Telephoto zoom for my Digilux 3

[conorbradshaw]

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I am considering purchasing one of the following lenses for my Digilux 3...

 

1) Leica R 80-200 f4 + adapter

2) Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200 f2.8-3.5

3) Sigma 70-200 f2.8 II EX

 

I am really interested to hear of any practical experience forum members have had in using any of these lenses on a Digilux 3 and would welcome any advice or comments you would be willing to pass on in this respect.

 

Obviously the Leica would be manual focus, stop down metering etc. but if the quality is better this would not be an issue for me... in fact, I feel that slowing down and becoming a bit more involved in the process might well be of benefit to my photography.

 

Any other options I should be considering in this focal range?

 

Thanks

CB

[ASpes]

I am considering purchasing one of the following lenses for my Digilux 3...

 

1) Leica R 80-200 f4 + adapter

2) Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200 f2.8-3.5

3) Sigma 70-200 f2.8 II EX

 

I am really interested to hear of any practical experience forum members have had in using any of these lenses on a Digilux 3 and would welcome any advice or comments you would be willing to pass on in this respect.

 

Obviously the Leica would be manual focus, stop down metering etc. but if the quality is better this would not be an issue for me... in fact, I feel that slowing down and becoming a bit more involved in the process might well be of benefit to my photography.

 

Any other options I should be considering in this focal range?

 

Thanks

CB

 

Hi Conor,

 

sorry for the late reply, but as it seems it's better than nothing ...

 

1) I do not use manual lenses, too slow and cumbersome in use for me, really not my cup of tea, but many others in this forum do use them on their D/3, so let's hope they'll chime in.

 

3) at Sigma they make good lenses but are known for not having the best of QC, so your satisfaction might depend on the sample you happen to get.

 

2) the Oly 50-200 lens is what I recommend in your list, both for its high optical quality and for its handling, which is good, though the lens is not that small.

Might be worth to look for the older non-SWD version, should be cheaper, as the D/3 will not get any advantage from the faster focus offered by the SWD feature.

 

Given the price and focal range, though it's a bit shorter, you could also take into account the Pana/Leica 14-150, which is optically outstanding and close to the kit lens in size, and has the aperture ring just like it. Its brightness makes it best in good daylight, but, last but not least, it's stabilised, while no Oly lens is. Quite a few pictures in my 2009 gallery are made with this lens on the D/3, if you have time to browse.

 

I have both the Oly and the P/L, hard to suggest one over the other without knowing your possible use.

Let's say that the P/L is the perfect walkabout lens, and that both lenses have high optical quality, though the Oly has somewhat the edge on this, is brighter, has a longer reach, but, as i said, it's fairly bigger and heavier than the P/L. Anyway this depends on what you're used to, my Oly 35-100/f2 makes the 50-200 look rather small in comparison, and the P/L almost like a pocket lens ...

 

Hope this helps.

[farnz]

Conor,

 

I don't have a Diglux 3 but I often use the 80-200 f/4 Vario-Elmar-R in stop down mode on my 5D2 and it produces excellent results wide open and with its sweet-spot at f/5.6. Stop down mode isn't everyone's cup of tea but provided that you accept that you'll have to take your time and use it accordingly then it's fine.

 

The 80-200 is quite light for what it is (compare it against the leaden 70-180 f2.8 APO-Vario-Elmarit-R for example) and has just about the right length of throw for both focus and zoom.

 

It's supposed to be much sharper than the 80-200 f/4.5 or the 75-200 f/4.5 - I can't help because I haven't used those two lenses. I've heard the 80-200 f/4 called the best non-APO zoom ever produced but perhaps you can take that with a pinch of salt since everyone has their favourites. There's no denying that it's very good and very under-priced at the moment.

 

Pete.

[conorbradshaw]

Thanks ASpes, Pete for your repsponses.

 

ASpes, yes I think the Oly is a very nice lens, but I've bitten the bulllet and ordered a late copy R 80-200 (with, as it happens, ROM contacts, which will of course be unused on the Digilux 3)..

 

I have the kit 14-50 and the Pana D Summilux lenses so thought I'd give something a bit different a try and see it the results / experience overcome the lack of auto-focus / immediacy etc.

At the very least I'll have the benefit of personal experience and won't be depending on guys like you giving me the benefit of yours.

 

Once I've had a few weeks to get to grips with it I'll come back to the thread and

post my experiences, in case they are useful to anyone else considering this combination.

 

Thanks again guys.