wlaidlaw Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share #21 Posted February 13, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I was looking at that T2 Digiscoping adapter and wondering if you could use it with the SL. Technically I suppose there is no reason you couldn't, using the crop frame facility on the SL. However, I would question if the attachment to the Spotter Scope would be robust enough to take the weight of the SL body. Otherwise it is a good way to get a reasonably priced if rather slow 1200mm lens. I would bet it would not be a whole lot slower than my modular Zeiss 1200 mm Tele Tessar lens which at 1200mm is f16 wide open and might well be better quality, given the age of the design of the Zeiss lens system (mid 1970's). Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 13, 2016 Posted February 13, 2016 Hi wlaidlaw, Take a look here Should we lobby for an AF enabled extender in the SL Lens program?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ramarren Posted February 13, 2016 Share #22 Posted February 13, 2016 I'd take a 2x Extender-SL too, optimized for use with the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90. Or an Elmar-SL 180mm f/4 instead, with AF and OIS. 180mm f/8 (24-90 + 2x extender) is a trifle slow but still useable. 180mm is about as long a lens as I am likely to use frequently, and a reasonably light and compact lens option would encourage me to use it more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenw0lf Posted February 15, 2016 Share #23 Posted February 15, 2016 I'm not sure how well a 2x AF extender would work with the 24-90. I always regarded extenders as tools to use with long lenses. Also because generally longer lenses have "better correction" speak less obvious image faults. (Longer lenses are easier to correct than e.g. a 24mm) Anyway a 2x extender would steel 2 full aperture stops, that means 4 times less light. I do not think the autofocus will support such a small aperture (8 instead of 4). Or at least not under all circumstances. So I think a 1.4x extender would be much more useful. Stephan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenw0lf Posted February 15, 2016 Share #24 Posted February 15, 2016 I'd take a 2x Extender-SL too, optimized for use with the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90. Or an Elmar-SL 180mm f/4 instead, with AF and OIS. 180mm f/8 (24-90 + 2x extender) is a trifle slow but still useable. 180mm is about as long a lens as I am likely to use frequently, and a reasonably light and compact lens option would encourage me to use it more. Hello Ramarren, maybe it is too expensive (or too big), but in the S lens range you find a Apo 3.5/180mm . That is certainly the best you can get regarding quality and it is also AF and furthermore much brighter than what you wished for. The size is actually not so bad, it is about the same size as the 24-90 - even a bit smaller (72mm filter). The 24-90 plus extender would certainly be bigger. Only the prize is steep, but maybe used ... Stephan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share #25 Posted February 15, 2016 Hello Ramarren, maybe it is too expensive (or too big), but in the S lens range you find a Apo 3.5/180mm . That is certainly the best you can get regarding quality and it is also AF and furthermore much brighter than what you wished for. The size is actually not so bad, it is about the same size as the 24-90 - even a bit smaller (72mm filter). The 24-90 plus extender would certainly be bigger. Only the prize is steep, but maybe used ... Stephan If there was an earlier version of the 180/3.5S without the central shutter (not sure about that), maybe some folks might be selling it to get the later central shutter lens. However it looks as if it will be some time before we get the S to T/SL adapter. Supposedly it is mid 2016 but the SF64 flash was due by Xmas and still waiting certainly until April. The blurb from Leica does not say whether the adapter is AF enabled or just aperture transmitting. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenw0lf Posted February 16, 2016 Share #26 Posted February 16, 2016 If there was an earlier version of the 180/3.5S without the central shutter (not sure about that), maybe some folks might be selling it to get the later central shutter lens. However it looks as if it will be some time before we get the S to T/SL adapter. Supposedly it is mid 2016 but the SF64 flash was due by Xmas and still waiting certainly until April. The blurb from Leica does not say whether the adapter is AF enabled or just aperture transmitting. Wilson Wilson, in the german version of the SL "catalog" it is said about the S adapter "uneingeschränkte Funktionalität" that means no restrictions whatsoever. I regard this as "with full AF functionality". In german this is clear. But maybe in english you would rather interpret it less optimistic. (?!) Actually why should AF