mmx_2 Posted October 15, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 15, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm considering to buy an 180mm lens for my R-system, but which one is the most useful one to buy? I've look a bit at the old APO-telyt 180/3.4 which seems to give to most value for the money but how is this one compared to the newer ones on the market? Regards, Joakim Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 Hi mmx_2, Take a look here Which 180mm to buy?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
tobey bilek Posted October 15, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 15, 2007 It is a good lens that does not balance well and takes odd size filters, ser 7.5, unless it has beeen changed. I would buy a new 2.8 APO, second version 2.8, 180 4.0 if money were no object. My 4.0 is a nice light weight carry lens and takes Elpros for close work. The first 180 2.8 is a heavy, hard to handle beast with a fixed tripod socket for horizontal images. I would rather have a 135 that it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted October 15, 2007 Share #3 Posted October 15, 2007 I disagree with Tobey, The 3.4/180 is a superb lens even by todays standard. The first ones were delivered with S7.5 filters, but all the later ones have E60. It is small and lightweight, balances well, is incredibly sharp and very much underpriced. There is a little vignetting wide open, but stopped down it is as good as the new APO 2.8/180 which costs several times more. I have tested them both against each other. The 4/180 is compact, but the 3.4 is in a different league when it comes to optical quality. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsh Posted October 15, 2007 Share #4 Posted October 15, 2007 I agree with Ivan. I keep the 180 Apo Telyt and the 100 Apo Macro Mounted on my SL2s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmr Posted October 15, 2007 Share #5 Posted October 15, 2007 Joakim: Doug Herr has agreat website on R lens. He is a member of this forum, and you will need to e-mail for id and PW. Thorseton has a small review too. I also believe that there are a lot of samples of 180 lens in the "Photo" section. I have the 2nd version 180/2.8. Love it and balanced for my R9. For what I shoot, it is all I need. The 180/3.4 APO is designed for the military and used by the Navy. Very sharp for long distance... so sharp that the Navy can blow up the picture to study the corrosion on screws/bolts/nuts of the enemy ship's to determine how long it has been on the water. I have heard that "Close up" with the 180/3.4 is tough. 180/2.8 APO - Never used it. Known to be one of the many best R lens. The 2.8 and 3.4 is one stop difference. And Big $$$ difference. It is hard to recommend and decide unless you know how you are going to use the lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted October 15, 2007 Share #6 Posted October 15, 2007 Joakim: The 2.8 and 3.4 is one stop difference. And Big $$$ difference. It is hard to recommend and decide unless you know how you are going to use the lens. No, not 1 stop, just 1/2 stop from 2.8 to 3.4. It is true that this is not a lens optimised for short distances (the contrary) but stopped down a bit it is still very good. I have an old Macro-Adapter for the 60mm Macro-Elmarit and it also functions with the 3.4/180, and I have used it now amd then, for example photographing small birds. Of course a dedicated macro lens would be better, but stopped down a bit it will satisfy most demands. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmr Posted October 15, 2007 Share #7 Posted October 15, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ivar... U R right about 28 - 3.4 is 1/2 a stop. My mistake Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted October 15, 2007 Share #8 Posted October 15, 2007 The 3.4 Apo-Telyt is an extremely high resolution lens that was in fact designed to be used with special high resolution films for survelance work, so it is at it's best at infinity. Can't say that it is poor at closer ranges, but I also have a 100 Apo Macro for that type of work. Even a 90 Elmarit with a Elpro is very good up close, and a good complement to a Telyt. The Telyt is a very attractive package, more resolution than most people will ever require, compact and light weight, and good value at today's prices. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted October 15, 2007 Share #9 Posted October 15, 2007 I'll jump into the scrum and attest to the 3.4 being my choice. At one point I owned it and two other 180s. Each had a feature to recommend it, an additional f stop, light weight,etc., but in the end the sharpness of the 180 won out as the feature most important to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsh Posted October 15, 2007 Share #10 Posted October 15, 2007 My R system is pretty old, but I am still happy with the results I get. I have 2 SL2 s, a 35 Summicron, 60 Macro Elmarit, 100 Apo Macro, and the 180 Apo Telyt plus a 2x Non Apo Extenter I use on occasion. Contrary to most opinions on the forum, the regular 2x does a fine job. Considering the cost of the new 180, I would never trade up. The last 180 Elmarit is also a very fine lens, and one you would not be unhappy with. It has a wider focusing ring thus it is a bit easier to handle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenerrolrd Posted October 15, 2007 Share #11 Posted October 15, 2007 The 180 is my favorite focal length on the R system. Since I enjoy it so much especially for travel..I have collected 4 versions. The best all around IMHO is clearly the 180 2.8 APO current model. It has a really nice mount that allows for quick and easy focusing. It pairs nicely with both the apo extenders 1.4 and 2X providing a compact long lens kit for traveling. I found hand holding it with the 1.4 extender to be quite easy in normal daylight. Beware there are two versions of the 180 APO 2.8 