LeicaR10 Posted December 28, 2015 Share #1 Posted December 28, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am seeking users advice on the S 120mm lens as a landscape photography lens. There are lots of comments about the S 120mm for close up and portrait photography, but few on the lens being used for landscape photography. The reviewers state the lens is excellent for macro photography but few comment on its resolving capability for landscapes. My Leica dealer has repeatedly suggested the 180mm which I have owned in the past, but rarely used it. The dealer also suggested the 120mm and 100mm might not resolve enough for my type of fine art landscape photography. The 120mm according to Leica, is optimized for both infinity and close up. Anyone care to offer their experiences on the 120mm versus the 100mm or 180mm in landscape photography? Thank you for your advice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 28, 2015 Posted December 28, 2015 Hi LeicaR10, Take a look here Leica S 120mm for Landscape Photography. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
John McMaster Posted December 28, 2015 Share #2 Posted December 28, 2015 The 120mm macro is more than fine at infinity john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted December 28, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted December 28, 2015 John, Thanks for your advice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likaleica Posted December 28, 2015 Share #4 Posted December 28, 2015 Both 120 and 180 are incredible lenses for landscape. I would go with which lens gives you the POV you prefer. In my case, that's the 120. Both are razor sharp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted December 28, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted December 28, 2015 Tim, Thank you for advice. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted December 28, 2015 Share #6 Posted December 28, 2015 I suggest that the best resolution in practice is heavily dependant on the rest of your image chain as well. That is best possible technique and rigid support for example. I have largely used this lens in studio and not for any landscape but I have found it to be superb Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertknappmd Posted December 28, 2015 Share #7 Posted December 28, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Both the 120 and 180 are ideal landscape lenses... Albert :rolleyes: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/254893-leica-s-120mm-for-landscape-photography/?do=findComment&comment=2957589'>More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted December 28, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted December 28, 2015 I appreciate all the comments and advice so far on the 120mm. Would anyone have comments on the 100mm for landscape images? Plus I still find it a bit strange my Leica dealer/owner would suggest not buying the 120mm for landscape images. I don't know if it has anything to do with the lens motor issues on S lenses as he wouldn't tell me. IMO, I like the look of less compression of the 120mm. I appreciate any and all comments for this subject. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted December 28, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted December 28, 2015 Albert, Thanks for your advice. The image looks like a painting...superb! Which lens did you use to create this image? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted December 29, 2015 Share #10 Posted December 29, 2015 I appreciate all the comments and advice so far on the 120mm. Would anyone have comments on the 100mm for landscape images? Plus I still find it a bit strange my Leica dealer/owner would suggest not buying the 120mm for landscape images. I don't know if it has anything to do with the lens motor issues on S lenses as he wouldn't tell me. IMO, I like the look of less compression of the 120mm. I appreciate any and all comments for this subject. Thanks. I would be surprised if you noticed any compression effect difference between the 100 and the 120 on landscape images. For the 180 I guess it really depends on just what you are including in your composition (near and far objects for example). None of these focal lengths (and with the .8 "crop factor") are very telephoto in effect of course for landscapes. For frame filling head and shoulders portraits yes for certain they differ. Don't know about the 100 but Leica Camera just offered to loan me one in the New Year! As far as any AF motor fault developing, There have been some reports here. Leica Camera has stated that they will repair/replace any lens for free that develops this problem at no charge in or out of warranty. I just checked and I have 15,000 S camera exposures in 2014/15 (about 1550 with the 120 in last year) with no AF issue at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted December 29, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted December 29, 2015 Geoff, Thanks for your advice. Perhaps you will take Leica up on their offer for using the 100mm and see how it performs for landscapes and other suitable subjects. My two of three S lenses have not had an issue, only my new 45mm came to a grinding halt and that motor was just replaced by Leica. Right now, I use an S006, 70, 45 and 24. I have owned the 180 in the past, but I rarely used it and traded the lens for the 24. I found very little written any place by S photographers who have actually used the 120mm for landscapes. Lots of macro and portraits...but next to nothing for landscapes. Then the comment by the dealer telling me the 120 was not sharp enough at infinity like the 180. I thought it would be far better to ask the users what they think about the 120 based on use, not hearsay. Worst case, I get the 120 and see what it can do for landscapes. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVB Posted December 29, 2015 Share #12 Posted December 29, 2015 I am seeking users advice on the S 120mm lens as a landscape photography lens. There are lots of comments about the S 120mm for close up and portrait photography, but few on the lens being used for landscape photography. The reviewers state the lens is excellent for macro photography but few comment on its resolving capability for landscapes. My Leica dealer has repeatedly suggested the 180mm which I have owned in the past, but rarely used it. The dealer also suggested the 120mm and 100mm might not resolve enough for my type of fine art landscape photography. The 120mm according to Leica, is optimized for both infinity and close up. Anyone care to offer their experiences on the 120mm versus the 100mm or 180mm in landscape photography? Thank you for your advice. I've used it for landscape,its infinity performance is perfect,a stunning lens! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albireo_double Posted December 29, 2015 Share #13 Posted December 29, 2015 Don't worry. The 120 is plenty sharp for landscapes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertknappmd Posted December 29, 2015 Share #14 Posted December 29, 2015 the moonrise over Baffin Island Canada was with the 120mm. Albert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted December 30, 2015 Author Share #15 Posted December 30, 2015 Albireo_Double...Excellent image...Thanks for sharing your image and advice. The images helped convince me the 120mm will work excellent for landscape images. I still wonder why the Leica dealer has suggested not to get this lens. All quite strange and I have done business there for years. Even more...I couldn't get an explanation...just "Don't buy it". Maybe the lens motor issue...I don't know...guess I will find out when I pick one up next week. Thanks again to all for the advice and images. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougg Posted December 30, 2015 Share #16 Posted December 30, 2015 I appreciate all the comments and advice so far on the 120mm. Would anyone have comments on the 100mm for landscape images? ... I appreciate any and all comments for this subject. Thanks. The Summicron does fine on most any subject matter in my experience of less than a year with it. I don't do many landscapes, however here are a couple that could fit that genre... San Diego Zoo's Safari Park near Escondido Preparing for the county fair, Central Washington Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted December 30, 2015 Author Share #17 Posted December 30, 2015 Dougg, Thank you for the two images. These look almost 3D...very sharp. What f/stop(s) were you using for the lens and shots? From what I have researched, the 100mm doesn't really start getting higher resolution until f/6.8-f8+. I really appreciate the feedback. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougg Posted January 9, 2016 Share #18 Posted January 9, 2016 Dougg, Thank you for the two images. These look almost 3D...very sharp. What f/stop(s) were you using for the lens and shots? From what I have researched, the 100mm doesn't really start getting higher resolution until f/6.8-f8+. I really appreciate the feedback. Hi, thanks for the comments... Old-fashioned, I tend to avoid wide open, but I have not noticed any lower sharpness at wider apertures with the 100 Summicron. The first shot above of the Safari Park was f/9.5, and the second of the county fairgrounds and valley was f/4.0 1/500 as shown in the EXIF, focus on the pavilion flags. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailronin Posted January 9, 2016 Share #19 Posted January 9, 2016 The 120 Macro is a wonderful landscape lens, a couple of examples are below from Death Valley National Park about 3 weeks ago. And finally a panorama of 2 120mm shots stitched together. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted January 9, 2016 Dougg, Thank you for letting me know what f/stops and shutter speed that you used for the two images. Like you, I hardly ever use the S lenses wide open as I need max resolution and DOF. I decided against the 180mm and now seem to be looking at the 120 and 100 S lenses for my images. Your comments are most appreciated. R/ Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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