge difference in price, but I can't decide if I want to just get the 35-70mm f/4 and 80-200mm f/4 combo and call it a day or really splurge and buy the 28-90mm + 70-180mm.

Is the a very noticeable optical difference between the these two sets? I've read through this thread and it seems like members really love the 28-90mm and 70-180mm but is it really that much better than the much cheaper 35-70mm f/4 + 80-200mm f/4?

Thanks!

thebbm · Joined: 11 Dec 2013 Posts: 295 Location: France montpellier

the leica R 35-70mm f3.5 is well know to be a copy of the minolta MD 35-70mm f3.5 macro

there is 3 versions of it, look her

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/minolta-md-zoom-35-70mm-3-5-review/

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3754 Location: Switzerland

The R 3.5/35-70mm is a Minolta design, the later (1997) R 4/35-70mm is not.

Similarly, the older R 4/70-210mm (as well as the R 4.5/75-200) is a Minolta design, while the later (1996) R 4/80-200mm was designed by Lothar K�lsch. He previously had made a nearly identical design, the Zeiss Vario Sonnar 4/80-200mm for the Contax CY mount, while still working at Zeiss.

The Zeiss is a very good performer, distinctively better than the Minolta 4/70-210 (which was one of the best telezooms when it came out).

I have no experience with the Leica R lenses you mentioned, and i think that you would get more precise information e. g. from the l-camera-forum.

Stephan[/b]