28mm f/2.8 ASPH

[The Fondler]

Finally I have tracked this lens down! I've been wondering about its quality for a long time in comparison to the older 28mm f/2.8. The Photo Village had a 28mm f/2.8 with 6-bit, but it was a "demo" and nearly the same price as this new one ($1795). They had a few of the ASPH ones in stock, so I felt a bit dumb after looking high and low for so long. Anyway, so has anyone done a side-by-side comparison of the ASPH vs. the slightly older pre-ASPH? The older lens is bigger, which makes me thing it is more corrected. I think it might also be interesting to see M8 images vs. film body images on account of the bigger "negative area" and their necessarily different corner quality.

 

[grduprey]

Well, I have the new 28/2.8 Asph and love it, build and optical quality is excellent. I got mine the first week in July. Have not used the previous lens, so cannot give a comparison. I did compare it to the 28/2.8 Hexanon that the dealer has for sale, and the 28 Asph kills it, no contest. The optical quality of the new lens is excellent, and easily meets my expectations for a Leica lens. If there are any short cuts in its design or build,I sure cannot find them. I suspect they have some new processes that allow them to get the same performance at a lower cost. Beats me. The size is great, and makes a great combo with the M8, it has been pretty much attached to the M8 since I got it. I have not yet tried it on my M6TTL, but expect it to be just as good. I've got some film in the M6, so maybe I will give it a try this weekend. Forget the older lens and get the new one.

Gene

 

[leicashot]

Actually, the newer ASPH is more 'corrected' for flare/distortion control and is more even over the field wide open. The older lens is slightly more contrasty and sharper in the center wide open.