APO 180/2.8 vs. APO 180/2

[wyan]

I am looking to buy one of the APO 180's. I know that 180/2 has killer bokeh but I cannot justify the huge difference in price and weight. I will need f/2.0 once in a while but not much. For experienced users out there, how do these two lenses compare? And is 180/2.8 far behind 180/2 in terms of bokeh, at the same stop? Thanks a lot.

[rsolomon]

I looked at both of these .. i wanted the 180/2.... but physically they are so differnt that the 2.0 just wasn't practical for me .... it requires a tripod, this can not be hand held - atleast by me.. Addtionaly the price differnece is significant. i still want the 180/2 but knew the 2.8 would be better for me and my overall usage.

[nikau]

I have had a 180 f2 since it first came out. Can hand-hold it okay at 1/500 or faster, but feel happier using it with a monopod or tripod, if only to ease the burden of carrying it. I used it extensively for professional live theatre photogaphy on a tripod and always at f2 - it was amazing. If I didn't have this low light requirement, I'd have sold it - the f2.8 is much lighter and manageable, in my view.

[woodyspedden]

Originally Posted by rsolomon

I looked at both of these .. i wanted the 180/2.... but physically they are so differnt that the 2.0 just wasn't practical for me .... it requires a tripod, this can not be hand held - atleast by me.. Addtionaly the price differnece is significant. i still want the 180/2 but knew the 2.8 would be better for me and my overall usage.

The only reason to not own the 180 2.0 is price. I am not saying this is insignificant because it certainly is, but there is no point in trying to rationalize the 2.8 against the 2.0 except for price. For sure buy the 2.8 while you can afford it, and someday when all the pennies have been saved, sell the 2.8 and buy the 2.0. The 2.0 is such a special tool that words cannot describe it. Maybe one of the best of the best. I did save and waited a long time to get this lens ( I will be 70 years old in June 07) but the wait was worth it. God when Leica gets it right, and on this lens they got it right, it seems a miracle.

Still star struck after all these years

Woody Speddne

[telyt]

Originally Posted by woodyspedden

The only reason to not own the 180 2.0 is price.

... and portability.

[wyan]

Thanks everyone for the input. And no doubt 180/2.0 should be a magic lens, judging from the passions in Woody's lines.

I think it is more pratical for me to go with 180/2.8 in terms of cost and portability.