The best R glass

[biglouis]

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I've now almost divested myself of my M8 kit. I am idly wondering about possibly building a small kit around a Nikon D700 using Leica R glass. What lenses in the 21-90mm focal length range are considered good lenses?

 

LouisB

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Louis,

 

Prime lenses

The 80 lux is my favourite R lens in that focal range. The best value is the good old 50 cron, which is an amazing performer for the money. The 35 lux is excellent, but loads of money. The 90 cron is good too.

 

Zoom lenses

35-70/4 is great value for money. Bothe the 21-35 asph and 28-90 asph are brilliant

[mmradman]

From own experience, all easy to leitax, OK 60mm is bit more difficult.

 

28mm f2.8 V2 (with integral lens hood)

Macro 60mm f2.8

80mm f1.4

Macro 100mm f2.8

 

Also 35mm f1.4 but will require invasive surgery to fit onto D700 as explained on http://www.Leitax.com, thinking about doing it.

[Guest]

I've now almost divested myself of my M8 kit. I am idly wondering about possibly building a small kit around a Nikon D700 using Leica R glass. What lenses in the 21-90mm focal length range are considered good lenses?

 

LouisB

 

Nikon 24-70 and the new f:1.4 G lenses of 24mm, 35mm and 85mm are at least on par with R lenses imo.

I second the suggestion for the R 2/50mm, which is an excellent return on investment.

Looks like the R Summiluxes of 35mm & 80mm and lately the one of 50mm too, still go through a phase of shilling.

 

Modern Canicon top glass is where R was ten years ago. Example: since the Canon 2.8 / 70-200mm IS version II is on the market prices for the R 2.8 / 70-180mm have cooled off.

[IWC Doppel]

Buy a used M9

[biglouis]

Thanks for all the responses. For the price of a used M9 I can have a lot more down this route and probably still have money left over.

 

LouisB

[andyedward]

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From own experience, all easy to leitax, OK 60mm is bit more difficult.

 

28mm f2.8 V2 (with integral lens hood)

Macro 60mm f2.8

80mm f1.4

Macro 100mm f2.8

 

Also 35mm f1.4 but will require invasive surgery to fit onto D700 as explained on www.Leitax.com, thinking about doing it.

 

I gave up on my nikon dslr partly because at the time I wasn't aware of the 35/1.4 R fix for nikon, but given the delicate work involved, as well as MTF and curvature graphs for the 35/1.4 R, I'd be inclined to go for the 35/1.4 M. I realise theres more to a lens than graphs, but the price of the R doesnt help either! I guess using a dslr has some benefits, though

[andybarton]

If the R-solution comes this September, now is the time I buy your lenses. I've noticed that the really good stuff, such as the 80 Summilux-R have gone mad price-wise in last 12 months.

[ddp]

I had a 90 Elmarit when I owned the R system...and I was very happy with the results from such a "cheap" lens. This was really a nice performer. I was lucky enough to snag a 180 Summicron at that time - that lens was incredible. A beast to be sure, but outstanding.

[andybarton]

I have a mid-70s 90 Summicron-R which is fabulously sharp and it goes really well with the 60 Macro-Elmarit-R and 28 Elmarit-R on the D700

 

I wish I'd bought an 80 Summilux-R when I'd had the chance.

[mmradman]

I gave up on my nikon dslr partly because at the time I wasn't aware of the 35/1.4 R fix for nikon, but given the delicate work involved, as well as MTF and curvature graphs for the 35/1.4 R, I'd be inclined to go for the 35/1.4 M. I realise theres more to a lens than graphs, but the price of the R doesnt help either! I guess using a dslr has some benefits, though

 

R35mm f1.4 fix for Nikon F is very recent, still high risk surgery. Sony Alpha 850/900 is/was only FF DSLR solution for awkward wides.

 

In terms of CanNikon catching up with Leica in terms of quality of recent DSLR lenses it may be so but I believe current R lenses will outlive all new plastic wonders. If you can live without AF or VR/IS better manual focus R lenses are without equal for 135 format.

