You/ve already received a lot of responses, but I'll weigh in anyway.
Besides, somebody (Piers?) predicted that someone would suggest a longer
focal length range Tamron.
You comment on the barrel distortion at 35mm. if that is an issue, you
may be at least somewhat disappointed with any zoom in that range. I see
you have read Gary's tests. Did you look at the distortion comments? The
35-70/4 got "pronounced barrel". But so did the top of the line
35-80/2.8! One of the problems with tests is that they give little or no
idea about likely sample varience. Your 35-70/4 sounds worse than has
been anecdotally reported by other members and relatively worse than its
test looks relative to the other mid range zooms.
Like Tom, my favorite 35-70 is the 3.5-4.5. I'm not sure it's the best
in a resolution test, but is plenty sharp and is light, tiny, focuses
fairly close and the hood reverses over the lens body. A perfect lens
where size and weight matter. Among the other reasonably priced Zuikos,
I think the 35-70/3.6 and the 35-105 are probably the best performing
lenses. Given your problem with flare, the f3.6 is unique with its self
compensating hood.
As to other alternatives, I really like the Tamron asp 35-105/2.8. Fast,
sharp, reaches longer than the 35-80/2.8, is the same size and weight
and is much cheaper. Although the Tamron focuses a little closer, i.e.
higher magnification due to the longer fl, neither lens focuses close
enough for my tastes. Well, actually none of these lenses focus close
enough for my taste. And the 2 that focus the closest do so at 35mm,
giving little working distance and sometimes less than ideal perspective.
There are some big physical differences between these lens that might
also be significant to you:
Zuiko Zuiko Zuiko Zuiko Tamron SP
f3.5-4.5 f2.8 f3.6 f4 f2.8
35-70 35-80 35-70 35-70 35-105
Length Min 51 99 74 71 98
Diameter 62 69 67 69 76
Weight 190 650 400 385 650
Filter size 49mm 62mm 55mm 55mm 67mm
Close focus 0.45m 0.6m 0.8m 0.75m 1.0m
Max. Macro 1:6 1:8.6 1:10.4 1:10 1:7.3
One of my favorite travel lenses is a 35-200/3.5-4.5 Tokina AT-X. I like
tele perspective and this with a short fl zoom or a couple of light
small WA lenses, covers everything and focuses to 1:4. Add a 50/1.4 and
macro teleconverter and I have speed for low light and a 100/2.8 macro
that focuses to 1:1.
Moose
jking@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>Can the list members recommend a better quality zoom lens with less flare
>(not 35-80 ed - I can't afford it) of a simular range to replace this lens
>with? or should I simply buy a 35mm F2.8 and take a 50mm and my Tamron
>90mm F2.5SP next time I go? but this stratergy would leave me with a gap
>from 50mm to 90mm
>
It's a bit obscure, but the Tokina AT-X 60-120/2.8 is an excellent lens
to cover that upper end and nice and fast. Because someone else asked
about it a while ago (and I thought our cat should have presence in the
gallery), I have some shots here
<http://galleries.moosemystic.net/Mona/index.htm>. The second versions
of 3 of the shots are full pixel samples from my 2700dpi scanner to show
detail/sharpness. Add a macro teleconverter and you have macro from the
50mm and a 120-240/5.6 zoom for special situations.
Moose
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