180 R f2... friend is loaning me for possible purchase.

[Silver Fresco]

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A friend of mine, would like to sell the 180 f2, R lens. However, I need to wait a couple of months before I can get my hands on it. I may be impatient, however, is there anyone here who could give me some information (please don't compare to the 2.8 version, as I already have this).

[AlanD]

Closest competitor is the FD 200/1.8 from Canon which is just as rare. Reportedly the Leica is a bit lighter and better focus throw. Sharpness is similar.

 

If you are shooting with an SL, the EF 200/1.8 is very good. Manual focus only but it is focus by wire.

 

The 200/2IS is not as sharp as the original 200/1.8 due to IS and lack of leaded glass.

 

At least one person upgraded from his Leica 180/2 to a Canon 200/1.8 since the Canon had more 3D pop.

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/903860

Post 7

[topoxforddoc]

My 180/2 APO Summicron is the one lens I won't ever sell. Bolted onto my DMR, it has produced some of my favourite images. It balances very well on a R9/DMR, focuses very smoothly, and can be used hand held. I use it for concert photography.

 

Mel C

Marius Neset & Randy Crawford

Sadlers Wells Ballet, London

 

BTW the DoF is razor thin wide open

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Edited July 4, 2018 by topoxforddoc

[Silver Fresco]

Closest competitor is the FD 200/1.8 from Canon which is just as rare. Reportedly the Leica is a bit lighter and better focus throw. Sharpness is similar.

If you are shooting with an SL, the EF 200/1.8 is very good. Manual focus only but it is focus by wire.

The 200/2IS is not as sharp as the original 200/1.8 due to IS and lack of leaded glass.

At least one person upgraded from his Leica 180/2 to a Canon 200/1.8 since the Canon had more 3D pop.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/903860

Post 7

My 180/2 APO Summicron is the one lens I won't ever sell. Bolted onto my DMR, it has produced some of my favourite images. It balances very well on a R9/DMR, focuses very smoothly, and can be used hand held. I use it for concert photography.

 

Mel C

Marius Neset & Randy Crawford

Sadlers Wells Ballet, London

 

BTW the DoF is razor thin wide open

 

 

Hi AlanD and topoxforddoc!

 

Thanks for your wise words... I've actually bitten the bullet and bought it after doing some test shots. There is no comparison to the 2.8 (despite MTF charts and the rest of it... tested it with R9 and film, and this lens is simply superb!).

 

Alan D, I know what you mean about leaded glass (this is why I am not bothering with the newer Leica lenses, especially the SL lenses, which look particularly bland when compared to their R counterparts... no doubt a controversial topic in itself).

 

Anyway, thanks once again for your replies, and thanks topoxforddoc for the photos!

[AlanD]

Many of the SL lenses look bland because the majority of the zooms have been developed outside of Wetzlar and have different priorities (like fast focus). I am disappointed with the SL 90 shots at Dpreview. They lack bite for a modern lens. I am not sure why that is the case when the MTF charts looks off the charts.

 

Keeping the old leaded glass optics out of landfills is good for the environment. Leaded glass needed to be banned and it was toxic for the workers grinding and polishing the elements. But once the lens has already been made, the best thing to do is to use it. There is no risk to the end user.

 

For modern M glass and S glass are still really good. The S glass is at a relative bargain right now. They don’t have the best MTF charts but somehow look brilliant in use. Tonality is superior to the SL (which is great already) and you get the “bite” in sharpness like the Leica Q or a Fuji GFX lens. Focus is very slow compared to the SL though.

[Silver Fresco]

Many of the SL lenses look bland because the majority of the zooms have been developed outside of Wetzlar and have different priorities (like fast focus). I am disappointed with the SL 90 shots at Dpreview. They lack bite for a modern lens. I am not sure why that is the case when the MTF charts looks off the charts.

Keeping the old leaded glass optics out of landfills is good for the environment. Leaded glass needed to be banned and it was toxic for the workers grinding and polishing the elements. But once the lens has already been made, the best thing to do is to use it. There is no risk to the end user.

For modern M glass and S glass are still really good. The S glass is at a relative bargain right now. They don’t have the best MTF charts but somehow look brilliant in use. Tonality is superior to the SL (which is great already) and you get the “bite” in sharpness like the Leica Q or a Fuji GFX lens. Focus is very slow compared to the SL though.

Hi AlanD,

 

I think we're on the same page here. Still, I look for the older, leaded Leica lenses (I really have given up with the newer Leica lenses... the 35 f1.4 fle for M is horrid... I actually got rid of it for a 35 1.4 pre ASPH version...).

 

But as they say, horses for courses... and I will not be selling my 180 f2... Don't even get me started on the 35-70 2.8...

[topoxforddoc]

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 Still, I look for the older, leaded Leica lenses (I really have given up with the newer Leica lenses... the 35 f1.4 fle for M is horrid... I actually got rid of it for a 35 1.4 pre ASPH version...).

 

 

 

Yup, I love the 35 pre-asph lux too. I shoot almost 90% of my M pictures with it

 

Enjoy the 180 Summicron - it is a truly awesome lens