Most fun/quirky/special R lens?

[Mpi]

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So I very recently started to buy a few R lenses and I have to say that I am amazed at how well they perform (given their age)!

One lens I got was the APO-Summicron-R 180mm. This lens, while it performs really well, is impractical in many ways for me: it is heavy (I mostly shoot landscape and for that I have to hike to places), the large aperture is not something I really need as for landscape I usually want everything in focus (one reason I like Leica lenses is because their slow lenses still don't compromise on image quality so I can get something small/light that performs as well as the fast lenses), it is expensive, 180mm is not a focal length I use very often (and my 90-280 covers all I need anyways)...

But all this being said: this is probably one of the most fun lenses I ever had. I am an amateur so I don't care too much about how practical something is and whether other people like my pictures. I mostly want to have fun.

So I was wondering: what would be the lens you find most fun or intriguing for weird reasons or no reasons at all?

[fernando_b]

135 Elmarit 2nd version.

It has CA, it is soft at f/2.8, it prone to flare, however it is the funniest lens that I have, so: for no reason at all...

Fernando.

[a.noctilux]

As long time Leica R&M user...

I have (and use) some of the fun/weird/too heavy/not practical R ( or M ) lenses , listing a few :

- PC-Super-Angulon-R 2.8/28mm ( this one ) mainly for using filters

- Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm mostly with the old 1:1 adapter 14198 which need to be set to f/22 to mount

then replaced by the more practical later 14256

- Telyt 6.8/400 and 560 which I used also on M + Visoflex III with the right adapter 😇

this only user faults, sometimes I mixed up the R or M adapter

- Special mention to the very good Apo-Telyt-R 2.8/280mm which the weight of the lens + huge aluminium case made me use less than planned

even when I "replaced" with the 1kg lighter A-T-R 4/280mm that I think too heavy to carry around

[Stef63]

100 f2.8 Elmarit-R Macro. THE Leica reference macro lens

280 f4 APO Telyt-R. Combine it with an 1.4 extender and you get a combo that is on par (or better) than the modern 400 mm long Canon and Nikon lenses.

and don’t forget the Vario 28-90.  A superb lens that holds value and is still very relevant on an SL2

Edited June 3, 2021 by Stef63

[msh58]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb Stef63:

100 f2.8 Elmarit-R Macro. THE Leica reference macro lens

280 f4 APO Telyt-R. Combine it with an 1.4 extender and you get a combo that is on par (or better) than the modern 400 mm long Canon and Nikon lenses.

and don’t forget the Vario 28-90.  A superb lens that holds value and is still very relevant on an SL2

The Vario 28-90 is definitely one of my favorites. Add to that Elmarit 28/2.8 and 19/2.8, both v2

[ramarren]

I have one of the 2200 Super-Elmar-R 15mm f/3.5 lenses, a Zeiss Distagon manufactured to Leica's spec. It's huge, it's heavy, and technically the later Super-Elmarit-R 15mm f/2.8 is a superior performer (and much more compact), but this old lens simply produces results that are unique and delightful. I used it quite a bit fitted to the Leica SL when I was shooting with that: particularly when cropped to square format it produced a good number of extremely satisfying photos for me.

My most used R lenses are the Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8 and Macro-Elmar-R 100mm f/4. They work brilliantly on both my Leica CL and Hasselblad 907x cameras, never mind on the Leicaflex SL or R6.2.

G

[dkCambridgeshire]

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https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/290932-stamford-lincs-uk-architecture/?do=findComment&comment=4066281

PA Curtagon R 35/4 ... it has an undeserved 'poor lens' reputation despite the fact that thousands of photos taken with the lens have been published over 50 years ... unfortunately seems likely that 'serial naysayers'  repeat other 'serial naysayers' negative comments ... and that few have actually used the lens themselves! 

It's a super lens if used in accordance with manufacturer Schneider's recommendations ... i.e. at f11 when shifted. And it's a wonderfully lightweight lens ... and ideal for use on any mirrorless camera. 

dunk

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Dunk,

How does the 35mm F4 PA Curtagon work when you simply use the lens as a regular 35mm F4 lens? Does it, like many lenses of its time, come into its best when it is stopped down to F5.6, F8, F11, or F16? And is it better or worse at near, intermediate, or long distances?

It might be interesting to put it on a tripod & find out.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited June 15, 2021 by Michael Geschlecht

[dkCambridgeshire]

9 hours ago, Michael Geschlecht said:

Hello Dunk,

How does the 35mm F4 PA Curtagon work when you simply use the lens as a regular 35mm F4 lens? Does it, like many lenses of its time, come into its best when it is stopped down to F5.6, F8, F11, or F16? And is it better or worse at near, intermediate, or long distances?

It might be interesting to put it on a tripod & find out.

Best Regards,

Michael

Michael, I've only used the lens at f8 - f16 for architectural images ... but I have seen some pleasing images posted on the forum taken at wider apertures ... try a 'Curtagon' search ... tried myself but could not find the particular still life image which prompted me to give serious thought to buying the lens .

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Dunk,

I am not writing about wider apertures. I am asking about how the lens works at more moderate apertures. It might provide even better images at moderate apertures without displacing the lens's elements: Than it does when it is adjusted to make the types of architectural images that you use it for.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited June 15, 2021 by Michael Geschlecht

[pgk]

I would claim that the quirkiest R lens is decidedly the 21/3.4 Super-Angulon-R! I've just rebought one! It focuses to 8" and still delivers good quality as its a semi-symetrical design. Downside is that it only works on the earliest camera or some full frame digitals with appropriate adapters. Its optics are the same as the M version .....

[a.noctilux]

Paul,

I think so that this one fills the bill as fun/quirky/special lens in R mount 👍.

I forgot as for so long time, I've not use it

this one S-A-R 3.4/21

last time was to try on Leica M with LV + 14642, results were not that good, so it went in "reserve".

[pgk]

5 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

Paul,

I think so that this one fills the bill as fun/quirky/special lens in R mount 👍.

I forgot as for so long time, I've not use it

this one S-A-R 3.4/21

last time was to try on Leica M with LV + 14642, results were not that good, so it went in "reserve".

The SA has extremely good central performance but isn't so good in the corners. I like SAs though and have just rebought the R to join my M version. The best bit is that it focusses down to 8"/20cm unlike the M. Here's a very rough idea of how close that is (8" from sensor to the 'E'):

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Edited June 23, 2021 by pgk

[farnz]

Fortunate to be a long-time R lens user with many of the excellent lenses already mentioned here.

For "fun/quirky/special" I nominate the 19/2.8 Elmarit-R for its built-in filter turret with ND, blue, yellow-green, and orange filters.

Pete.