Re: Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 28–70mm f/2.8 ASPH lens announced
rscheffler wrote:
The RF 28-70/2 indeed replaced all my primes in that range. There are times when 24 would be nice to have, but an advantage of being 'restricted' to 28 when doing events is that the wide angle distortion at 28mm isn't as exaggerated and tends to result in a better match for people photography at near distances. That said, I'm really torn between it and the 24-105/2.8.
I think 28 as a starting point just simplifies the optical design enough so that such a zoom can be made smaller and/or optically better than a 24-70. The recent 28-70/2.8s are certainly aimed at a segment of the market that wants a more compact carry option and lower price point. And this one from Leica is really their equivalent of a 'kit lens.'
What's missing in the SL system that exists in Canikony-land is a relatively compact UWA that can be carried to augment the limitations of 28mm coverage. Sure, now you're carrying at least a second lens, but the smaller size of the 28-70 in use, when that range suits your needs, might be enough reason for some photographers to prefer it over a larger, longer zoom range.
This 'Leica' 28-70 seems to me like the SL equivalent of their Summarit-M series as entry level, low(er) cost lenses to get people into the system with Leica, rather than third party lenses. With the M system the Summarits were discontinued apparently because buyers were often opting for higher priced Summicron and Summilux lenses instead, but the SL system competes in a space with a ton more options from other brands. The extremely high cost of entry certainly does Leica no favors among a combined user group that is likely a lot more price-per-feature sensitive than those interested in the M system.
I tried the 24-105mm 2.8 at a Canon event and I kind of hated it. The focusing seemed kind of crap. I had a ton of "just missed" pictures in my tests. Maybe like 2 in 10 were properly sharp... The CA is controlled but weird. On the center horizontal it is amber/teal but towards the corners it goes magenta/green. The 28-70mm f/2 is very consinstent as magenta/green throughout. And the 28-70mm f/2 almost never misses focus for me using the R5. I've taken action shots with it that are literally on the eye ball and in 5 EV lighting. Basically a miracle shot that shouldn't even be possible.
Jun 13, 2025 at 04:03 PM
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