not work ? I cannot see anything but electric contacts, the motor is in the lens, no mechanical transmission ... Stephan By the way that is already in 6 months, that's nothing! That's in no time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenw0lf Posted February 16, 2016 Share #27 Posted February 16, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Wilson, I think there are two versions of the S lenses (with and without CS). And usually the non CS version is less expensive (about 1000$). So you can choose what you need. Stephan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share #28 Posted February 16, 2016 Wilson, I think there are two versions of the S lenses (with and without CS). And usually the non CS version is less expensive (about 1000$). So you can choose what you need. Stephan The non-CS version is not now listed on the Leica UK website, so I would guess it is no longer made. Given that quite a few of the S cameras are used by professionals in studios, where for lighting purposes, a central shutter would be very desirable, some might be selling off the non-CS version they had bought earlier, which might be a slightly cheaper route to get a 180/3.5. Its price would also be slightly lower if it were to be perceived as an obsolete lens, although I would assume its optics are identical to the current 180/3.5 CS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenw0lf Posted February 16, 2016 Share #29 Posted February 16, 2016 The non-CS version is not now listed on the Leica UK website, so I would guess it is no longer made. Given that quite a few of the S cameras are used by professionals in studios, where for lighting purposes, a central shutter would be very desirable, some might be selling off the non-CS version they had bought earlier, which might be a slightly cheaper route to get a 180/3.5. Its price would also be slightly lower if it were to be perceived as an obsolete lens, although I would assume its optics are identical to the current 180/3.5 CS. Wilson, it is clearly one lens in two versions. So no doubt it has the same optics. There is also only one datasheet. Here in "Central Europe" both versions are on offering. The lens without "Zentralverschluss" is maybe less popular/less useful for studios, but not obsolete. Stephan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted February 16, 2016 Share #30 Posted February 16, 2016 maybe it is too expensive (or too big), but in the S lens range you find a Apo 3.5/180mm . That is certainly the best you can get regarding quality and it is also AF and furthermore much brighter than what you wished for. The size is actually not so bad, it is about the same size as the 24-90 - even a bit smaller (72mm filter). The 24-90 plus extender would certainly be bigger. Only the prize is steep, but maybe used ... Too expensive and too big. And f/3.5 is not that much faster than f/4, about 1/3 stop. I look at the Elmar-R 180mm f/4 ... Add AF and OIS, let it grow 20% max, sell it at a reasonable price (say, $2500-3000 max), and that would be perfect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted February 16, 2016 Share #31 Posted February 16, 2016 The non-CS version is not now listed on the Leica UK website, so I would guess it is no longer made. Given that quite a few of the S cameras are used by professionals in studios, where for lighting purposes, a central shutter would be very desirable, some might be selling off the non-CS version they had bought earlier, which might be a slightly cheaper route to get a 180/3.5. Its price would also be slightly lower if it were to be perceived as an obsolete lens, although I would assume its optics are identical to the current 180/3.5 CS. Both are still listed new on the B&H website. CS=$7300, non-CS=$6300. That's quite a lot of money for a 180mm f/4 lens for a 35mm format camera, which should sell in much larger quantities than any medium format lens. Never mind that the adapter will likely be a $1500 item as well. Expensive ... I paid less than $500 for the Elmar-R in perfect condition: Leica SL fitted with Elmar-R 180mm f/4 That's just about an ideal size for a 180mm lens that you will carry anywhere, and it's lighter than the Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8. Bonus of the R Adapter M is that it provides a removable tripod mount too for best balance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share #32 Posted February 16, 2016 I wonder how the quality of the 180 Elmar R compares with my 80-200/f4 Vario Elmarit R, which is a little larger but not much. the 80-200 is supposed to be the best of the non-APO zooms. I was not that impressed with it and as it had a very slack focus ring, I sent it off to Will van Manen for a service and clean. I have to admit to not using it much since it came back but I am taking with me to the Robert White event on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset this week-end. I will see how well it works on the SL. