dkCambridgeshire Posted September 1, 2019 Share #1 Posted September 1, 2019 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Bought a very rough Leica R 180/2.8 Mk I at the London Photographica Camera Collectors Fair …. very stiff focus and tripod bush was dented but the glass looked OK … negotiated price £100. Long story short sent lens to Newton Ellis, Liverpool and was advised the stiff focus was due to impact damage - thus could not be remedied just by CLA. Agreed to have lens' helicoil re-cut plus CLA at estimated cost £250 plus VAT … not really a cost effective repair but was a matter of either repair or scrap … and I did not want to scrap the lens. The Mk I Leitz R 180/2.8 is heavier than the Mk II i.e. 1325g vs 755g … but the performance is similar i.e. both excellent lenses. Received the lens back a few days ago and as an initial test decided to try it with stacked Leitz R 2x and 1.4x APO extenders … thinking it would be a very stiff test and should not expect good results. 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! The first image was taken at full aperture i.e. set aperture f2.8, effective aperture 2.8 x 2 x 1.4 = f7.84 Lens was coupled to a Sony A7SII set to ISO 1000 … it's my favourite low light camera … but also enables decent shutter speeds at high ISO when using small apertures. The A7SII was handheld using the Steadyshot facility i.e. set to 500mm thus compensating for any 504mm 'shake' Subject is a neighbour's car 22m from my front door .. measured with Leica electronic rangefinder cont'd …. Edited September 1, 2019 by dkCambridgeshire 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! The first image was taken at full aperture i.e. set aperture f2.8, effective aperture 2.8 x 2 x 1.4 = f7.84 Lens was coupled to a Sony A7SII set to ISO 1000 … it's my favourite low light camera … but also enables decent shutter speeds at high ISO when using small apertures. The A7SII was handheld using the Steadyshot facility i.e. set to 500mm thus compensating for any 504mm 'shake' Subject is a neighbour's car 22m from my front door .. measured with Leica electronic rangefinder cont'd …. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/300960-leitz-18028-r-mk-i-%E2%80%A6-rescued-and-refurbished/?do=findComment&comment=3811051'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 1, 2019 Posted September 1, 2019 Hi dkCambridgeshire, Take a look here Leitz 180/2.8 R Mk I … rescued and refurbished. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dkCambridgeshire Posted September 1, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted September 1, 2019 (edited) 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! … second image was taken at set aperture f4, effective aperture 4 x 2.8 = f11.2 I'm pleasantly surprised by the results and plan to use the combination again … i.e. as a 504mm … the lens and extenders fit nicely into a medium size Billingham bag. dunk Edited September 1, 2019 by dkCambridgeshire 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! … second image was taken at set aperture f4, effective aperture 4 x 2.8 = f11.2 I'm pleasantly surprised by the results and plan to use the combination again … i.e. as a 504mm … the lens and extenders fit nicely into a medium size Billingham bag. dunk ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/300960-leitz-18028-r-mk-i-%E2%80%A6-rescued-and-refurbished/?do=findComment&comment=3811052'>More sharing options...
