Longest Telephoto for L mount

[stump4545]

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I have been shooting the SL2 with 90-280mm for sports.

I would like a longer lens with same quality as the Leica 90-280mm .

Anything out there?

Will I have to use an adapter to get there?

 

thank you

[nicci78]

Just use APO-R lenses with APO-Extender-R 2x and R-Adapter-L 

[stump4545]

Auto Focus will work with tracking?

APO-R lenses of similar quality as the SL 90-280mm?

Any other long telephoto alternatives?

I can not get Sony/Canon glass on the SL correct?

[Boojay]

9 minutes ago, stump4545 said:

Auto Focus will work with tracking?

APO-R lenses of similar quality as the SL 90-280mm?

Any other long telephoto alternatives?

I can not get Sony/Canon glass on the SL correct?

No Autofocus with R lenses on SL2 - only manual

APO R Lenses high quality and some would say match the SL 90-280 

Sigma 100-400 DG DN OS L Mount lens the only L mount alternative longer than the 90-280 plus 1.4 and x2 extenders available.

Panasonic 70-200 f/4 or 2.8 also have 1.4 and x 2 extenders

You can use Sigma MC-21 adaptor and use Canon EF longer telephoto's though only single AF not continuous on SL2 - (not SL).

Lots of examples on forum if you search for them, look for @Tritentrue's images for example with long R glass

Maybe have a look through this thread, lots of information for you there.

 

 

Edited November 9, 2020 by Boojay

[stump4545]

I heard that the Sigma 100-400 DG DN OS L Mount is an optical inferior lens, not nearly in the same league as the 90-280mm.  If this is not true I might give it a try but I guess there is no other 400mm autofocus alternatives.

[adan]

Does anyone know if the Sigma or Panasonic teleconverters fit on the Leica 90-280?

Since they are all L-mount, they should - it is more a question of whether there is room, lengthwise, for the protruding TC front element to insert into the 90-280. (A quick view of the lens's x-section suggests it may fit.)

https://www.sigmaphoto.com/1-4x-teleconverter-tc-1411

TCs have improved immensely over the decades. I regularly used a Kenko Pro 300-series 1.4x TC on the legendary APO-Telyt-R 180 f/3.4 (all on a Canon 5D2) with no visible quality degradation. (In fact, sometimes it seemed like the combo was even sharper than the 180 alone. )

That would convert the AF 90-280 f/2.8-4.0 to an AF 125-400mm f/4-5.6.

[caissa]

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8 hours ago, stump4545 said:

Auto Focus will work with tracking?

APO-R lenses of similar quality as the SL 90-280mm?

Any other long telephoto alternatives?

I can not get Sony/Canon glass on the SL correct?

The EF 4/400 DO IS II is working very well with MC-21 (no AFc). Also with 1.4x extender. Other Canon lenses of the latest generation will probably also work, but it needs testing. (2.8/400, 4/500, 4/600). The Sigma MC-11 adapter for E-mount now also supports AFc, maybe Sigma can also improve the MC-21 adapter.

Additionally Sigma has a 4/500mm that will probably also come in L-mount. A new 2.8/300 will probably also come (next year) and sooner or later the 150-600.

The compact Fresnel lenses from Nikon (4/300 PF and 5.6/500 PF) can be used on the SL2, but without AF and without aperture control. You have to preselect the aperture (on a Nikon body).

Edited November 10, 2020 by caissa

[michali]

9 hours ago, stump4545 said:

I heard that the Sigma 100-400 DG DN OS L Mount is an optical inferior lens, not nearly in the same league as the 90-280mm.  If this is not true I might give it a try but I guess there is no other 400mm autofocus alternatives.

A couple of us ( @helged & I) use the  Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM on the SL2 with the Sigma MC-21 adapter.

The image quality of the Canon lens is nothing short of outstanding (I also have the VE90-280mm L).  AF is SAF mode no CAF, this is not an issue for me.  The AF is accurate with almost no hunting, it's not lightning fast but perfectly acceptable. This lens also works well with the Canon 1.4x converter on the SL2.

