SL + long R lenses

[rjsphd]

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i own a M240 and various M lenses, and am about to jump in and get an SL and, probably, the 24-90, too.  I have tried out my M lenses on the SL and love what I can do with the viewfinder.  But I am ignorant and totally curious about R lenses and their use on the SL, particularly the telephotos (prime and zoom).  They seem to be available in abundance on auction sites.

 

Please share your thoughts and experiences on using R telephotos with your S.  Thanks in advance.

 

 

[helged]

Yes, one of the great benefit with the SL is that the body accepts an (almost) endless number of lenses, long Leica R lenses included. A good start for the latter is to have a look at this thread. Personally - and together with many - I love the 280mm f4 APO R. It's very high-resolving, even at f4. And it works brilliantly with the APO 1.4x and APO 2.0x converters (note: use the APO-converters; the non-APO ones are of a different (lower) calibre).

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[Per P.]

I am a happy user of the R Vario-Elmar 80-200 f/4. My only wish is that the SL-R adapter were as slim as the SL-M because it does add an inch 2 cm to the overall length. Not a big deal but it looks less elegant and is just a tiny bit too long for my bag compartments. However, on the matters that count, the lens excels.

[BlackDoc]

I like my APO telyt 180mm, heavy used look but the glasses and the mechanic are fine...

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[rjsphd]

Thanks for sharing.  This week I was in Glacier National Park looking at a grizzly bear mother and cubs from a long distance.  In my camera with my poor sight they looked like dots.  The guy standing next to me had a huge Nikon 180-400 zoom.  I ended up firing away when he did to get good poses.  Best I could do (and results were OK). But there and then I swore  would not be caught short again, hence this post.

 

One clarification, please: Do the APO 1.4X and 2X converters work with a variety of R teles, including the zooms?

[mmradman]

Longest SL zoom is 90-280mm, at the moment there is no indication of future TC or longer L lens on the horizon.

 

Longest excellent quality R lens that is not difficult to find on S/H market and perhaps handhold-able is 280mm.  There are f2.8 and f4 versions, with APO TC x 2 you get 560mm reach.  There is also APO Modular R system that is made up of two heads and three focusing modules providing reach between 280mm and 800mm I think, you can still add APO TC for further reach, again not sure, but this is heavy, expensive and very rare, good luck finding one and even if you are prepared to pay the price you will need sherpa to move that gear around.  There also some older long R lenses like 350mm and also Visoflex derived, i think, 400 and 560mm, last three proper legacy stuff. 

 

I have APO Telyt R 280m f4, with both APO TC, it is heavy yet compact lens, about 2kg, yes, images are spectacular, just make sure you had a good breakfast and you don't lug it long distances

 

If you can be happy with 280mm manual focus with R or require AF,  than look no further than 90-280mm, if however you need/want affordable, good quality and require decent reach with AF I would suggest you consider current Nikkor G 200-500mm f5.6 AFS, together with forthcoming Nikon Z6 it will cost you less than second hand SL601 body. Talking of Nikkor, latest 300mm f4 Fresnel lens is round 0.75kg which is less in weight and at least half price than any full frame L lens.

 

Wait for couple of weeks and see what Leica/Panasonic may announce at Photokina later this month, we could (emphasis on could) be pleasantly surprised.

[Per P.]

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Yes, one of the great benefit with the SL is that the body accepts an (almost) endless number of lenses, long Leica R lenses included. A good start for the latter is to have a look at this thread. Personally - and together with many - I love the 280mm f4 APO R. It's very high-resolving, even at f4. And it works brilliantly with the APO 1.4x and APO 2.0x converters (note: use the APO-converters; the non-APO ones are of a different (lower) calibre).

 

Wow, many of those wildlife photos with the 280mm lenses are just fantastic, both technically and aesthetically. I took one look at the lens specs and current prices and am just so grateful that I am not a wildlife specialist 

[tritentrue]

One clarification, please: Do the APO 1.4X and 2X converters work with a variety of R teles, including the zooms?

 

Lenses compatible with the 1.4X, from the Leica wiki page:

 

Resultant focal length with APO-EXTENDER-R 1.4 x:

• 180 mm f/2.8 APO - 250 mm f/4 APO
• 280 mm f/2.8 APO - 400 mm f/4 APO
• 280 mm f/4 APO - 400 mm f/5.6 APO
• 400 mm f/2.8 APO - 560 mm f/4 APO
• 400 mm f/4 APO - 560 mm f/5.6 APO
• 560 mm f/4 APO - 800 mm f/5.6 APO
• 560 mm f/5.6 APO - 800 mm f/8 APO
• 800 mm f/5.6 APO - 1100 mm f/8 APO
• 105-280 mm f/4.2 - 150-400 mm f/5.9

 

Bear in mind that only the second iteration (or a Leica-modified copy of the first iteration) of the 180mm f/2.8 APO can be used with the APO-Extender-R 1.4X.

[helged]

Other related threads:

   Any lens for bird photography (wild birds)?

   Very long lenses of the CL and TL

   400mm lens for SL?

   Open bird thread.

 

Going manual, the Canon FD L 500mm f/4.5, with 1.4x and 2.0x converters, is a fine - and not too large, not too heavy and not too expensive - alternative. The lens works very well on the SL.

 

I still hope that Leica will offer something at 400 mm or longer focal lengths; but I guess this will not happen before the af is much, much improved. The 90-280SL is fine, but on the short end. Extender(s) would be fine, but the af at f5.6 (with 1.4x extender) or f8 (2.0x extender) may not work that well. So the best long lens, af alternative that Leica offers today is CL+90-280SL, resulting in 420mm. This is a fine combo, although I never fell in love with the handling of the CL.

 

So as of today - and possibly for a long time - manual lenses, CL with up to 420mm reach, or other systems, are the way to go. For quasi-static subjects, manual lenses work perfectly well. No problem(s). For erratically moving subjects, manual lenses require skill and - at least for me - a good portion of luck...

Edited September 17, 2018 by helged

[tritentrue]

Times were few when the 280mm f/4 APO without TC was long enough for my purposes on the SL; but the few times that it was long enough, it produced very satisfying images.

 

Rufous Whistler, cropped at about 60% . . . 

 

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[rjsphd]

Thanks to all for a really helpful thread.  Now, to snag my SL...