leitz wetzlar summilux R 80mm f1.4

[james.liam]

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Meanwhile with the release of the SL our lenses will only going one way in value IMO. I'm not sure that's a good thing 

 

Depends on which side of the transaction you're on.

[Overgaard]

The 80/1.4 is the crown jewel fo the Leica R lenses. Close to the Noctilux f/1.0 look. I think it's pretty sharp. 

 

Look at the samples on my page with the DMR digital back. That's how it will be on a digital body (Leiac SL or M included)

 

http://www.overgaard.dk/leica_80_summilux-R_14.html

 

This one is at f/2.4

 

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[a911s]

Agreed, Thorsten. My most used R lens.

 

Wide open at 1/40th handheld on Canon 5D III:

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Edited November 8, 2015 by a911s

[Locutus]

This thread pushed me over the edge to get a Summilux 80.

 

Managed to find one at a very good price in reasonable user shape.

 

[k-hawinkler]

I finally got one too.

Made in 1997 AFAIK, towards the high end of current eBay prices.

But a very nice copy.

Worth every penny.

I use it on my Sony A7r2 with IBIS and 42 MP.

From about f/4 on up it's sharp, did I say sharp!

Of course it's primarily a portrait lens.

But it's fantastic for landscape shots as well. :-)

 

BTW, I also added recently the Vario-R 35-70/4.

It seems sharper than my 28-90/2.8-4.5.

Any comments about that? TIA.

[masjah]

I finally got one too.

Made in 1997 AFAIK, towards the high end of current eBay prices.

But a very nice copy.

Worth every penny.

I use it on my Sony A7r2 with IBIS and 42 MP.

From about f/4 on up it's sharp, did I say sharp!

Of course it's primarily a portrait lens.

But it's fantastic for landscape shots as well. :-)

 

BTW, I also added recently the Vario-R 35-70/4.

It seems sharper than my 28-90/2.8-4.5.

Any comments about that? TIA.

 

I've got the 28-90, and I actually think there is a bit of focus shift when zooming. You could see if it helps to make sure that you zoom to the dexired focal length and then fine tune you focus.

Edited November 11, 2015 by masjah

[k-hawinkler]

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I've got the 28-90, and I actually think there is a bit of focus shift when zooming. You could see if it helps to make sure that you zoom to the dexired focal length and then fine tune you focus.

 

Many thanks John.  Good point.

I always zoom first, then focus.

But I also like to focus wide open, then stop down.

I'll have to take a closer look at that.

Thanks again.

 

[masjah]

Many thanks John.  Good point.

I always zoom first, then focus.

But I also like to focus wide open, then stop down.

I'll have to take a closer look at that.

Thanks again.

 

I do the same because I use focus peaking with the lens on my M240, and it's more precise with less depth of field. I've never noticed a problem with focus shift related to changing aperture though.

[Paul-B]

Here's a review I wrote over at Steve Huff that includes my experiences of using the 80mm Summilux R, albeit on an M240. I compared it optically to Canon's 85mm f/1.2 and the very cheap Jupiter 85mm f/2. It forms the final part of the review of Canon and Leica systems.

[Locutus]

You're comparison review was actually a reason for me to get one.

[jip]

And I wrote about it as well of course

 

http://jipvankuijk.nl/summilux-r-80-leica-r8-m-typ-240/

 

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[Guest]

Here's a review I wrote over at Steve Huff that includes my experiences of using the 80mm Summilux R, albeit on an M240. I compared it optically to Canon's 85mm f/1.2 and the very cheap Jupiter 85mm f/2. It forms the final part of the review of Canon and Leica systems.

Many thanks, it was an interesting read. 

But I did not understand the differences between the 80mm Summilux-R and the Canon 1.2/85mm, both at 1.4. Or also the Canon at f:1.2

Could you please sum it up in a very few sentences, eventually with some example photos, taken at the same time of the same scene?

[Paul-B]

I'm not sure I fully understand your question but to my eye the Leica offers a softer rendition without sacrificing sharpness. The Canon lens seemed to give stronger contrast, especially around edges. This gives it the slightly crunchy look. The Leica seems to have smoother transitions between areas of different luminosity. That shoot was the only one I did with lenses. I've sold all my Canon gear now.

[Guest]

Might always get a FD 1.2/85 and adapt it onto your 240

[MarkP]

The 80/1.4 is the crown jewel fo the Leica R lenses. Close to the Noctilux f/1.0 look.

 

Not closer to the 1.4/75 Summilux-M look?

Although I do consider the 75 Summilux just a better corrected and slightly longer 1.0/50 Noctilux.

[jip]

Not closer to the 1.4/75 Summilux-M look?

Although I do consider the 75 Summilux just a better corrected and slightly longer 1.0/50 Noctilux.

 

The 75mm Summilux-M is the same lens design as the 80mm summilux so yeah they are more the same. 

[DG Hawkes]

I finally got one too.

Made in 1997 AFAIK, towards the high end of current eBay prices.

But a very nice copy.

Worth every penny.

I use it on my Sony A7r2 with IBIS and 42 MP.

From about f/4 on up it's sharp, did I say sharp!

Of course it's primarily a portrait lens.

But it's fantastic for landscape shots as well. :-)

 

BTW, I also added recently the Vario-R 35-70/4.

It seems sharper than my 28-90/2.8-4.5.

Any comments about that? TIA.

I'd love that to be true! As I've just got a really good copy - used for the first time today on a Sony A7Rii. It seems promising so far, definitely better than the 3.5 version I had which I didn't think was half bad at all in itself.

[jip]

Since someone was talking about the 35-70 F4 here's a shot with the R8, and that lens on FP4+ home developed in D76 3+1

 

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[k-hawinkler]

I'd love that to be true! As I've just got a really good copy - used for the first time today on a Sony A7Rii. It seems promising so far, definitely better than the 3.5 version I had which I didn't think was half bad at all in itself.

 

Here is an example shot from the Frey Trail at Bandelier National Monument

 

 

Sony A7r2 + Leica Vario-Elmar-R 35-70/4, displayed at 25% resolution, uncropped.  IIRC likely at 35 mm.

 

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[k-hawinkler]

Now an image taken with Sony A7r2 + Summilux-R 80/1.4.

 

This image is uncropped and displayed at 25% resolution.

 

Then I rotated the image and cropped a 1988x1988 pixel chunk out of it.

 

Obviously using an APO-Telyt-R 180/3.4 would have better filled out the frame with the Sandhill cranes.  Nevertheless the Summilux-R 80/1.4 did quite well IMHO.

 

Edited December 16, 2015 by k-hawinkler