If you sift through this link   https://www.l-camera-forum.com/search/?q=canon 400mm f4&quick=1 there's a selection of images taken with the Canon 400mm f4 & SL2.

 

Edited November 10, 2020 by michali

[michali]

3 hours ago, adan said:

Does anyone know if the Sigma or Panasonic teleconverters fit on the Leica 90-280?

Since they are all L-mount, they should - it is more a question of whether there is room, lengthwise, for the protruding TC front element to insert into the 90-280. (A quick view of the lens's x-section suggests it may fit.)

https://www.sigmaphoto.com/1-4x-teleconverter-tc-1411

TCs have improved immensely over the decades. I regularly used a Kenko Pro 300-series 1.4x TC on the legendary APO-Telyt-R 180 f/3.4 (all on a Canon 5D2) with no visible quality degradation. (In fact, sometimes it seemed like the combo was even sharper than the 180 alone. )

That would convert the AF 90-280 f/2.8-4.0 to an AF 125-400mm f/4-5.6.

Andy- Unfortunately the Panasonic converters don't work on the VE90-280mm L. As you point out there's not enough room on the lens to accommodate the protruding front element on the TC.

Best

Mike

Edited November 10, 2020 by michali

[nicci78]

Peter Karbe said that cropping is the way to go. Better than teleconverter.

So just use SL 90-280 with SL/SL2 1.5x time APS-C mode or with CL for 135-420mm with f/4.2-6.0 equivalent light flux.

You can even crop CL even further in camera. If you don’t mind 7MP photos. With its 1.7x crop you can reach a whopping 750mm f/11 equivalent light flux.

[helged]

2 hours ago, caissa said:

The EF 4/400 DO IS II is working very well with MC-21 (no AFc). Also with 1.4x extender. Other Canon lenses of the latest generation will probably also work, but it needs testing. (2.8/400, 4/500, 4/600). The Sigma MC-11 adapter for E-mount now also supports AFc, maybe Sigma can also improve the MC-21 adapter.

Additionally Sigma has a 4/500mm that will probably also come in L-mount. A new 2.8/300 will probably also come (next year) and sooner or later the 150-600.

The compact Fresnel lenses from Nikon (4/300 PF and 5.6/500 PF) can be used on the SL2, but without AF and without aperture control. You have to preselect the aperture (on a Nikon body).

Actually, the electronic Novoflex adapter works on the SL with the (very good) Nikkor 4/300 PF. The af is slow, but it works, and you can change the aperture. The af doesnt work with the Nikkor 1.4/1.7/2.0 extenders. The Novoflex adapter is now discontinued (I guess), but available second-hand. I haven't checked the Novoflex adapter on the SL2.

Nothing beats the Canon 400mm f4 DO v2, though.

Edited November 10, 2020 by helged

[michali]

53 minutes ago, helged said:

Actually, the electronic Novoflex adapter works on the SL with the (very good) Nikkor 4/300 PF. The af is slow, but it works, and you can change the aperture. The af doesnt work with the Nikkor 1.4/1.7/2.0 extenders. The Novoflex adapter is now discontinued (I guess), but available second-hand. I haven't checked the Novoflex adapter on the SL2.

Nothing beats the Canon 400mm f4 DO v2, though.

I compared the Novoflex & Sigma adapters on the SL2.

The Novoflex adapter doesn't work very well with the SL2, there's plenty of focus hunting, as a result AF is painfully slow & frustrating. Once you introduce the 1.4x converter everything just about grinds to a halt.

The Sigma MC-21 on the other hand is very good on the SL2  even with the 1.4x & 2x tele converters.

 

[aksclix]

has anybody tried the Canon 200-400mm f/4 on SL2? 

[FlashGordonPhotography]

On 11/10/2020 at 7:51 AM, stump4545 said:

I heard that the Sigma 100-400 DG DN OS L Mount is an optical inferior lens, not nearly in the same league as the 90-280mm.  If this is not true I might give it a try but I guess there is no other 400mm autofocus alternatives.

