Rate R telephoto lenses from best downward excluding module from your own experiences

[naturephoto1]

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It's the diameter to get f 2.0. It is heavy, but as with all my long R lenses I use RRS QR plates on the tripod mount and it balances nicely just like the 105-280 or 70-180. It just shows you do not need a large camera body to take images. Now it's just that I must take good images which has nothing to do with camera or lens.

 

IMHO these lenses make the FP feature combined with the EVF the right choices for using these lovely lenses.

 

Wait til I get my 280/2.8 back from a Solms CLA tomorrow and then we will really know what BIG is.

 

I have both the 280mm f2.8 Apo Telyt that I purchased in 1986 and the 280mm f4 Apo Telyt that I purchased toward the end of last year. So, I know and appreciate the size of some of the stellar performing R telephoto lenses. Additionally, I still have my 560mm f6.8 lens which was re-balanced that I purchased in the mid 80s.

 

I also have the RRS 97L QR plates on both 280mm lenses. For the time being my R lenses make their home on my Fujifilm X-E1. The M240 just had too many limitations for my needs (including non scrolling usage of the EVF). So, I am still waiting for a different FF option.

 

Rich

[topoxforddoc]

I know this is not long like a 280 R lens, but this beauty is formidable non the less.

 

R180/2.0 Summicron with new M

 

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Problem with the new M is that you can’t really hand hold large lenses like the 180/2. The position of the the shutter release button on the top plate makes it hard to shoot this wonderful lens handheld. The 180/2 on the DMR is a different beast, as it is well balanced and pretty easy to shoot hand held, both in landscape and portrait mode (the bottom shutter release on the DMR is a great boon).

 

Having seen this M240 set-up, I am more determined than ever to keep my DMRs going. I can’t see me shooting like that from the photographers’ pit at a rock concert. Here’s a DMR shot from a Macy Gray gig with the 180/2, which is my all time favourite lens (thanks to Guy Mancuso, who inspired me to buy one of these beauts a few years ago)

 

Charlie

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[algrove]

Rich-Must agree the EVF situation and the fixed center magnification are disappointing considering how many years P&S cameras including PanLeicas have had this feature for years.

 

I was trying these lenses out on a GXR+M mount, but wanted a FF camera that would work for both R and M lenses.

[anabasis]

I'll break the OP's rules here.

 

I love the 100 APO Elmarit and the 180 APO Summicron. Both fantastic lenses. I also love my 90mm Summicron.

 

The 400 f4 Module combination is great. The 560 f4 shows some CA in my slides. The 280 and fast 400 are very good as well. The 800mm is a bit slow but offers great IQ (better than Nikon's AIS version). I've never used the 600 f5.6 in the field.

 

I've never shot these on digital, so we will have to see what happens when I eventually get a digital solution.

 

JCA

[algrove]

No complaints. Love the APO180/2 also and the APO 100, but have far too little use to give worthwhile input so far. Did you see my thread-R lenses on M? It got moved over to photos some where. Sorry, but I now see it down the list under R subjects.

 

Love the APO 180/2.8 for its size and therefore ease of use. But here I go breaking my own rules!

[algrove]

After recent trips from this year the APO 70-180 is right up there. I do not travel with the 280/2.8, 280/4 nor 180/2. Second on my favorite list is the 28-90. Third on my list is the 15/2.8. THANK YOU Novoflex for selling an adapter that allowed me to use these since if I waited for Leica I could still not use any R lens on my M240.

[algrove]

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So I guess there are not too many using R lenses on their M's since they are waiting for the "any month now" Leica R-M adapter.

[jaapv]

Problem with the new M is that you can’t really hand hold large lenses like the 180/2. The position of the the shutter release button on the top plate makes it hard to shoot this wonderful lens handheld. The 180/2 on the DMR is a different beast, as it is well balanced and pretty easy to shoot hand held, both in landscape and portrait mode (the bottom shutter release on the DMR is a great boon).