[lct]

...What lenses in the 21-90mm focal length range are considered good lenses?...

- 21/4: not for me

- 24/2.8: last version (11331)

- 28/2.8: last and previous version (11259 - 11333)

- 35/2: Yes

- 35/2.8: Yes

- 50/1.4: No experience sorry

- 50/2: Yes

- 60/2.8: Yes

- 80/1.4: No experience

- 90/2 apo: Yes

- 90/2 pre-apo: Yes

- 90/2.8: Yes

[sarav]

Elmarit-R 28/2.8 V2 (the one with built-in hood) outstanding!

Summicron-R 50/2 outstanding!

APO-Summicron-R 90/2 ASPH outrageous!!! :-)

 

These three lenses are quite small, not heavy, and cover very well the wideangle/short-tele range. Performances are second to...none...maybe.

 

For an intimistic way of shooting I do suggest Elmarit-R 19/2.8 (2nd), Summilux-R 35/1.4, Summilux-R 80/1.4....and maybe an Elmarit-R 135/2.8.....Perfect!

 

You won't miss the shot :-)

 

 

Sara

[masjah]

Louis, just to point out that, if you are seriously interested in architectural photography, there is the Leica 28/2.8 PC Super Angulon, which you should not buy. The reason is that it was made by Schneider for Leica, and it is available as a Schneider lens actually in an original Nikon version, priced, needless to say, rather less than the Leica badged variant.

[MarkP]

I have the opportunity of getting mint/unused with the original boxes & papers:

Elmarit-R 2.8/24 11221 and Macro-Elmar-R 4/100 for ~$600 each.

 

I have no experience with these two lenses.

Can anyone please advise?

[lct]

Beware that unused lenses this vintage may have stiff focus rings. Otherwise i would not pay $600 for the first version of the Elmarit-R 24/2.8 (# 11121, 1974 - 1990) which is a Minolta designed lens far from being as good as its M counterparts.

[MarkP]

Beware that unused lenses this vintage may have stiff focus rings. Otherwise i would not pay $600 for the first version of the Elmarit-R 24/2.8 (# 11121, 1974 - 1990) which is a Minolta designed lens far from being as good as its M counterparts.

 

Thanks for the advice

[pgk]

I have the opportunity of getting mint/unused with the original boxes & papers:

Elmarit-R 2.8/24 11221 and Macro-Elmar-R 4/100 for ~$600 each.

 

I have no experience with these two lenses.

Can anyone please advise?

You can get buy 100/4 Macro for low prices because it is outclassed by the later apo version. Its not a lens which I would personally buy although the price is probably reasonable enough (I suppose) for a mint/unused copy.

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[pgk]

What lenses in the 21-90mm focal length range are considered good lenses?

I currently have the last 80-200/4 built by Kyocera to a Leica design. This is a fabulous lens although outside your 'wants' focal lengths. But my reason for posting is that I have had various other R lenses which I have used on my Canons and most have been very good (the 80/1.4 is dodgy wide open but that's why some people like it, the 60 macro is stunning, the 19mm (older version) flares chronically, the 35/2.8 suffers from softer corners wide open than I would like. But mostly they yield excellent images. However I have a love/hate relationship with having to use them stopped down and on balance this has made me sell most of them. Even now, despite its superb optics, the 80-200 is a pain to use - although on a tripod with live view all is forgiven - and whether it will stay is debatable.

 

My advice to someone who has not used R glass on a Nikon/Canon/whatever is to first buy the cheapest lens on the wants list and try it far a while to see if this way of working is acceptable.

[AB007]

Couple of weeks back, I had the opportunity to buy a 90/2 APO R at a reasonable price from Adorama but I didn't so I am quite upset.

 

Anyway, I use 50/2, 80/1.4, 90/2 and 90/2.8 within the range you are looking for. I love those lenses. However, I would not ignore the 100/2.8 APO which is outstanding.