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted February 16, 2016 Share #33 Posted February 16, 2016 Just posted this photo made with Elmar-R 180mm and 2x Extender-R ... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/253192-leica-sl-image-thread-post-your-examples-here/?p=2990703 I like this lens a lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share #34 Posted February 16, 2016 Your photo below with the 250 and extender, shows the classic bête noir of extenders, longitudinal CA fringing. Was that the regular R extender or the better APO one? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted February 16, 2016 Share #35 Posted February 16, 2016 Your photo below with the 250 and extender, shows the classic bête noir of extenders, longitudinal CA fringing. Was that the regular R extender or the better APO one? It's the regular one. Good enough for most of what I use it for, the combination of silhouette on mostly white sky brings up the aberration more than average scenes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenw0lf Posted February 17, 2016 Share #36 Posted February 17, 2016 I wonder how the quality of the 180 Elmar R compares with my 80-200/f4 Vario Elmarit R, which is a little larger but not much. the 80-200 is supposed to be the best of the non-APO zooms. I was not that impressed with it and as it had a very slack focus ring, I sent it off to Will van Manen for a service and clean. I have to admit to not using it much since it came back but I am taking with me to the Robert White event on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset this week-end. I will see how well it works on the SL. Wilson Hi Wilson, the zoom you mention is excellent. I always regarded it highly, but I never had one of the extremely expensive top zooms (2.8/35-70 or 4.2/105-280 or Apo 2.8/70-180) to compare it with. You can even use it with the 2x apo extender. Nice for macro with a long distance to the target, so it's easy to use flash. And the fossils in Dorset are often quite flat and do not run away anymore Easy prey for this lens. Show us the results after the event. Stephan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted February 17, 2016 Share #37 Posted February 17, 2016 Here's another example of the Elmar-R 180mm f/4 output, sans doubler: And another using the doubler: [ I enjoy using this lens a lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenw0lf Posted February 17, 2016 Share #38 Posted February 17, 2016 Hello Ramarren, I also like this 180 lens, but sometimes had problems with close-ups (maybe I was too week to hold it steady). Is it possible to get the full-resolution "original" of the berries for comparison? I promise I will not sell it (You could just mail it to stlf@bluewin.ch) Stephan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted February 17, 2016 Share #39 Posted February 17, 2016 Hello Ramarren, I also like this 180 lens, but sometimes had problems with close-ups (maybe I was too week to hold it steady). Is it possible to get the full-resolution "original" of the berries for comparison? I promise I will not sell it (You could just mail it to stlf@bluewin.ch) Stephan As magnification goes up, stability becomes more difficult. This is true with all lenses; it is more noticeable with long focal lengths since they produce greater magnifications. I use a tripod much of the time with longer focal lengths (and with ultra-wides as well, but that's another discussion) because it's the only way to truly stabilize the image. This particular image was hand-held (ISO 160 @ f/19 @ 1/160 second, but I don't trust the aperture recorded ... the SL guesses at aperture with the R lenses) and reasonably stable, although not up to the capability of the lens when tripod mounted. The reason I'm sure the lens was not so stopped down is that while I was shooting at close distance, the DoF shown in the image file is too shallow to be an f/16 or smaller lens opening; as a matter of fact, I was exercising the lens near wide open most of the time that morning so the real aperture is probably f/4-f/5.6. The full resolution file (JPEG converted from raw) is here: https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1570/25061458536_90c6fd4535_o.jpg Remember that it is copyrighted (and the copyright registered) so if you want to use it elsewhere, ask me first. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenw0lf Posted February 17, 2016 Share #40 Posted February 17, 2016 Ramarren, thanks, got it. I have also noted with the SL that the reported aperture numbers are quite random - it depends mostly upon where the light sources are. Surprisingly the result seems to be ok most of the time - but I wonder if this is just because I watch it on a monitor which is not as critical as paper. Stephan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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