 

 

Charlie

I thick it depends on the shape and size of your hands, Charlie.I do not have a problem handholding long/heavy lenses on the M. Having said that, the DMR has the best ergonomics of any camera I know.

[sc_rufctr]

Problem with the new M is...

 

(the bottom shutter release on the DMR is a great boon).

 

Charlie

 

I find the bottom shutter release prefect for use when mounted on a tripod.

Because it's close to the base it also minimises the risk of moving the camera.

[AbbeyFoto]

So I guess there are not too many using R lenses on their M's since they are waiting for the "any month now" Leica R-M adapter.

 

My Novoflex adapter arrived yesterday. I must say the 21-35 and 28-90 feel comfortable enough hand held while the 280/f4 felt more at home on a tripod - not tried Doug's mono-rifle-triped combination :-) - but the 280 images warm my heart. I am not convinced the new M will make the DMR or Canon or Leitax solutions obsolete but it is an intriguing cross breed camera.

[algrove]

My Novoflex adapter arrived yesterday. I must say the 21-35 and 28-90 feel comfortable enough hand held while the 280/f4 felt more at home on a tripod - not tried Doug's mono-rifle-triped combination :-) - but the 280 images warm my heart. I am not convinced the new M will make the DMR or Canon or Leitax solutions obsolete but it is an intriguing cross breed camera.

 

Agree, it's just such a joy to be able to use them.

[wlaidlaw]

I find I can hand hold a 28-85 lens with no problem on the M240. My 80-200/f4 Vario Elmar-R is more of a challenge hand held, particularly at or near 200mm in anything other than bright sunlight. I find it is much easier on my Olympus EP-5, with its 5 axis image stabilisation, although its iteration of focus peaking is nothing like as accurate as the M240’s. The 80-200 is a good lens on the M240 but you can see a tiny bit of barrel distortion at the shorter lengths, which goes to about zero around 140mm, transferring to a trace of pincushion above that. The lens is crisper at 80 than it is at 200. For this reason, I am thinking of selling it and getting the Zeiss Contax 100-300 Vario Sonnar, which is better at the longer lengths.

 

Wilson

[algrove]

I find I can hand hold a 28-85 lens with no problem on the M240. My 80-200/f4 Vario Elmar-R is more of a challenge hand held, particularly at or near 200mm in anything other than bright sunlight. I find it is much easier on my Olympus EP-5, with its 5 axis image stabilisation, although its iteration of focus peaking is nothing like as accurate as the M240’s. The 80-200 is a good lens on the M240 but you can see a tiny bit of barrel distortion at the shorter lengths, which goes to about zero around 140mm, transferring to a trace of pincushion above that. The lens is crisper at 80 than it is at 200. For this reason, I am thinking of selling it and getting the Zeiss Contax 100-300 Vario Sonnar, which is better at the longer lengths.

 

Wilson

 

Interesting idea. I remember the Jono likes the Contax 35-70 on his M's if I recall correctly.

 

I find the twin barrels of the 80-200 disturbs me sometime when hand holding-one to focus and one to zoom. For that reason alone I find the 75-210 easier to hand hold and focus/zoom with one barrel.

[wlaidlaw]

Interesting idea. I remember the Jono likes the Contax 35-70 on his M's if I recall correctly.

 

I find the twin barrels of the 80-200 disturbs me sometime when hand holding-one to focus and one to zoom. For that reason alone I find the 75-210 easier to hand hold and focus/zoom with one barrel.

 

Lou,

 

That is another reason for changing to the Contax 100-300 lens from the Leica 80-200. I have become re-accustomed to using the one touch trombone zoom/focus on my Contax 28-85/3.3 on the M240. The only problems with these lenses is that the system tends to suck dust into the lens and the slightest rough handling can spoil the parafocal abilities of the lens (stays in focus perfectly as you zoom). For that reason, I would never take a Contax zoom lens with me on one of the classic car rallies I do, where inevitably, the camera will get bumped around somewhat. It is a very fiddly job to readjust this with the set screws under the rubber focus barrel cover, which is glued down (best left to an expert with an optical bench).

