Buying a 50mm when already owning a 28-70mm zoom?

[Paul Howell]

In terms of Zooms, the question for me is speed and distortion. Starting with Zoomar lens made for the Swiss Alpa followed by the S1 zooms made for Vivitar then Canon L glass and Nikon Ed zooms along with Minolta G, Leica and Contaxt zooms, zooms are sharp enough to reslove Tmax 100. Some zooms still suffer from distoriton at the long and short ends which in noticable under some sitatuions, most of the time not critical, but loss of speed with film, unless you shoot Tamx 3200 that is an issue in low light. If you can live with a F4 to 5.6 and want to travel light a zoom is peferct. In terms of Leica R mount, the Leica versions of the 28 to 70 are likely to be good enough. Too bad that Sigma did not make the Art lens in Leica R mount, there are likely best zooms ever made.

 

[Model71]

I‘m of the opinion that technical performance of tools are important, and it is a factor to consider if budget allows for it. The other factor, and I believe it is of greater importance, is how the 50mm focal length fits into your style and work as a photographer. Will a 50mm prime elevate your style and you as a photographer (Rhetorical)?

 

[Henning Serger]

No other 28-70mm Vario Elmar R lovers here?
Nobody?

Well, I have the "original" version - the Sigma UC 3.5-4.5/28-70mm. As already correctly explained in this thread, the optical design of this lens and the Leica variant are identical.
But the Leica has different and much better mechanics and built quality, and was produced with better QC and tighter tolerances.

I bought this lens as a young student when I started my studies at university. I bought it mainly as a lens for travels. The reasons for my purchase = the advantages of the lens:
+ very good sharpness
+ high contrast
+ very compact
+ very useful zoom range for my purposes (mainly travel, shooting landscapes and cityscapes, and my girlfriend at that time)
+ low price (about 230 DM)
+ excellent price performance ratio.

The disadvantages of this Sigma lens:
- strong barrel distortion at the wide end
- the colour transmission of the lens is not optimal, there is a visible yellowish-greenish colour cast
- now after the decades the "ZEN" surface finish Sigma used at that time has become very ugly and sticky
- the mechanics (focus and zoom ring) is not operating smooth anymore (it is bucking / stuttering); a general problem with budget-optimised lenses in the past and today: To keep the price down compromises have to be made, and that is almost always done in this area (mechanics, built quality), because the disadvantages mostly occur later, over the years.

I hope this info is a bit helpful for you.

Best regards,
Henning