Angenieux 45-90 Zoom vs Elmarit 90

[gvaliquette]

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I recently got an Angenieux 45-90 f2.8 zoom, second hand, of course, and fell in love with the lens. Yes, it is a rather large lens, but it is not overly heavy and does handle very well. So I decided to put it to the test and shot comparison photos with the Elmarit 90mm f2.8, a lens with a reputation for being very sharp. I was amazed with the results! Here are the confrontation shots:

 

( I have not yet figured out how to control the layout of uploaded images, so my apologies...)

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[tobey bilek]

Both are nice lenses. Notice the 50/90 has little or no distortion. No true of the 1980/90 zooms or the current Japanese ones. The new Leica ones hold pretty straight lines, except for the recently discontinued 28/70.

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[robsteve]

On the Elmarit pictures you seemed to have focused on the trees behind the central tree. Try a crop of the pile of gravel in the lower right. I think you will find the Leica a bit sharper. This is jsut because the Leica was probably focused a bit behind the tree, more on the focus plane with the gravel.

 

I find it easier to get exact focus using the Microprism screen, or just the microprisms on the standard screen.

[gvaliquette]

Here is the bottom right corner of the Elmarit photo.

 

By the way, R9, DMR for all.

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[fernando_b]

Guy,

your last image in the first post seems a crop at top right (not top left) of the previous one, however it shows an awful chromatic aberration.

Fernando.

[albertwang]

Looks like the Leica is the winner but the zoom can hold its own.

[gvaliquette]

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Fernando, you are correct.

 

It is also true that it does show chromatic aberrations under these extreme conditions, but overall, I much prefer the Angenieus to the more recent Leica/Sigme 28-70 zoom, which has really obvious distortion!

 

Anybody else cares to comment on the Angenieux lenses?

[petermcwerner]

Anybody else cares to comment on the Angenieux lenses?

An interesting combination : Angenieux zoom + 2x Leica Apo Extender:

 

First Image:

DMR - Angenieux 3.5/70-210 @ 90mm + 2x APO extender f/8 - RAW + Capture One

Second Image:

DMR - Angenieux 3.5/70-210 @ 210mm + 2x APO extender f/8 - RAW + Capture One

Third Image:

100% crop of second image

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[petermcwerner]

First Photo: R9+DMR Angénieux 3.5/70-210 @210mm - f/5.6 1/750 ISO=100

Second and third photo: 100% crops

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[gvaliquette]

Peter, lucky you, you managed to get all the Angenieux lenses for Leica R. Now, I have to start looking for the 70-210 and the 180 APO (don't tell my wife - I already have the 80-200!).

 

I also have the 35-70 Angenieux and like it, although one has to be carefull as it is flare-prone.

 

I also note that you have the 250 and the 460 Telyts. I was lucky enough to be able to acquire the 350 f4.8 Telyt about a year ago. I love it. On a pistol grip with the R8/9 Motor Drive or the DMR, it is deadly. I posted some "Cool Long Shots" previously (http://www.leica-camera-user.com/landscape-travel/2572-cool-long-shots.html)

and will put up some other photographs of wildlife in Tanzania as soon as I can review the slides and scan them.

 

Thanks for the photos.

 

Guy

[gvaliquette]

Peter,

 

Sorry, 400 telyt (Tripped over the 560)

 

Guy

[petermcwerner]

Peter, lucky you, you managed to get all the Angenieux lenses for Leica R. Now, I have to start looking for the 70-210 and the 180 APO

 

Guy,

 

There is also a 200mm, the last of the Angenieux for Leica R. Only in a copies were made. Do you know anything about it?

 

Also, my 35-70 is not working: the iris will not open, stays closed at minimum aperture, and needs repair.

 

Do you know of a repairman who can deal with Angenieux lenses. I was told that to re-assemeble them you need the original Angenieux tools, so it is not a job anybody can do.

 

Best

Peter

 

PS: BTW, where are you located?

[petermcwerner]

Here the pictures:

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[gvaliquette]

Peter, a really beautifull lens I did not know existed. How does it perform?

 

I now live in the NYC area in the USA, although I am, in fact, Canadian. I do not know where you could have your 35-70 repaired. I have read on several occasions that Angenieux in Paris no longer services their still camera lenses. I guess you should ask your favorite independent Leica repair shop. But do try to to get a working one, either by having yours repaired or by getting another one; they are relatively common. It is well worth having, in good working order.

[albertwang]

Perhaps you can try D Goldberg or Sherry Krauter for the repair?

[Ivar B]

Do you know of a repairman who can deal with Angenieux lenses. I was told that to re-assemeble them you need the original Angenieux tools, so it is not a job anybody can do.

 

There is a repair facility in Paris, France. Leica in Germany gave me the address, as I also own a 45-90 which needed some cleaning. In the past, I also owned a 35-70 and had problems with the diaphragm control when it was used on the R8, but for some very strange reson it worked perfectly on an R4 I also owned at the time. I will try and find the name of the repair shop, but if I don`t succeed, I am sure that Leica will send it to you.

 

Angenieux are nice lenses. I have also used the French Kinoptik lenses on Leica R, and some of these lenses surpass anything else you will find optically and are really super sharp, but they are heavy and inconvenient to use. Kinoptik are still in business - you can check them out at www.kinoptik.fr

[petermcwerner]

I have to start looking for the 70-210 and the 180 APO (don't tell my wife - I already have the 80-200!).

Guy,

I saw the following Angenieux for Leica R on ebay:

 

- Angenieux 3.5/70-210mm

- Angenieux 2.3/180 APO

 

Cheers

Peter

[petermcwerner]

There is a repair facility in Paris, France. Leica in Germany gave me the address, as I also own a 45-90 which needed some cleaning. In the past, I also owned a 35-70 and had problems with the diaphragm control when it was used on the R8, but for some very strange reson it worked perfectly on an R4 I also owned at the time. I will try and find the name of the repair shop, but if I don`t succeed, I am sure that Leica will send it to you.

Thank you Ivar, I shall give it a try.

 

I have also used the French Kinoptik lenses on Leica R, and some of these lenses surpass anything else you will find optically and are really super sharp, but they are heavy and inconvenient to use. Kinoptik are still in business - you can check them out at www.kinoptik.fr

I have a 2.5/150mm Kinoptik APO in Alpa Reflex mount. I have contacted Michel Prudhomme at Kinoptik to make it a T-mount. Unfortunately this transformation would mean giving up the auto diaphragm, so I am undecided.

[Ivar B]

Here is the address Leica gave me for the Angenieux Repair Facilty:

 

Atelier Photo Cine MS, 3 rue Charles Bandelaire, 75012 Paris

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Hallo,

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