the newer one accepting the 1.4x extender. The 180 APO 2.0 matches or beats the 2.8 in image quality but its just too heavy for many applications. If you need a 2.0 for say indoor sports or want the shallow depth of field for portraits its an amazing lens. I have had the 180 APO 3.4 since it came out ...at infinity it performs similar to the newest version. Its also very light and a little smaller than the apo 2.8 . The big knock on the 180apo 3.4 is its usefulness at closer distances....its not as sharp close up and it focuses very slowly. I love the image quality but hated using it for sports or even portraits. The older 180 2.8 Elmarit E67 handles nicely ...focuses with a short throw . Its image quality is a notch below the other three versions...although you may find it more than adeqaute for your requirements. These are lenses that I would tend to use wide open or maybe a half stop down to have the selective sharpness and fast shutter speeds. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmx_2 Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted October 15, 2007 Thanks for all your help, I did not know about that the navy uses the 180/3.4! How is the new Summicron 180/2 compared to the other, yes its heavier, very expensive etc, but in terms of image quality? What I need is a compliment for my 135mm to use for wild life, got some relatives living on Greenland and this is probably the only time I'd use it so infinity focus is not a problem. I used to have a 75-200 Zoom but I never liked it, image quality wasn't as good as you would expect from leica and not even near my Canon EF L 80-200/2.8. For film I have an old Leicaflex SL (which I rarely use nowadays) and for digital I use an Canon EOS 1D which is a very good camera together with 28mm elmarit, 35crom, 50crom, 90mm/2.8 and a 135mm/2.8 lmr, do you have Dougs email? or webpage? Joakim Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddp Posted October 15, 2007 Share #13 Posted October 15, 2007 The 180 Summicron is stunning. If the weight and price aren't issues - go for it. But it is a beast. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmr Posted October 15, 2007 Share #14 Posted October 15, 2007 Joakim: Search for member name "Telyt" in the photo forum and you will be get to his profile with his e-mail address... Doug Herr Birdman of Sacramento http://www.wildlightphoto.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
psquared Posted October 15, 2007 Share #15 Posted October 15, 2007 If it is wildlife that you're after, may I recommend a 280/4 APO? You can put the 1.4x extender on it and turned it into an excellent 400/5.6. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted October 15, 2007 Share #16 Posted October 15, 2007 Another one for the 3.4/180 Apo Telyt. A superb lens with an excellent value to performance ratio. Actually, even if its used price is taken into consideration, it is probably overall the best 180 you can buy. It is light and balances well. When I had an R6, I used it along with a 2.8/100 Apo Macro and results from both lenses were stunning. As mentioned above, the Apo Telyt was optimised for infinity, but that does not mean that shots taken at 10 meters will be at all compromised. If I had to venture into the Leica SLR world, I would buy one again without any reservations. Make sure you get the later version which accepts E-60 (60mm) filters. Best, Jan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwf Posted October 15, 2007 Share #17 Posted October 15, 2007 I just went through this same decision for my Digilux 3, using the Leica R to 4/3 adapter. I settled on the 180/3.4, concluding it was an excellent lens and an excellent value. I ended up buying from KEH, who had several from which to choose when I ordered about two weeks ago. I am very happy with the initial results. The attached image (which I hope works as I have not previously uploaded an image to LUF) was taken from around 15 feet, lightly post-processed and cropped to about half its initial size, and then saved for web to meet the requirements as I understand them for posting here. (Please forgive any rookie errors, admins.) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/35764-which-180mm-to-buy/?do=findComment&comment=377541'>More sharing options...
Tom Johnston Posted October 16, 2007 Share #18 Posted October 16, 2007 I use the Elmarit 180, the one w the built in hood, and not a tripod mount barrel. I use it with a 2x doubler. I continue to be amazed by it's performance. I just got a roll of Provia F back today that make me glad I had this to shoot with. The computer I use w my ancient scanner is in the shop this week, so I am unable to include a scan from todays roll. Attached is something from last year with the Elmarit 180 doubled. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/35764-which-180mm-to-buy/?do=findComment&comment=377570'>More sharing options...
mmx_2 Posted October 16, 2007 Author Share #19 Posted October 16, 2007 Thanks for all the response and thanks for the pictures! Very nice both of them! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_dykstra Posted October 16, 2007 Share #20 Posted October 16, 2007 I'm considering to buy an 180mm lens for my R-system, ... Joakim Hi Joakim. I've not read today's posts, but have just been looking at some freshly developed transparencies taken with a 180mm R lens. I thought they were OK through my Leica 5x loupe but tonight looked again through my 35/1.4 Asph (highly recommended as a loupe). "OMFG!!!! This cannot be possible. Bullsh*t. Where was this detail yesterday?" etc, etc. Interspersed with periods of stunned silence and head shaking, for 10 minutes or so. Which 180? APO-Summicron-R f2/180mm. Undertakers talk about people coming to them with smiles on their faces. Now I know why. This is the Leica lens to have before you die. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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