 

Wilson

[JeTexas]

I just recently entered the world of telephoto lenses.

 

Right now I have a 400mm f6.8 with the shoulder stock, and a 280mm f2.8 APO.

 

I'm very tempted to sell the 400mm and replace it with either the 1.4x or 2x extender. However, my only experience with extenders has been with my old Canon FD series cameras, and they really softened the photos and added purple/green fringing.

 

How much is an APO extender going to soften the 280mm? Since it's Leica engineering, am I going to be amazed at the results and sharpness or do Leica extenders tend to dull the image just like any other extender?

[woorob]

I have the 280 mm F2 .8 and the Leica 1.4 APO extender. The combination produces excellent results, virtually indistinguishable in terms of acuity as compared to the prime lens only.

 

Although I did own the 400 mm Telyt at one point in time, I no longer have the lens and thus cannot compare the two directly. However, I would be surprised if the 400 mm F6 .8 surpasses the quality of the 280 with 1.4 extender. It's a great lens, though, and much lighter (as you know) than the 280.

 

Hope this helps!

[dkCambridgeshire]

I just recently entered the world of telephoto lenses.

 

Right now I have a 400mm f6.8 with the shoulder stock, and a 280mm f2.8 APO.

 

I'm very tempted to sell the 400mm and replace it with either the 1.4x or 2x extender. However, my only experience with extenders has been with my old Canon FD series cameras, and they really softened the photos and added purple/green fringing.

 

How much is an APO extender going to soften the 280mm? Since it's Leica engineering, am I going to be amazed at the results and sharpness or do Leica extenders tend to dull the image just like any other extender?

 

The three 1970s Canon FD Extenders, i.e., FD 1.4X-A , FD 2X-A and FD 2X-B date are known to be 'reasonable' rather than really excellent performers; I recall that photo journalists were often critical of them. The only photographer who seemed to praise the Canon FD extenders was Victor Blackman … but I recall reading in Amateur Photographer magazine in his weekly double page spread (in which he over-praised all things Canon FD) that the humble Canon FD 50mm f1.8 was the best standard lens he'd ever used

 

The Leitz/Leica Apo Extender 1.4x and Apo Extender 2x are designed to maintain the apochromatic qualities of Leica's prime apochromatic lenses … in fact the Apo Extender 1.4x was designed specifically for the Apo-Telyt R 280mm.

 

Try before you buy and you should experience a much better result with the Leitz and Leica apo extenders.

 

dunk

[JeTexas]

I appreciate the feedback.

 

Hiking with both lenses is too much to carry, and while the 280mm is heavier, it seems like a lot less bulk with more versatility and better results if I sell/trade the 400mm for an extender.

[wildlightphoto]

... you should experience a much better result with the Leitz and Leica apo extenders.

 

I agree. I'm using the 1.4x and 2x APO extenders with the 280mm f/4 APO. I see no significant image quality loss with the 1.4x APO, no color fringes, no softness, nada. With the 2x APO I see very slight image softness and slight color fringes in the DMR's corners when used with the 280mm f/4 APO, but not a problem for 16" x 20" prints.

 

Hiking with both lenses is too much to carry, and while the 280mm is heavier, it seems like a lot less bulk with more versatility and better results if I sell/trade the 400mm for an extender.

 

That's how it worked out for me. I sold my 400mm f/6.8 because I always carry the 280mm f/4 APO and with the 1.4x APO extender its image quality was superior to the 400 in nearly all respects and the extender is much easier to carry than the 400.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[JeTexas]

Ok, so where does this lens rate?

 

Leitz Canada F Leica R 5 600 mm APO Telyt Prototype Unicum Lens | eBay