p.2 #3 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
Kit Laughlin wrote:
Has anyone thought of using this lens on one of the new Sonys, with the Metabones Leica R-Sony E speed booster?
And are any models of the Leica 35–70 any better than others? I see an ƒ3.5 as well as the ƒ4 one (more expensive) so I am guessing that the latter model is the better one?
I have both the f/4 and f/3.5 models. Both have their strengths.
The f/3.5 is more compact and has a retractable hood. It does vignette more w/o and has more barrel distortion at 35mm. But it does shoot sharp and I have found it to be a great travel lens.
The f/4 has a macro mode just beyond 70mm which is nice and is a great performer across its entire range. It flares less - but both models are flare tolerant until you point them at the sun.
Both models shoot sharper than my Angenieux (but I like how the Angenieux shoots portraits).
And if you have about $10,000 you can add one more f/stop and get the f/2.8 version.
p.2 #4 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
dbehrens wrote:
I have both the f/4 and f/3.5 models. Both have their strengths.
The f/3.5 is more compact and has a retractable hood. It does vignette more w/o and has more barrel distortion at 35mm. But it does shoot sharp and I have found it to be a great travel lens.
The f/4 has a macro mode just beyond 70mm which is nice and is a great performer across its entire range. It flares less - but both models are flare tolerant until you point them at the sun.
Both models shoot sharper than my Angenieux (but I like how the Angenieux shoots portraits).
And if you have about $10,000 you can add one more f/stop and get the f/2.8 version. ...Show more →
How is the color rendering of the 35-70/3.5. Does it have the "Leica look?" (probably I have to say "Leica feel"). Here, in the US the f3.5 is selling about half the price of the f4, even the 2nd version E67.
p.2 #6 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
What I said was that Lee 100mm filter adapters could not be used at longer focal lengths. Of course a conventional circular filter like B+W can be used throughout the range.
genji wrote:
Sorry, I must be thick but how can you use the lens from 35mm to 70mm with the filter on if, as waterden wrote (and this matches my experience with a B+W UV filter) "the lens barrel retracts into the body as the focal length is zoomed out towards 70mm and the filters prevent this happening from around 40mm"?
p.2 #7 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
That may explain why you can use the 60 Lee filter adapter while I cannot. Mine is the standard 60mm ring and not the WA 60 ring. johnahill wrote:
I did find when using a 60mm UV + 60-62mm step-up + lee standard 62mm ring + 2 slot filter holder that I got some significant vignetting in the corners at 35mm.
I now use 60mm UV + Lee wide angle 60mm ring (special order i believe) + 2 slot holder - no problem
p.2 #8 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
According to Puts the 35-70 F4 Vario-Elmar R is only surpassed by the 35-70 F2.8 Vario-Elmarit R, a much bigger lens. He also notes (although his convoluted language makes this difficult to understand at first reading) that at F4 its detail rendition is better than that of either the 35/1.4 and 35/2 at this aperture, which is quite a statement.
p.2 #9 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
The 35-70/4 vario elmar is a fantastic lens. I waited a long time to secure one converted to nikon mount by leitax spain. This is not an easy conversion so I didnt want to attempt it.
On the D800e it has very good sharpness but what pleases me most about this lens is the color fidelity. As someone mentioned it has a ASPH and FLE just like today's 35 lux FLE. Amazing and kept almost secret
p.2 #11 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
waterden wrote:
What I said was that Lee 100mm filter adapters could not be used at longer focal lengths. Of course a conventional circular filter like B+W can be used throughout the range.
Apologies if I'm flogging a dead horse but this is what has me confused. Without the lens hood and with a B+W 60mm XS-Pro UV MRC-Nano 010M Filter attached, I can only focus over the full range (2ft/0.6m to infinity) when the zoom is set between 35mm and 50mm. At 60mm to 70mm, I can only focus from 2ft/0.6m to 7ft/2m because the filter stops the lens barrel from retracting fully. With the lens hood and filter, I can only focus through the full range at the 35mm mark. At focal lengths greater than 35mm I can't focus beyond 2.4ft/0.7m because, as you wrote earlier, "the lens barrel retracts into the body as the focal length is zoomed out towards 70mm" and the filter prevents this retraction.
p.2 #12 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
ervantrelo wrote:
How is the color rendering of the 35-70/3.5. Does it have the "Leica look?" (probably I have to say "Leica feel"). Here, in the US the f3.5 is selling about half the price of the f4, even the 2nd version E67.
Here are a couple of pics taken with the f/3.5 version. Obviously post processed but you can get a good idea. I can also post a couple of uninteresting side by sides of f/4 vs f/3.5 SOOC.
