08-25-2010, 12:12 PM
Generally the 28-85 has more CA than the 35-70 from the sample images I've seen. I have the 35-70 for about 8 years but have not yet used it with digital (I did recently pick up an adapter so should use it soon). The 28-85 I owned briefly and while it was rather sharp and had nice contrast (perhaps a bit more than the 35-70) it was very heavy and the zoom creep drove me batty. Anyways there are tons of sample images @ http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/55.
I will say that some of what makes a lens 'good' is the if you like the 'look' it produces. Unfortunately analysis of what causes a specific look is a bit of an art. There are certain lenses that are clinically quite good but are not so great in other ways. Some of this is of course a bit mystical. One has to always ask the question if you don't know which lens produce a specific picture would you feel the same way about the look?
Oh well back to the topic I personally was very happy with the 35-70 with film and have seen 100s of digital pictures (per above link). I have never used any of the Leica lenses but have seen a few images with them and they do have a very different look (not better or worse). Fredmiranda (above link) is probably a better place for this question as you will find folks with first hand experience but take some of what they say (and myself for that matter) with a grain of salt as there is often not a correct or even best answer for questions of this nature.
I will say that some of what makes a lens 'good' is the if you like the 'look' it produces. Unfortunately analysis of what causes a specific look is a bit of an art. There are certain lenses that are clinically quite good but are not so great in other ways. Some of this is of course a bit mystical. One has to always ask the question if you don't know which lens produce a specific picture would you feel the same way about the look?
Oh well back to the topic I personally was very happy with the 35-70 with film and have seen 100s of digital pictures (per above link). I have never used any of the Leica lenses but have seen a few images with them and they do have a very different look (not better or worse). Fredmiranda (above link) is probably a better place for this question as you will find folks with first hand experience but take some of what they say (and myself for that matter) with a grain of salt as there is often not a correct or even best answer for questions of this nature.