Leica 35-70 mm Vario-Elmar-R f/4 (ROM) Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Nopawach Gajajiva
(Expert)

Review Date
November 25, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 1 of 7

Price Paid: $900.00 from Thailand

Summary:

This is one of those amazing thing in photographic equipment(from my point of view)you can real\l\y feel\ it right out of it's l\eather case it came with.put it on my r8 and never take it off.the zoom and the focusing ring is so smooth....\lets say very smooth....much better than my ol\d 28-70 AFS....i l\ove the contrast of this l\ens....comes with a \litt\le bl\ueish in the col\oration....very wel\l\ buil\t.... i just l\ove the \lens

Strengths:

very wel\l\ design...bui\lt l\ike a tank.overa\ll\ sharpness is good.Macro is very usful\l\ from time to time.

Weaknesses:

hard to find E60 and the screw in hood

Similar Products Used:

28-70 AFS. 35-70 2.8. 28-85 3.5-4.5. 24-85 3.5-4.5

Customer Service:

no need

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Rating
Reviewed by: young_bobo
(Casual)

Review Date
October 7, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Review 2 of 7

Price Paid: $750.00 from ebay

Summary:

It is a great lens, well built. optic quality is excellent, excellent contrast. The narrow lens hood and rotate front elements make it hard to use a polarizer, but the lens gives nice blue sky. Do not bother by the lens hood issue or it is made in Japan if you plan to own it. It is a nice lens to have it.

Strengths:

great contrast. I don't really feel the strenth in shapness, but it is sharp. the contrast is very good.

Weaknesses:

the lens hood. It is strange. I like the lens hood, but it makes exchange filters difficult.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 35-70 F2.8 AF Nikon 28-70 F2.8 AFS Contax 28-70 F3.5-4.5 MM

Customer Service:

N/A

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Rating
Reviewed by: jaguardave
(Expert)

Review Date
August 8, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 3 of 7

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

When I can only carry one lens, this is the one I select. It is so versatile and easy to handle, though as mentioned in earlier reviews, polarizing filters are tough to operate with the lens hood attached. A retractable lens hood would make this lens perfect. The close focus capability is a wonderful addition as well. Because of the quality of the images this lens produces I have not invested in a standard lens for my Leica system. This was the first Leica lens I bought when I first started building out a Leica system and I have never regretted the decision.

Strengths:

Excellent results at all openings, easy to use, as far as Leica lenses go, affordable.

Weaknesses:

Could use a retractable lens shade rather than the screw on it comes with.

Similar Products Used:

My first zoom.

Customer Service:

Not used yet.

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Rating
Reviewed by: David Walters
(Expert)

Review Date
October 31, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 4 of 7

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

This is my first and only zoom. It took some getting used to at first, but now I never go anywhere without it. Very esy to focus (plenty of light) and incomprably sharp, especially in the mid F stops. I agree with the previous comment that coupled with the 3.4 180mm (best lense I''ve ever owned) it covers a great focal range. Add to it the F4 100mm macro, or the 2.8 if you can afford it, and you are set for just about any situation.

Strengths:

Reasonably light, dead sharp, rock solid.

Weaknesses:

The screw on lense hood has to be removed to change filter...a small but annoying design compramise.

Similar Products Used:

None...first and only zoom...it took me 20 years to break down!

Customer Service:

Not needed yet...but great service from Leo''s...shop in Vancouver were I buy my gear.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Christian Nagel
(Expert)

Review Date
May 1, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5,
3 votes

Review 5 of 7

Price Paid: $900.00 from Ebay

Summary:

This is the perfect zoom for traveling, it incorporates an aspherical lens element which is responsible for the excellent sharpness and contrast in the macro and close range. The two ring zoom is very solid and shock resistant, not too heavy and has a continuous aperture of 4. Optically it is much better than the Vario-Elmar 3.5-4.5/28-70. Coupled with the Vario-Elmar 4/80-200 or the Apo-Telyt 3.4/180, it is a superb and lightweight combo for the optical power you get from 35-200. 5 Stars ! The customer service here in Germany is excellent : fast and friendly, they check your gear for free as often as you need it. You only have to pay for if anything they found is broken. And the possibility to break something is quite low ! I haven't seen any lenses (all of lLeicas lenses) that are built more solid than Leica lenses. It's a quality system for life !

Strengths:

Very solid built, a joy to use, the focusing and zoom ring move oily ! Great sharpness and contrast, good macro position

Weaknesses:

no weeknesses discovered

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 2.8/28-70 L USM and Sigma EX 28-70/2.8

Customer Service:

Excellent

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