algrove Posted February 12 Share #1 Posted February 12 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a few R lenses and I find them incredible to use AFA IQ. How do others feel about using R lenses even though they are MF? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 12 Posted February 12 Hi algrove, Take a look here Amazing that many R APO lenses are still some of the best Leica lenses. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
GFW2-SCUSA Posted February 12 Share #2 Posted February 12 I only have a 60mm macro R which I use on my SL2 and M10 R. Its sharp and renders nicely. I have used manual focus for 60plus year so I don't find it a burden. From what I've read many R lenses are excellent and are not expensive. I bought my used and its shows lots of wear but DAG did a CLA and I suspect it will out last me. I suspect I shall get a few more R lenses in the future. 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! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419208-amazing-that-many-r-apo-lenses-are-still-some-of-the-best-leica-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=5755977'>More sharing options...
erl Posted February 12 Share #3 Posted February 12 I have the 60mm Macro R lens and find it particularly excellent, as one would expect from a macro lens. Probably my favourite is the 80mm 1.4 R lens. Fabulously bright for focussing on my R8 and pretty good at max aperture. I have the Vario Apo Elmarit R 2.8/70-180. Very sharp and clear across the range of apertures. I declare it is at its sharpest at 2.8, and across the range. But it is a heavy bugger. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregNski Posted February 12 Share #4 Posted February 12 I have the 100mm APO-MACRO-ELMARIT-R. It is an amazing lens. Absolutely tack sharp and very contrasty. Best macro lens in the world IMO. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted February 12 Share #5 Posted February 12 All the lenses which I use on my SL2 are ROM R lenses via the Leica made adapter. The lenses are immediately automatically identified when mounted on the camera, and IBIS works well. Manual focus is very easy with the camera's focus aids (especially since my photographic interests are essentially static subjects). To my eyes, the image quality is really very good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJCoates Posted February 12 Share #6 Posted February 12 Yes it really is amazing that despite some of the R lenses being quite old designs they deliver top quality; in particular, as per the original poster, the APO lenses really are fantastic. I see a lot of love for the 100mm macro, which I have had some really good results from. Manual focus is not a problem; what I do with macro shots is have the lens set at f/2.8, focus on the main subject and then stop the lens down to an aperture that gives me a pleasing result. The fantastic focus peaking and amazing viewfinder of the SL really helps; with macro shots it actually helps I think if you have to focus manually as you take more time composing your shot. Here is one of my efforts; I'd love to take credit but that would be unfair to the lens I think! 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! 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419208-amazing-that-many-r-apo-lenses-are-still-some-of-the-best-leica-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=5756364'>More sharing options...
erl Posted February 12 Share #7 Posted February 12 Advertisement (gone after registration) 2 hours ago, SJCoates said: Yes it really is amazing that despite some of the R lenses being quite old designs they deliver top quality; in particular, as per the original poster, the APO lenses really are fantastic. I see a lot of love for the 100mm macro, which I have had some really good results from. Manual focus is not a problem; what I do with macro shots is have the lens set at f/2.8, focus on the main subject and then stop the lens down to an aperture that gives me a pleasing result. The fantastic focus peaking and amazing viewfinder of the SL really helps; with macro shots it actually helps I think if you have to focus manually as you take more time composing your shot. Here is one of my efforts; I'd love to take credit but that would be unfair to the lens I think! 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! Certainly credit to the lens, but I think credit for the lighting and composition might just sit on your shoulders. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmknoble Posted March 1 Share #8 Posted March 1 All these mentioned lenses are really nice. I love the APO 90 summicron and sometimes travel with it and the APO 2x converter along with the 28mm Elmarit v2 (which is great stopped down). In fact that is what I took to Antarctica with an R9 and a bunch of film. (And polarizers :). Heavier, but super easy to focus, the APO 180 2.8 and 280 4.0 are still reference lenses. I also think a great travel lens that renders well on the SL is the (Minolta) R 80-200 f/4. It is smaller than the APO 70-180 f/2.8 (which I love and someone else posted about) and does a stellar job in the middle ranges. Good idea for a post title! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Jovic Posted March 2 Share #9 Posted March 2 I use the apo-elmarit-r 180/3.4 and apo-summicron-r 180/2.0 on Sony bodies. Both are excellent and certainly keep up with the standards we have become used to with modern lenses. The apo-summicron-r 180/2.0 is still one of the sharpest lenses I own, although imho 'sharpness' is overrated, however it's nice to be able to shoot at F2.0 and have a razor sharp image. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted March 2 Share #10 Posted March 2 54 minutes ago, John Jovic said: I use the apo-elmarit-r 180/3.4 and apo-summicron-r 180/2.0 on Sony bodies. Both are excellent and certainly keep up with the standards we have become used to with modern lenses. The apo-summicron-r 180/2.0 is still one of the sharpest lenses I own, although imho 'sharpness' is overrated, however it's nice to be able to shoot at F2.0 and have a razor sharp image. The 180 cron is my all time favourite lens! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Jovic Posted March 3 Share #11 Posted March 3 7 hours ago, topoxforddoc said: The 180 cron is my all time favourite lens! Yeah, I used to think they'd have to pry it from my cold dead hands but I'm a bit loosey-goosey on that now. I used to carry and use it like it was a 'nifty-50', it's such a great lens, but these days I'm feeling all of its 2.5kg. I've had it for around 30 years. Actually bought it new, so it's a 'one-owner'. