Dear Steve, I'm coming in at the tail end of this discussion and have only great things to say about the 35-70/4 R zoom: sharp, contrasty, no discernible distortion at full wide. Sharing here sample shots from a weekend trip from London to Salisbury Cathedral and Stone Henge which I took last year with this lens and my R7 + Metz flash as the only gear. Let me know your impressions of these 35-70 results (some of you may recall these shots from last year's post). IMHO sharpness of the Leica Vario-Elmarit 35-70/4 is astounding, evidenced by even the hand-held or chair and pew-propped shots inside Salisbury Cathedral (could have used a right-angle finder if I had one, to avoid squinting from a kneeling position to compose and capture the ceiling shots). http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Leicaflex/Salisbury/SalisburyCathedral_III.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Leicaflex/Salisbury/SalisburyCathedral_VII.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Leicaflex/Salisbury/SalisburyCathedral_X_Sepia.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Leicaflex/Salisbury/SalisburyCathedral_VI.jpg.html The monochromes were taken with Ilford XP2. As for color saturation and balance, here's a view of the town of Salisbury with a broad swatch of lively colors: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Leicaflex/Salisbury/Salisbury_I.jpg.html Then going to a slightly drizzly venue to meet with the druids that didn't show up - only throngs of tourists to somehow avoid in these compositions: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Leicaflex/Salisbury/Stonehenge_I.jpg.html And the dark clouds moved away after a while....... http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Leicaflex/Salisbury/Stonehenge_II.jpg.html This was more than a year ago. I have been so busy with work this year that I haven't been posting much on the list. However, I find it a good antidote and divertissement to read everyone's threads. If and when more time frees up nearer X'mas, I hope to scan and post more photos from this year. Cheers, Eric Chan > > > > > > > > *Steve Barbour <kididdoc@xxxxxxx>* wrote: > > > > Does anyone know this lens, and it's quality especially compared to > > the 35-70 R zoom? > > > > > > thanks, Steve > > ------ ------ Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/lrflex.htm Archives are at: //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/