mann61 Posted September 1, 2019 Share #3 Posted September 1, 2019 Interesting I bought a 180/2.8 mark 1 . I like it although it's very heavy and takes series 8 filters. Tomorrow I will put a film in my leicaflex sl and see how it performs. One point you don't need to workout after carrying this lens around all day. I paid 79 E . Some R lenses are such a bargain. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted September 1, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted September 1, 2019 (edited) 34 minutes ago, mann61 said: Interesting I bought a 180/2.8 mark 1 . I like it although it's very heavy and takes series 8 filters. Tomorrow I will put a film in my leicaflex sl and see how it performs. One point you don't need to workout after carrying this lens around all day. I paid 79 E . Some R lenses are such a bargain. My 180/2.8 is a 1977 model. So far I cannot fault the lens' performance and the MTF graphs show very even coverage. Provided the weight is not a hindrance it can be a bargain buy. It's not a Mandler lens; Leica WIKI does not state the designer's name. I have a Nikkor 180/2.8 and look forward to comparing its image footprint to that of the Leitz 180/2.8. Back in 1977 Leitz / Leica manufactured their own optical glass and the 180mm has just 5 elements - thus adding stacked APO extenders does not result in 'loads-a-glass' elements … and being good quality optical glass, the image quality appears not to be compromised. But more tests /experiments required in various lighting situations. dunk Edited September 1, 2019 by dkCambridgeshire Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mann61 Posted September 1, 2019 Share #5 Posted September 1, 2019 Yeah mine is from 1966 but at such a bargain price I couldn't let it pass even though I have a 180/4 for my R cameras. I am trying to acquire all the lenses for leicaflex be they the standard,SL or SL2. I've also just received a lovely SA 21/4 . It's a massive lens but such wonderful workmanship. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted September 1, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted September 1, 2019 (edited) 10 minutes ago, mann61 said: Yeah mine is from 1966 but at such a bargain price I couldn't let it pass even though I have a 180/4 for my R cameras. I am trying to acquire all the lenses for leicaflex be they the standard,SL or SL2. I've also just received a lovely SA 21/4 . It's a massive lens but such wonderful workmanship. The Super Angulon R 21/4 is a superb lens … contrary to some users' opinions who maybe do not understand how to use it optimally i.e. to its full potential. All Super Angulons require stopping down to at least f8 and preferably f11 to obtain optimum performance. Forget f4 and f5.6 … f4 is only good for focusing. I enjoy using the SA 21/4 R on my DMR which results in a 29mm lens ( 1.37 DMR crop factor) The only problem with older SA lenses (including mine) is Schneideritis … whereby the black paint 'edge perimeter' coating starts to degrade … visible as spotting … but it does not affect imaging. dunk Edited September 1, 2019 by dkCambridgeshire Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mann61 Posted September 1, 2019 Share #7 Posted September 1, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) Well I've stuck a yellow filter on it to do some landscape shots. However I've noticed how good it is close focusing down to a few cm . I have a 35-70 /4 which I use on my R8 but the SA going to be more useful on my leicaflex. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.liam Posted September 2, 2019 Share #8 Posted September 2, 2019 With many 180 Telyt APOs about, why bother? It is the superior optic by a wide margin. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted September 2, 2019 Author Share #9 Posted September 2, 2019 ^^^ Some of us have reasons why we 'bother' with what might appear to be 'lost causes' ... especially as regards vintage Leica lenses which others maybe would not consider using. Image 'quality' is always a subjective topic and one person's idea of an interesting lens or interesting image footprint is not necessarily so interesting to others. Regarding the APO Telyt's alleged 'wide margin' … it is not so good at closer subject distances. I've owned and used a 180/3.4 Telyt and I might buy another … but meantime I'm having fun experimenting with the 'dinosaur ' 180/2.8 Mk I design. So far it's proved to be a good buy .. and likely has a lot of potential … and my own experiences might just encourage others to consider acquiring one too … and at an affordable price. Best wishes dunk 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 2, 2019 Share #10 Posted September 2, 2019 If it were not for the extreme weight, I would prefer the 180 f/2.8 v.1 to the E67 v.2 - the v.2 acquired heavy vignetting and "goose-egg" blur-circles at f/2.8, due to the shrinkage in size. James, you have to understand the English character. Which includes such things as building outdoor scale models of entire villages, and rescuing hedgehogs (another "lost cause.") Like the hedgehog itself, endearing if impractical oddities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bekonscot 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted September 2, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted September 2, 2019 ^^^^ known as 'cultural differences' … there are these differences and they tend to show up on an 'international forum' where participants are resident in all parts of the world … and