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFW2-SCUSA Posted March 7 Share #12 Posted March 7 What is the wisdom on the APO Elmarit -R 180mm f2.8 V.1? I seem to remember it got high praise, but I can't find anything on it here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetPhoto Posted March 9 Share #13 Posted March 9 still a joke that many think new equals better. I have ricoh m42 200mm lens that in modern currency would take about a mere 20-50$ on the market called ebay if you could ifnd one that wasnt buggered up glass.. But to get an equivalent in the camera world, would cost about 2,220$ USD. Alot of the modern lenses only work because they are installing corrective ai software in the camera bodies. Its the only reason they need lenses that talk with the camera body. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmknoble Posted March 9 Share #14 Posted March 9 On 3/7/2025 at 3:56 PM, GFW2-SCUSA said: What is the wisdom on the APO Elmarit -R 180mm f2.8 V.1? I seem to remember it got high praise, but I can't find anything on it here. The V1 and v2 optics on the APO 180 f/2.8 are essentially the same. The biggest difference is that the V2 has a recessed back element which allows the use of the R APO 1.4x converter. The v1 has a back element flush with the back and will only take the APO 2.0x converter. I have the V1 and the V2 has been harder for me to find. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmknoble Posted March 9 Share #15 Posted March 9 6 hours ago, PetPhoto said: still a joke that many think new equals better. If you are referring to the V1 V2 of the APO 180mm f/2.8, not quite true, not a joke, but if you want to use both 1.4 and 2.0 converters, new is better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helge Posted March 9 Share #16 Posted March 9 vor 8 Stunden schrieb PetPhoto: still a joke that many think new equals better. I have ricoh m42 200mm lens that in modern currency would take about a mere 20-50$ on the market called ebay if you could ifnd one that wasnt buggered up glass.. But to get an equivalent in the camera world, would cost about 2,220$ USD. Alot of the modern lenses only work because they are installing corrective ai software in the camera bodies. Its the only reason they need lenses that talk with the camera body. Part of this is true, part isn’t 😉 You are right, being new doesn’t guarantee to be better. But there have been a lot of development over the last decades, improving lens calculation and production processes, mainly by using a lot more calculation power available today. There is always room for improvement! And you are right, especially today’s smart phones do use computational photography, improving the inferior pictures their sensors are generating, also using AI, local and remote. You are wrong however assuming that every camera today requires full computational photography. And you are definitely wrong by assuming that a connection between lens and camera would be required for today’s lenses (you also assume to be inferior to the old glasses). There has always been vignetting, which we accepted in the old days up to a certain point and corrected it in the following analogue workflow afterwards. This is now already possible in the camera and I don’t have an issue here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetPhoto Posted March 9 Share #17 Posted March 9 6 hours ago, Helge said: Part of this is true, part isn’t 😉 You are right, being new doesn’t guarantee to be better. But there have been a lot of development over the last decades, improving lens calculation and production processes, mainly by using a lot more calculation power available today. There is always room for improvement! And you are right, especially today’s smart phones do use computational photography, improving the inferior pictures their sensors are generating, also using AI, local and remote. You are wrong however assuming that every camera today requires full computational photography. And you are definitely wrong by assuming that a connection between lens and camera would be required for today’s lenses (you also assume to be inferior to the old glasses). There has always been vignetting, which we accepted in the old days up to a certain point and corrected it in the following analogue workflow afterwards. This is now already possible in the camera and I don’t have an issue here. most of the Nikon Z line has that "computational in camera AI adjustement technology" going on. Its hard to tell me that the LENS is such a great thing of great optical quality, when they felt the need to have built in AI software "correcting" the known areas of distortion and crappyness inherent in the len design. Its like, "Yes emperor palpatine,,, we KNOW its a really bad idea to have the reactor exhaust directly into space ith a huge shaft.. but this big super laser means nothing can get close enough" Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nykv Posted March 9 Share #18 Posted March 9 1 minute ago, PetPhoto said: most of the Nikon Z line has that "computational in camera AI adjustement technology" going on. Could you please elaborate?! Links to your infos would be welcome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetPhoto Posted March 9 Share #19 Posted March 9 17 minutes ago, nykv said: Could you please elaborate?! Links to your infos would be welcome. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62193330 sure sigma does it too i believe, but the thing is, people arent completely sure if the correction data is actually done by the camera to the raw file as its saved to camera, or if it merely stores the correction data to the raw file, and then its done automatically by the editing software. I know that most editing software has options for known lens issues. Some even for known camera issues.. however for someone trying to do photos, the forced AI editing isnt wanted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted March 9 Share #20 Posted March 9 4 minutes ago, PetPhoto said: the forced AI editing isnt wanted. 'forced AI editing' is not involved in most cases. Most are just transformations placed in the DNG file which then are applied by the algorithms implemented in the editing software. No AI at all. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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