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Review Date
August 9, 2004
Overall Rating
 3 of 5
Value Rating
 3 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year
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Reviewed by
grabshot
, Professional
Price Paid
$2200.00
at RG Lewis, London
Photography Experience
6-10 years
, Other
Summary
Terrific convenience of having three focal lengths available in one lens. Not perfect replacement for three separate primes - slow maximum aperture (though you know this before you buy the lens) and slightly ungainly handling/balance compared to classic primes such as the 50/F2 or 35/F2. Sharp and perfectly usable wide open at F4 though bokeh (out of focus rendition) is a little coarse. This lens has an annoying tendency to exhibit some veiling flare at 50mm setting when least expected (even with expensive hood in place). Despite the convenience, I ended up selling mine and going back to using 35 and 50 primes.
Strengths
Convenience of having three focal lengths in one package. Much quicker than changing lenses.
Weaknesses
Occasional veiling flare at 50mm setting. Large and unbalanced lens when compared to most of the 28, 35 and 50 primes.
Similar Products Used
None
Customer Service
Not required with this lens.
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Review Date
December 28, 2002
Overall Rating
 5 of 5
Value Rating
 5 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes
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Reviewed by
George Doolittle
, Expert
, from Portland
Price Paid
$1525.00
at R&K Photo, Auburn WA
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Outdoor
Summary
Great travel lens, especially if one prefers to minimize weight and bulk.Handling and ergonometrics outstanding. One can do critical metering at 50mm then shift to 28 or 35 quickly.
Strengths
Suberb optics comparable to prime lenses at same focal lengths...sharp, brilliant with legendary Leica color rendition
Weaknesses
f4.0 a bit slow but compensate with higher film speed. Sometimes shallower depth of field is desireable. Expensive sunshade
Similar Products Used
Leica and Nikon prime lenses and Nikon 80-200 zoom
Customer Service
None needed
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Review Date
June 1, 2002
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
3 Months to 1 year
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Reviewed by
Jeffery Smith
, Expert
, from New Orleans, LA
Price Paid
$1300.00
at Hong Kong
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Outdoor
Summary
A very cost-effective way to have three commonly-used focal lengths in one lens, and Leica glass to boot. It is slow (f/4) but surprisingly good wide open.
Strengths
Excellent optics, convenient to use, build quality.
Weaknesses
Lens hood is expensive, cannot use conventional filters, fairly large, pricey.
Similar Products Used
This is the only multi-focal-length RF lens I have used.
Customer Service
Not needed.
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Review Date
January 6, 2002
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
3 Months to 1 year
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Reviewed by
George Doolittle
, Expert
, from Portland
Price Paid
$1695.00
at R&K Photo, Auburn,WA
Photography Experience
21+ years
Summary
I do a lot of travel photography and like to travel lightly and simply. This is an amazing lens...wish I hadn't waited to get it. Very accurate metering using 50mm setting before shifting to wide-angle, helpful shooting "chrome" transparancies
Strengths
Flexibility and optical quality. Take the place of three prime lenses with Quality I feel is comparably at same aperatures.
Weaknesses
Not as fast as prime lenses-f4.0. Also, sometimes shallow depth of field of f2.0 is useful.Make up speed with faster film.
Similar Products Used
There are none for an M series Leica
Customer Service
Not necessary...
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Review Date
April 28, 2001
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes
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Reviewed by
Dr Dick Morgan
, Expert
, from Leamington Spa, UK
Price Paid
$1200.00
at Stephens Cameras, Manchester UK
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Outdoor
Summary
I purchased it secondhand in mint condition for half UK list price. Combined with 90mm Elmarit-M and M6, has to be the ultimate compact travel kit!
Strengths
Great Optical quality, flexibility of focal length changes at the twist of a ring. Wonderful color rendition.
Weaknesses
Fairly long physically. Occasional flare problems with sun just out of frame. I always keep a u/v filter on it which loses the hood effect of the deeply recessed front element. Mine is a mk 1, and the focal length settings don't click in aswell as the latest version. Can't use it with Leitz universal polarizer filter.
Similar Products Used
I use Canon T90's and Hasselblad. For 10x8 prints it is as good as the Hasselbad.
Customer Service
Not needed.
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