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

[algrove]

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I was looking at RRS clamps for the life of me I could not figure which one would work for this lens or any other R lens.

[robsteve]

I was looking at RRS clamps for the life of me I could not figure which one would work for this lens or any other R lens.

 

You should be fine with the smaller B76 RRS plate and a good ball head like you have. I have been using mine that way for years and my shots are sharp. In addition, with the small plate attached , it will fit in the Leica leather case that came with the lens.

 

Since I am about to pack the 105-280mm to go off to Leica NJ tomorrow for a CLA, I took the time to get a photo of it on a M. It is mounted to a M7, but with this combo the RRS BH40 only needs the slightest pressure to keep the lens from moving. It is a very well balanced setup and a bigger plate would be superfluous. I will post a photo of the rig in this thread in a few minutes.

 

Here is the photo. To have it perfectly balanced with a M7, the plate needed to be about 10mm ahead of centered on the ball head clamp. With it centered on the ball head clamp, there was somewhere from 200-400g of weight if I put a little scale under the camera base. Even with it not balanced, the BH-40 required very little tension to stop the combo from moving.

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[jaapv]

Well, Santa arrived with a 105-280 for me. After I got over the shock of how darn heavy it is, I began to realize why so many talked about stabilizing it for shooting.

 

Now I would need like 15 bean bags in the wild in a vehicle and for a tripod I think the Tour d'Eiffel would do just fine. In all seriousness I do believe Phocus's setup seems a very good approach for tripod use and I will try an RRS long tripod support setup soon.

Get a bit of muscle training in I normally shoot it handheld or just a beanbag (or a folded hat ) Somehow I think the concept of a zoom lens is more suited to the dynamism of freehand shooting whereas the more static tripod style would make me reach for a prime.

[topoxforddoc]

I bet that it’s a really balanced set up on a R9/DMR. I always hand hold my DMRs even with a 180/2 summicron; that gets regularly used at 1/60th or even 1/30th in the photographers pit at concerts. They are heavy, but use them regularly and suddenly they feel lighter!

[jaapv]

It balances excellently on the DMR, Charlie, even with an 1.4x or 2x extender on.

[algrove]

Well, I will be at Sebring the end of this month and plan to take it and all the R lenses I can fit into a roll on Pelican case. Want to take the 70-180 too. Will leave the 180/2.0 and 280/2.8 at home I believe, but might take the 280/4 if it will fit with the zooms.

 

Heck, I just might take a bigger vehicle and take the whole cupboard!

[phocus.org]

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Manfred- Which QR plate are we looking at in the photos? Thanks.

 

It's a plate from Hejnar Photo (Bloomingdale/IL). They are as precise as it can get and feature a very 'hand-flattering' finishing.

[naturephoto1]

Hejnar rails and other products are available both on ebay:

 

hejnar in Lenses & Filters | eBay

 

and from Chirs' website:

 

Hejnar Photo Store, Serving Your Professional Photography Needs

 

Chris' products are well made and less expensive than RRS. But, at least until recently they are/were not made to the finish of RRS plates, clamps an rails.

 

Rich

[Rick]

Just thought I'd check back in and make a couple of comments on the 105-280 lens I purchased a few months ago and showed a picture of in post #58.

 

As I stated on that post I bought the lens in part because jaapv has raved about what a useful range the lens has and that the optics are very close to the APO telys.

 

I took this lens with me to Whistler BC along with the smaller 280/f4.0 and I even lugged the 280/f2.8 with me. I found that for what I was shooting the the 280 lenses were too long and not anywhere as versatile as the 105-280. I very much agree with jaapv that although the 280/f4.0 is an incredible optic, it is difficult to justify dragging it along when the almost equally great optic of the 105-280 is available. Certainly for travel the 105-280 would be the choice for an all around tely with incredible optics.

 

The 280/f4.0 is a stunning optic for anyone fortunate to own. And, the 280/f2.8 is almost as amazing of an optic and the f2.8 fills a use. But, I would have to say that if I keep just one (will decide for sure once I get the M), it will be the 105-280. It is better than good enough. It is an amazing optic and the versatility makes it the take-along lens for me. If, you can find one (Leica made about 1,500?) I'd recommend it if, the price is reasonable.

[naturephoto1]

Just thought I'd check back in and make a couple of comments on the 105-280 lens I purchased a few months ago and showed a picture of in post #58.

 

As I stated on that post I bought the lens in part because jaapv has raved about what a useful range the lens has and that the optics are very close to the APO telys.

 

I took this lens with me to Whistler BC along with the smaller 280/f4.0 and I even lugged the 280/f2.8 with me. I found that for what I was shooting the the 280 lenses were too long and not anywhere as versatile as the 105-280. I very much agree with jaapv that although the 280/f4.0 is an incredible optic, it is difficult to justify dragging it along when the almost equally great optic of the 105-280 is available. Certainly for travel the 105-280 would be the choice for an all around tely with incredible optics.

