80-200/4 R vs 70-210/4 R

[masjah]

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A friend of mine has had two samples of the current 80-200/4 and two samples of the earlier (slide zoom) 70-210/4. In all cases he prefers the earlier lens, saying it is sharper, and snaps into focus in the viewfinder much more positively. Anyone have any views on this?

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[garyp]

I've never owned either lens, but this is opposite every other opinion I've ever heard

[andybarton]

I have a 75-200 f4.5 - the "Minolta" one. Is that the one you mean?

 

It's a great lens and stonking value for money.

[dhsimmonds]

I have the 80-200 F4 and apart from it's weight I have no complaints!

 

I have even used it with a 2xconverter. It works OK, but very slow then of course, definitely a tripod job!

[jc_braconi]

Hello,

I use the 80/200 on my R8 and I like the results I get with it, with the non rotating lens the use of a pol filter is very easy.

Cheers.

[topoxforddoc]

A friend of mine has had two samples of the current 80-200/4 and two samples of the earlier (slide zoom) 70-210/4. In all cases he prefers the earlier lens, saying it is sharper, and snaps into focus in the viewfinder much more positively. Anyone have any views on this?

 

John,

 

I have had two samples of the current 80-200/4 and they both seemed pretty good to me. I don't have any experience of the older lens. Certainly I have had no problems with focussing or image quality. Here's a couple of images shot on this lens at max 200 focal length wide open.

 

Charlie

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[brunom]

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John

 

I have the 70/210 and have to say it's a very good lens. Have a read of Puts' report of it in his compendium or the 7th ed . Leica lens book.

 

It's also great value and much lighter than the newer 80/200 lens, which is probably better, but in actual use ?

 

Bruno

[masjah]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

 

Gary, yes, that I guess is what is puzzling my friend

 

Andy, it's a 70-210/4, with a single grip slide-to zoom and turn to focus. My friend actually likes that particular action - only problem is that the front rotates when you focus, so not good with a polariser.

 

David, JC, Charlie, thanks for confirming the newer lens should be fine - I guess maybe my friend got a couple of duff samples?

 

Bruno, the quality of my friend's earlier lens clearly accords with your experience.

[cnguyen]

I never had good luck with the current 80-200mm. it's heavy and hard to hold it steady. The 70-210mm was ok with low contrast as I remebered. I 'm currently using primes for this range.

[stuny]

I've had superb results with the 80-200, both "naked" and with the 2X adaptor.

[stuny]

Here's an example of the 80-200 on an R8/DMR. A heavy rig, but steadier for it.

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[telyt]

I have not used the 70-210 zoom. What I like about the 80-200 f/4 aside from the image quality is the non-rotating front element, the solid contruction and the ability to use a rotating tripod collar. I use the lens with the tripod collar and shoulder stock (and often monpod) so that slow shutter speeds are much more usable.

 

This photo was made at full aperture with the 80-200 f/4 at 200mm along with the shoulder stock & monpod on an SL or SL2 on Provia 400F:

 

[yst]

I had many uses of both these two zooms, first was the 70-210, then the 80-200, both are good lenses, with different pro and con, though the 80-200 was a "better" lens with newer design and optic. Got many good images from those above lenses. However was never satisfied with either of those lenses, until the use of the 70-180/F2.8 APO, the very best zoom in that range.

[masjah]

Charles, Stuart, Doug, Yau-Sun

 

Many thanks for your comments. It's looking to me as if my friend might have a couple of off-colour samples of the later lens. (He's used Leica since he was a young man, is now in his 70's and an FRPS, so he's no slouch as a photographer!)

[Dave Murray]

The Leica 70-210 f4 lens superceded the 80-200mm f4.5 and 75-200mm  f4.5 lenses appeared in 1984 and was made until 1996. My sample is dated 1985 (3373000). Used with the Leica R8, of which I have three, used exclusively for portraits (mostly men) can vary the sharpness of the image similar to the old Leitz 90mm f2.2 Thambar lens. Indeed, in this respect, the Vario Elmar R exceeds the Nikon de-focus lens at a fifth of the price. From f4 to f11, the sharpness can be varied.  It’s not a Japanese lens, it’s a German lens. 
The collaboration with Minolta circa 1971-1996 had exceptions, the Leica R-E and R6 and R6.2 are examples. 
The R8 , like the Leicaflex trio are entirely German. The R9 is a slightly upgraded R8. The 70-210 f4 is an exceptionally good lens and well worth seeking out. I use mine exclusively for portraits and don’t bother with the 90mm f2.8, good as it is, it’s simply too sharp. 

[jaapv]

Made in Portugal and assembled in Germany. 😛 Do you realize that you are responding to a 15 year old thread? 

[charles tay]

Just reading this thread for R lens on new SL body