we all have different values and different life styles and different priorities … Some appreciated by others … some made allowances for ... but sometimes, some not. That's life. dunk 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.liam Posted September 2, 2019 Share #12 Posted September 2, 2019 (edited) Dunk, my query wasn't meant as criticism, just to understand. I've tried the v.1 and it was quite heavy, not exceptional in any way I could discern and found the Nikkor 180/2.8 ED (also heavy) but the one I preferred. Owned an F-mount converted 180 Telyt APO for a stretch and was also unimpressed with performance close up but at infinity, it was pretty damned remarkable for a 40 year old lns. Preferred the CV 4/180 APO for most applications. Edited September 2, 2019 by james.liam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted September 2, 2019 Author Share #13 Posted September 2, 2019 ^^^ James , Documentation of your experience is appreciated . I'm not expecting stellar performance … so far only tried lens with stacked APO extenders and amazed at the result … whether similar stacked extender images will print OK remains to be see. I'm obliged to use Leica glass for Leica Society image submissions . Best wishes dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph. Posted September 3, 2019 Share #14 Posted September 3, 2019 Recently tried the ver.1 on my R9. Equally crisp portraits as with my late 35-70 rom version. 400 asa film, however, and not a pixel level digital experiment. p. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted September 3, 2019 Share #15 Posted September 3, 2019 vor 21 Stunden schrieb adan: the v.2 acquired heavy vignetting and "goose-egg" blur-circles at f/2.8 Interesting that you say that. I own both the 180/2.8 v.2 and the 180/3.4 apo, and one reason I usually prefer the former over the latter is lack of vignetting at full aperture. The 3.4 apo shows visible vignetting at full aperture. It goes away when stopping down to f5.6, but then why would I use the 3.4 apo if I need to stop down to f5.6? In contrast, my copy of the 180/2.8 v.2 shows no visible vignetting at full aperture and is tack sharp, so I have yet to find out where the 3.4 outclasses the 180/2.8 v.2 (in my view, it doesn't). My lens was serviced by Leica in Germany some years ago (they inadvertently scratched the front lens when reassembling the lens, but did have a replacement front lens element) and I was truly astonished at how good this lens is. Cheers, Andy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mann61 Posted September 3, 2019 Share #16 Posted September 3, 2019 Great,I thought the version 1 shouldn't be used on a R8/9? I might just try it, though I don't want to damage the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted September 3, 2019 Share #17 Posted September 3, 2019 18 minutes ago, mann61 said: Great,I thought the version 1 shouldn't be used on a R8/9? I might just try it, though I don't want to damage the camera. If it's got the third R-cam (either as a three cam lens, or as an third cam only lens) then it will be absolutely fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mann61 Posted September 3, 2019 Share #18 Posted September 3, 2019 No it's a one cam made in 1966. Strangely it works fine on my R7 and R4. but no problem I will use it on my LeicaFlex cameras. thank you for your prompt reply. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 3, 2019 Share #19 Posted September 3, 2019 9 hours ago, wizard said: Interesting that you say that. I own both the 180/2.8 v.2 and the 180/3.4 apo, and one reason I usually prefer the former over the latter is lack of vignetting at full aperture. This is what I got from the Elmarit v.2 at f/2.8. Pretty noticeable vignette, confirmed by the "cropped" jelly-bean/egg-shaped blur circles (which is what causes the light loss on the edges). The APO vignettes also - but I wasn't including the APO in the comparison, just v1 vs v2 non-APOs. 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! A "content" shot with a v.2, also f/2.8 - note "jelly-bean blur-circle" on the forehead of the man in white shirt in the background, and other "squished" non-isotropic blur effects. The v.1 does better - at the cost of a larger front element and far more weight. :( 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! A "content" shot with a v.2, also f/2.8 - note "jelly-bean blur-circle" on the forehead of the man in white shirt in the background, and other "squished" non-isotropic blur effects. The v.1 does better - at the cost of a larger front element and far more weight. :( ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/300960-leitz-18028-r-mk-i-%E2%80%A6-rescued-and-refurbished/?do=findComment&comment=3812706'>More sharing options...
wizard Posted September 4, 2019 Share #20 Posted September 4, 2019 vor 16 Stunden schrieb adan: The APO vignettes also - but I wasn't including the APO in the comparison, just v1 vs v2 non-APOs. And I was fully aware of that. It is all relative then. To me, the vignetting of the 180 v2 is almost non existent compared to the 3.4 APO (I do a lot of slides where vignetting is noticeable), and I appreciate that the v1 is even better in that respect (I never had a v1 though). Thanks for including the example images showing the jelly bean effect. I have not noticed that effect in my shots so far, but will look for it going forward. Cheers, Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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