Looking for advice on KM lenses: 17-35 and 28-70

[PeterPhoto]

Hi all,

Currently, I'm looking for some new glassware. I know I recently bought a Sigma 70-200 F2.8 HSM (and some extra added terms). Right now the focus is on the 20-70 mm range roughly. I'm looking at two lenses at the moment (both second hand on e-bay like site in Holland).

1. KM 17-35 F2.8-4.0
2. KM 28-70 F2.8 G

There are several offerings for the 17-35. It will sell for something between € 200-250 I guess. Compared to other auction websites that seems to be a fair prices. If anyone disagrees, feel free to wake me up .

There's only one seller offering a 28-70. Looks most impressive (because of the G-label), but I'm not sure if it's really worth the € 650 being asked for. Is it better than a 28-75 or any other KM offering? In comparison, I have been reading about the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 HSM (new one). A new one goes for about the same prices as this second hand KM. And I'm pretty sure it's worth the money anyway. Hope one of the readers can reach me a helping hand.

Peter

[Greg Beetham]

There's a bit of discussion here http://photoclubalpha.com/forum/viewtop ... =27&t=3294 around a similar topic, from memory I think there might be another discussion somewhere as well, I think David also gave the KM17-35 a test run on the A900, I think it's in his A900 review.
Greg

[pakodominguez]

1. KM 17-35 F2.8-4.0
2. KM 28-70 F2.8 G

There are several offerings for the 17-35. It will sell for something between € 200-250 I guess. Compared to other auction websites that seems to be a fair prices. If anyone disagrees, feel free to wake me up .

That priceis fair, specially for Europe. Here in the USA, I did track a couple of this lenses for about 255 US$, but the regular pice for a "Like New" will be 400 US$

There's only one seller offering a 28-70. Looks most impressive (because of the G-label), but I'm not sure if it's really worth the € 650 being asked for. Is it better than a 28-75 or any other KM offering? In comparison, I have been reading about the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 HSM (new one). A new one goes for about the same prices as this second hand KM. And I'm pretty sure it's worth the money anyway. Hope one of the readers can reach me a helping hand.

Peter

I'd never tried the Minolta 28-70 f2.8 G but the 17-35 f2.8 G, that I found soft on the Maxxum 7D (BTW, both this "G" lenses are Minolta, not Konica Minolta...) but I'm ready to bet KM 28-75 f2.8 is a better performer and a third the price of the 28-40 G. If you are ready for spend 800 US$, get the brand new Sony version.

Regards

[Philip]

I had a 28-70 f2.8G for about 6 years, using it on Minolta film bodies. When I got my first digital body, a D7D, it was a little softer then I'd have liked and produced some interesting flare patches when you'd least expect it. After getting an A100, and things didn't improve, I sold it, replacing it for with a Sigma 24-70 DG EX f2.8. This was much better on digital (sharper, less CA and no odd reflections/flare), and I even had change left after buying the Sigma! I stopped using the Sigma when I got a Sony 24-105 - great on APS but too soft in the corners and too much CA on full frame for my liking. The KM 28-70 is very highly rated by those who have it, and the QC seems to have been better then the 28-70G, which by all accounts can vary greatly in quality -I may just have had a bad example!

Philip

[Alain]

The km 28-75/2.8 is almost the same as the tamron 28-75/2.8, optical I couldn't see any difference. The only obvious things are other marking and grip.

I'm very happy about the tamron. To avoid quality problems I would test before buying.

[PeterPhoto]

First of all, a very happy, healthy and inspiring 2010 to the reader!

And thanks for the replies and new ideas you gave me. Tomorrow I will test my example of the KM 17-35 and see if it it matches expectation.

In the mean time, the KM 28-75 has been sold to someone else. Interestingly, the used price is about as high as the price for a new Tamron 28-75. That might also be a rather interesting option.

I've also looked at the Sigma 24-70 F2.8. I'm not totally convinced that this is the perfect match for botch APS-C and FF camera. Yes, the focus is on the FF compatibility. Though I'm enjoying my less then one year old A700, I think it's useful to think ahead of what might be the next camera to buy... Maybe the new Sony 28-75 is a lens to do some further research on...

Off-topic: besides the 17-35, I will try a Zenitar Fisheye too. Will costs me close to nothing, so chances there will be two new lenses in the bag in two days time. It's a wonderful beginning of 2010 .

Peter

[Birma]

Congratulations on starting the new year with some new glass . I would love to see some pictures with the fish-eye lens if you get it.