There would be less than a handful of zoom lenses that are as good as the 90-280. So you could assume that 99.5% of all other zoom lenses are *inferior*. The 100-400 is a fine lens.

Gordon

[jaapv]

On 11/9/2020 at 9:51 PM, stump4545 said:

I heard that the Sigma 100-400 DG DN OS L Mount is an optical inferior lens, not nearly in the same league as the 90-280mm.  If this is not true I might give it a try but I guess there is no other 400mm autofocus alternatives.

I have no complaints, but then I only pixel-peep in a limited fashion.

https://www.cameralabs.com/sigma-100-400mm-f5-6-3-dg-dn-os-review/

https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/reviews/lenses/sigma-100-400mm-f5-6-3-dg-dn-os-contemporary-review

Of course, if you prefer paying five times the price and carry double the weight for just over half the focal length, the 90-280 is your lens of choice. It would be a sad world if the price difference would not bring a gain in image quality. The interesting thing is that the margin is far smaller than one would expect.Whether it is relevant for your photography is another matter and your personal call.

[bherman01545]

On 11/9/2020 at 9:35 PM, adan said:

Does anyone know if the Sigma or Panasonic teleconverters fit on the Leica 90-280?

Since they are all L-mount, they should - it is more a question of whether there is room, lengthwise, for the protruding TC front element to insert into the 90-280. (A quick view of the lens's x-section suggests it may fit.)

https://www.sigmaphoto.com/1-4x-teleconverter-tc-1411

TCs have improved immensely over the decades. I regularly used a Kenko Pro 300-series 1.4x TC on the legendary APO-Telyt-R 180 f/3.4 (all on a Canon 5D2) with no visible quality degradation. (In fact, sometimes it seemed like the combo was even sharper than the 180 alone. )

That would convert the AF 90-280 f/2.8-4.0 to an AF 125-400mm f/4-5.6.

Unfortunately, none of the available teleconverters work (properly) with the Leica 90-280

Edited February 2, 2021 by bherman01545
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[bherman01545]

Your best option for 'native' L Mount is the LUMIX 70-200 F/2.8 with the 2x extender.

[bherman01545]

On 11/9/2020 at 2:06 PM, stump4545 said:

I have been shooting the SL2 with 90-280mm for sports.

I would like a longer lens with same quality as the Leica 90-280mm .

Anything out there?

Will I have to use an adapter to get there?

 

thank you

The 90-280 on a 47mp sensor gives you excellent cropping options. You can also put the camera in APS-C mode. Will that not suffice or do you need 47mp for what you need to do? 

-Brad

[SrMi]

2 hours ago, bherman01545 said:

Your best option for 'native' L Mount is the LUMIX 70-200 F/2.8 with the 2x extender.

Unfortunately, LUMIX 70-200 F/2.8 has a focus clutch mechanism that cannot work with back-button focusing.
Otherwise, I read good things about Panasonics 2x teleconverter.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[bherman01545]

15 minutes ago, SrMi said:

Unfortunately, LUMIX 70-200 F/2.8 has a focus clutch mechanism that cannot work with back-button focusing.
Otherwise, I read good things about Panasonics 2x teleconverter.

I don't know if that is 100% accurate. I know someone who uses the LUMIX 70-200 F/2.8 and have confirmed that BB AF does work, but not in the same way as a Leica SL lens.

With an SL lens, you set the camera to Manual Focus in the menu, and this essentially decouples the focusing function from the Shutter Button, so you can BB AF with the joystick only.

With both the LUMIX 70-200 F/2.8 and F4 versions, the manual focus clutch mechanism has nothing to do with BB AF. On my lens (70-200 F/4) and my buddies 70-200 F/2.8, you can use the joystick OR the shutter button to achieve focus. When I switch the lens to MF by engaging the Manual Focus Clutch Mechanism, you can literally only focus by wire with the Focusing Ring on the lens and is configured, the image will magnify in the EVF to assist in accurate focusing

Edited February 2, 2021 by bherman01545
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