M with R lenses. Anyone using any 70-200 type lenses?

[Dannybuoy]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Is anyone out there using their M with any R lenses and would you be able to share your experiences? I'm thinking about a 70-200 type lens to replace my Canon 70-200. I'm going 'one system' and selling all my Canon gear. I'd like to still be able to shooting weddings with a zoom for those ring-on-finger moments. I imagine focussing at 200 would require the skill of a ninja but I may be wrong. Can't seem to find any samples or webpages with any opinions. Would be great so see some samples and hear any feed back of anyone is using any R lenses. Cheers

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaapv]

I am using the 105-280, does that count? I have to dial the focus aid down to 5x when using handheld for stability, especially with the 1.4x apoextender, but it is easy to focus due to the high contrast, narrow DOF and focus peaking. Still shooting the combo in in, but I will post when I have some decent results subjectwise.

[johnbuckley]

I have spent the summer using the Vario-Elmar-R 80-200. I think it is a fantastic lens, and I have greatly enjoyed using it with a cheap R-M adaptor. I am really looking forward to Leica finally releasing the official adaptor, but it has worked quite well. Using it with the EVF has been mostly problem free -- since I've been using it mostly to shoot animals at medium to long distance (bison, moose, etc. in Jackson Hole), I've been slightly frustrated with the focus peaking being inconsistent. But that's a minor complaint.

 

Jaap is right about the focusing at 200 being a little difficult handheld. This is where having the damn grip which was announced 11.5 months ago but is still not available would have been so helpful...

 

If you click on the Zenfolio link below, and go to the Jackson Hole gallery, I think several of the first dozen images were taken with this kit.

 

Does this help?

 

Update: just checked: in that gallery the first, third, fourth, and 10th images were taken with that lens.

[algrove]

Danyy-I have posted images from way back in March or April using various R lenses on the M. Take a look at many images from me and others which Jaap started with some of my images.

 

.http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/other/275160-m-photos-r-lenses-open-all.html

[k-hawinkler]

The Leica Vario-Elmar-R 1:4/80-200 is the longest R lens I can still shoot handheld on a Sony NEX-7.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/nature-wildlife/272145-house-finch-color-matched.html

[jaapv]

That is because it has no balance. I can shoot up to 560 handheld in good light.

[k-hawinkler]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

You got me beat there.

But I have no problem with AF and In-Body-Image-Stabilization IBIS on an OMD with 300 mm focal length FL.

That's effectively a virtual field of view of 600 mm FL for 135 film, taking the crop factor of 2x into account.

[sillbeers15]

The 80-200mm Vario Elmar R is a great lens for handheld (certainly with more aid of handgrip when it becomes available) shots when I lock the ISO at 800, see example below:

Butterfly-2 by sillbeers15

 

For auto ISO, I fall back to my APO 180mm Elmarit R, again on handheld shooting, example:

L1007701-1 by sillbeers15

[wlaidlaw]

Another vote for the 80-200/f4. I have one beef - where on earth is the R to M adapter. However given the prices good examples of this lens are now fetching, I am considering changing to the equally good Contax 80-200/f4 and putting the change in my pocket. I already use other Contax lenses so I have a pair of Contax to Leica M adapters.

 

Wilson

[Rick]

I am using the 105-280, does that count? I have to dial the focus aid down to 5x when using handheld for stability, especially with the 1.4x apoextender, but it is easy to focus due to the high contrast, narrow DOF and focus peaking. Still shooting the combo in in, but I will post when I have some decent results subjectwise.

 

Ditto. I bought this on jaapv's recommendation over the years. Very nice lens. These R lenses are great on the M.

[k-hawinkler]

The 105-280/4.2 is a great lens indeed and I use it on tripod with NEX-7 and OM-D E-M5.

Same as the APO 280/4. In order to focus these lenses as best as I can a tripod is required.

The final focus adjustment seems to require a very gentle and minute twist.

 

Of course I am looking forward using these and other R lenses on my M if and when it finally shows up.

But having waited this long I don't mind waiting a little longer in order to find out first what the talked about FW update will bring.

 

Luckily there are other cameras available one can use R lenses on without modification.

In fact, all my R lenses have seen quite a bit of use lately albeit on non-Leica cameras.

I don't think that will change once I have the M.

Although I have APO extenders, I prefer using crop sensor cameras for extra reach.

Also the above mentioned cameras don't seem to have the same EVF limitations as the M.

 

One more thing.

An FF camera would need to have around 57 to 58 MP to match the per pixel resolution of the NEX-7.

So when a large field of view is less but greater resolution is more important the NEX-7 is my goto camera.

A good compromise.

 

The OM-D E-M5 has about 4% to 5% more linear per pixel resolution but less field of view.

It's a wonderful walk around camera for longer lenses as it has In-Body-Image-Stabilization IBIS.

Also, it provides the opportunity to experience Leica R and M lenses with IBIS image stabilization and seems to work very well.

 

Of course, in the 28-90 mm focal length a black rangefinder M9 is currently my preferred manual focus camera, hopefully soon joined by a silver M240.