 

The 280/f4.0 is a stunning optic for anyone fortunate to own. And, the 280/f2.8 is almost as amazing of an optic and the f2.8 fills a use. But, I would have to say that if I keep just one (will decide for sure once I get the M), it will be the 105-280. It is better than good enough. It is an amazing optic and the versatility makes it the take-along lens for me. If, you can find one (Leica made about 1,500?) I'd recommend it if, the price is reasonable.

 

For me and to have options of a smaller and lighter package though perhaps not as good a performer, I think that I will use my f4 80-200mm Vario Elmar and to carry my f4 280 Apo Telyt lens when I can and when I feel I have a need. With the f4 280 Apo it offers me fine usage with the 1.4X and 2X Apo extenders for landscape and wildlife shooting. In those instances when needed for low light I will carry my f2.8 280 Apo. I wil have to compare the performance of my "new" f4 80-200 Vario Elmar with my old f4 70-210 Vario Elmar. My older lens is pretty sharp. It is also a one touch zoom and much lighter than the f4 Vario Elmar lens. If I need a faster operating and still a lighter package, I would probably opt to carry the f4 70-210 Vario Elmar.

 

Rich

[algrove]

I can only use my R lenses with a GXR for the time being as programming a chip for R lens use on a 5D MarkIII is a royal pain, for me.

 

But whenever I can use them in earnest I am contemplating the APO 70-105 combined with the non-APO 105-280. I am armed with both APO 1.4x and 2x tele-extenders and look forward to trying them as well.

 

Rick-Did you try any converter on the 105-280 yet?

[steveclem]

Quick question for anyone; is the 105-280 a Minolta collaboration or just the 80-200 and 28-70?

[wildlightphoto]

Quick question for anyone; is the 105-280 a Minolta collaboration or just the 80-200 and 28-70?

 

The minolta zoom lenses are the 35-70mm f/3.5, 80-200mm f/4.5, 75-200mm f/4.5 and 70-210mm f/4. The 105-280mm is a Leica lens, the 80-200mm f/4 is a Leica design made by Kyocera and I believe the 28-70mm is a Sigma lens.

[robsteve]

Quick question for anyone; is the 105-280 a Minolta collaboration or just the 80-200 and 28-70?

 

As Doug noted, the Minolta lenses are typically from the 1980's, not the current crop of zooms that I think started in about 1996. In addition to his noted lenses, the current 34-70mm f4 is a Leica designed, Kyocera made lens.

 

The 28-70mm, latest version, is still the same optical design from Sigma, but I believe it was made by Kyocera. The later mechanical construction is much better than the earlier model.

[algrove]

Rob-Did you get notice that your 105-280 is being repaired in Solms?

[algrove]

For me and to have options of a smaller and lighter package though perhaps not as good a performer, I think that I will use my f4 80-200mm Vario Elmar and to carry my f4 280 Apo Telyt lens when I can and when I feel I have a need. With the f4 280 Apo it offers me fine usage with the 1.4X and 2X Apo extenders for landscape and wildlife shooting. In those instances when needed for low light I will carry my f2.8 280 Apo. I wil have to compare the performance of my "new" f4 80-200 Vario Elmar with my old f4 70-210 Vario Elmar. My older lens is pretty sharp. It is also a one touch zoom and much lighter than the f4 Vario Elmar lens. If I need a faster operating and still a lighter package, I would probably opt to carry the f4 70-210 Vario Elmar.

 

Rich

 

After rereading your post as well as many others RickLeica included, I have decided not to sell my as yet unused 70-210. After receiving an M-240 I will then decide. Let's trust I can decide this year!

[naturephoto1]

After rereading your post as well as many others RickLeica included, I have decided not to sell my as yet unused 70-210. After receiving an M-240 I will then decide. Let's trust I can decide this year!

 

Here are some images that I took with the f4 70-210 Vario Elmar in October at Mount Rainier NP with my Lumix G1 which was the first of the M 4/3 cameras and only 12.1 megapixels from the Fred Miranda site (I am restricted for the size posting here:

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/ufiles/49/773249.jpg

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/ufiles/50/773250.jpg

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/ufiles/51/773251.jpg

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/ufiles/52/773252.jpg

 

Rich

[algrove]

So let's see. We have a GF1 (12MP) and a 4/3 to M adapter and an M to R adapter. So I must try it then. Thanks for waking me up. Very nice winter shots BTW.

[robsteve]

Rob-Did you get notice that your 105-280 is being repaired in Solms?

 

Yes, they sent me the quote a while back. Looks like they are doing a full strip down and CLA. How did you know? Are you in Solms or talking to Leica NJ about work on your 105-280mm?

 

My 400mm F2.8 is also in Solms getting a CLA too.

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[algrove]

Yes, they sent me the quote a while back. Looks like they are doing a full strip down and CLA. How did you know? Are you in Solms or talking to Leica NJ about work on your 105-280mm?

 

My 400mm F2.8 is also in Solms getting a CLA too.

 

Rob-Solms is too cold for me this time of year. Guess my timing was right. I have sent in a 280/2.8 to have CLA'd. Do not know if they send it to Solms or do that in NJ.