Dave
p.2 #13 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
genji wrote:
Apologies if I'm flogging a dead horse but this is what has me confused. Without the lens hood and with a B+W 60mm XS-Pro UV MRC-Nano 010M Filter attached, I can only focus over the full range (2ft/0.6m to infinity) when the zoom is set between 35mm and 50mm. At 60mm to 70mm, I can only focus from 2ft/0.6m to 7ft/2m because the filter stops the lens barrel from retracting fully. With the lens hood and filter, I can only focus through the full range at the 35mm mark. At focal lengths greater than 35mm I can't focus beyond 2.4ft/0.7m because, as you wrote earlier, "the lens barrel retracts into the body as the focal length is zoomed out towards 70mm" and the filter prevents this retraction....Show more →
I use heliopan ES 60's and b/w 60E and I have no problems with either lens (f/4 & f/3.5) for the full range - with or without hood.
p.2 #14 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
dbehrens wrote:
Here are a couple of pics taken with the f/3.5 version. Obviously post processed but you can get a good idea. I can also post a couple of uninteresting side by sides of f/4 vs f/3.5 SOOC.
Dave
p.2 #16 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
Just seen this and noted you have ordered a Heliopan filter. Well I hope it works for you but this sounds as though you have an issue with your lens. I use a B&W F-Pro 60 010 UV-Haze 1x MRC circular filter all the time on my R 35-70 and have no problem whatsoever focusing from MFD to infinity at any focal length within the range with the lens hood in place. I don't see why the Heliopan should offer an advantage here. Where there is an issue - and I think you have misunderstood my comments here - is in using Lee filters, attached via a mount and adapter ring to the lens filter thread (lens hood off, of course). As I have noted, because the objective retracts into the lens body as focal length increases there is a point at which the adapter ring prevents further zooming out. However, this is entirely a function of the adapter ring and is nothing to do with a conventional circular mount filter. Hopefully I have made this clear now and good luck with the aheliopan but I fear you may have the same problem.
genji wrote:
Apologies if I'm flogging a dead horse but this is what has me confused. Without the lens hood and with a B+W 60mm XS-Pro UV MRC-Nano 010M Filter attached, I can only focus over the full range (2ft/0.6m to infinity) when the zoom is set between 35mm and 50mm. At 60mm to 70mm, I can only focus from 2ft/0.6m to 7ft/2m because the filter stops the lens barrel from retracting fully. With the lens hood and filter, I can only focus through the full range at the 35mm mark. At focal lengths greater than 35mm I can't focus beyond 2.4ft/0.7m because, as you wrote earlier, "the lens barrel retracts into the body as the focal length is zoomed out towards 70mm" and the filter prevents this retraction....Show more →
p.2 #17 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
waterden wrote:
Just seen this and noted you have ordered a Heliopan filter. Well I hope it works for you but this sounds as though you have an issue with your lens. I use a B&W F-Pro 60 010 UV-Haze 1x MRC circular filter all the time on my R 35-70 and have no problem whatsoever focusing from MFD to infinity at any focal length within the range with the lens hood in place. I don't see why the Heliopan should offer an advantage here. Where there is an issue - and I think you have misunderstood my comments here - is in using Lee filters, attached via a mount and adapter ring to the lens filter thread (lens hood off, of course). As I have noted, because the objective retracts into the lens body as focal length increases there is a point at which the adapter ring prevents further zooming out. However, this is entirely a function of the adapter ring and is nothing to do with a conventional circular mount filter. Hopefully I have made this clear now and good luck with the aheliopan but I fear you may have the same problem.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm pretty sure I haven't misunderstood your comments because I have never tried to use Lee filters though I do understand how they are attached.
My issue is that the B+W filter (60mm XS-Pro UV MRC-Nano 010M) has a diameter of 63.1mm whereas the diameter of the lens body into which the objective retracts is only 62.7mm, so it's physically impossible for the filter-mounted objective to fully retract.
The B+W filter has information inscribed on the front face of the filter (which makes the filter diameter larger than it actually needs to be. Since all the Heliopan ES 60 information is on the outer edge, I'm hoping it will be narrower enough to solve the problem I've encountered.
p.2 #18 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
genji wrote:
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm pretty sure I haven't misunderstood your comments because I have never tried to use Lee filters though I do understand how they are attached.
My issue is that the B+W filter (60mm XS-Pro UV MRC-Nano 010M) has a diameter of 63.1mm whereas the diameter of the lens body into which the objective retracts is only 62.7mm, so it's physically impossible for the filter-mounted objective to fully retract.
The B+W filter has information inscribed on the front face of the filter (which makes the filter diameter larger than it actually needs to be. Since all the Heliopan ES 60 information is on the outer edge, I'm hoping it will be narrower enough to solve the problem I've encountered....Show more →
Hi Genji, how is the Heliopan ES 60mm working with your 35-70/4? No many places are selling it, I just found one seller in H.K. Thanks!
p.2 #19 · Testing the Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f4 R Lens
ervantrelo wrote:
Hi Genji, how is the Heliopan ES 60mm working with your 35-70/4? No many places are selling it, I just found one seller in H.K. Thanks!
It works perfectly. Both focusing and zooming are completely unobstructed.
