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Leica did it again: new 2.8/28-70

R

RBecker

Active Member
Leica introduced today the new Vario Elmarit 1:2.8/28-70 Asph.

By comparisons of technical data and the graphic of lens elements it is nearly identical in design to the Sigma Contemporary 2.8/28-70 introduced in 2021.
The Sigma is a great lens and worth to be a "kit" lens for Leica, but has Leica no own designs anymore? For the price of the Leica I would expect a little bit more than a new body with more metal parts...

To users of Leica lenses: Are the "cheap" designs build in Germany or build in Japan?
 
Interesting. I tried the Sigma 28-70 and it’s a great performer, especially at the price. How much are Leica asking?
 
The cheapest I could find locally in the Netherlands last month was €849. I think it is a great performer and an awesome lens. But the Lumix fits me better, and feels much more solid.

If Leica put a better and good sealed lensbody around that same optical formula, but with tighter tolerances and better glass and coating, and zoom in the direction it would be a really good lens. But not €1950 good. +€300 for the better build and materials, and +€100 for the logo would be fair against Sigma implementation. It would also mean a weight increase.
 
Already Found it… and it turns the wrong way also Z04 975but the rest I imagined right
 
The official price is 879 in Germany, but because of time the streetprice is lower.
Better? That is the question with all these designs from Sigma in Leica bodies. I know the great results from my Sigma lenses and I doubt I can see differences if I used the Leica versions. Maybe the mechanics is a bit more solid (maybe!), but the Sigmas are not bad at all.

That was the question about made in Germany or made in Japan: are these lenses build in Germany at Leica (only using the design) or are these lenses made in Japan, then with 99% by Sigma. I found no information which lens from Leica is build in Wetzlar and which in Japan…
 
RuleOfThirds said:
The cheapest I could find locally in the Netherlands last month was €849. I think it is a great performer and an awesome lens. But the Lumix fits me better, and feels much more solid.

If Leica put a better and good sealed lensbody around that same optical formula, but with tighter tolerances and better glass and coating, and zoom in the direction it would be a really good lens. But not €1950 good. +€300 for the better build and materials, and +€100 for the logo would be fair against Sigma implementation. It would also mean a weight increase.
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I had the Sigma back in sony times and did not like the images. The 24-100 produced nicer renderings and colors.
Now I am happy with the 24-60... I think it is better than the sigma.
 
CH_CH said:
I had the Sigma back in sony times and did not like the images. The 24-100 produced nicer renderings and colors.
Now I am happy with the 24-60... I think it is better than the sigma.
Click to expand...
I agree, like my 24-60/2.8 also a bit more. Didn't use the 28-70/2.8 too much. I had bought a used one at an online store, which I returned after strange noises and slow af, and then bought a new one. But then the 24-60 got announced and I saw the review of @Richard Wong, and decided to return the Sigma within the grace period for full refund and place a pre-order for the 24-60/2.8. I'm personally glad I did. I would not sell the 28-70 for a loss to buy the 24-60 if you are happy with the Sigma anyway.

I have never had a Leica lens, but what I've seen they are more robust build then there counterparts. The announcement claims fully weather sealed for example. I thought that the Leica 24-70 is also a Sigma design? So it makes sense. But Leica build there lenses in Germany and Portugal in their own factory with extra tight tolerances and apply their own glass and coatings anyway, so it won't be exactly the same but comparable. But I have zero interest in a Leica lens for L-Mount anyway, for obvious reasons.
 
RuleOfThirds said:
I have never had a Leica lens, but what I've seen they are more robust build then there counterparts. The announcement claims fully weather sealed for example. I thought that the Leica 24-70 is also a Sigma design? So it makes sense. But Leica build there lenses in Germany and Portugal in their own factory with extra tight tolerances and apply their own glass and coatings anyway, so it won't be exactly the same but comparable. But I have zero interest in a Leica lens for L-Mount anyway, for obvious reasons.
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All the latest releases from Leica like 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 28-70, 100-400 are at least based on the Sigma designs.
The build quality of Leica is maybe better, but the quality of the Sigma Art lenses is already very high! From my knowledge the 100-400 is made in Japan, so obviously build by Sigma. That is the reason why I asked where the other Sigma designs are produced…
 
I remember watching a YT video some time ago comparing the Panasonic 50mm f1.8 to the Leica 50mm f2. By all accounts they are the same optical design but the Leica lens has a more up-market metal build. The images from the two looked indistinguishable.
 
pdk42 said:
I remember watching a YT video some time ago comparing the Panasonic 50mm f1.8 to the Leica 50mm f2. By all accounts they are the same optical design but the Leica lens has a more up-market metal build. The images from the two looked indistinguishable.
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Yes, this belongs also to the 35mm
Here the difference is a bit bigger by the different max aperture, but this will also only end in a small change of mechanical design…
 
Anyway, I see it as a testimony to Sigma and Lumix, that it is (or at least the design is) deemed good enough for Leica. What I read as that due to the tighter build tolerances the sample variation of the Leica build lens is much smaller. But a perfectly build Sigma or Panasonic lens would therefore give an indistinguishable result.
 
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