Thinking about a 90-280?

[Tirpitz666]

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Just got mine used in seemingly pristine conditions from Adorama, can't wait to put it through its paces.. 🙂

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[thelivingyears]

Hoping for pictures

[dkCambridgeshire]

All very well acquiring e.g., an expensive Leica SL 90-280mm APO lens and enjoying using same - but – please also consider attempting to expose and process its images properly – so that the final post processed image, includes, when necessary, the 'important shadow detail' captured by the lens and camera. 

[Tirpitz666]

Since these are working days, so far I've only conducted some home tests to check that everything is in order with the lens, at infinity at 180mm and at 280mm wide open is basically just a hair less sharp than my 180 Apo Telyt F3.4 and Nikon AF-S 300 F2.8 D II (even stopped down to F4 for comparison), which I consider pretty impressive for a zoom, considering that those are some of the sharpest fixed tele-lenses I've ever own (and the Telyt is also optimized for infinity). And microcontrast is basically the same (maybe even a touch more than the Nikon, which has anyway its age on the shoulders in terms of coatings).

Edited July 24 by Tirpitz666

[Tirpitz666]

After some outings in the field, I can confirm that this puppy is basically like a bunch of long primes in one go, and the rendering is insanely good to my eyes.

I can confirm that the mechanical shutter at 1/125 does indeed induce shutter shock and robs the image with the ultimate sharpness that this lens it capable for at all FLs, so 1/250 is the basically the minimum I would set AutoISO if I don't want to shoot with the electronic shutter (only relevant for moving targets).

[IkarusJohn]

I lugged mine on at least one 3 day tramp, and out to a bird sanctuary island here - it’s a beast of a lens, but the images were stellar.

I’ve switched to an APO Elmarit-R 180/2.8 and an APO 2x Extender, which gives me the options of 180mm and 360mm on my SL(601).  I’ve never been very good with zooms, finding I either used one end of the range or the other.

[lanetomlane]

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I've had the 90-280 for years and absolutely love it. In addition to landscape I've used it for motorsport, horse trials, rugby and its last outing was to take photo's of Red Squirrels, as seen below :-

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[TheGodParticle/Hari]

On 7/16/2025 at 8:28 PM, Jonathan Levin said:

Hi all.

I am planning a trip out west and was thinking that I'd like a longer zoom for all those Nat Geo shot I'll capture ;- I currently have the 24-90 for my SL3. I was considering getting a really gently used 90-280 which run about $5200US. At over $7000, new is out of the question. Although I'm pretty confident the image quality has got to be pretty wonderful. Are there other options I should consider? Nothing is going to be as costly as the Leica lenses, so new for another brand is not out of the question. I'd prefer to have something in the 90-280 range, and maybe something that isn't as long as my right arm too. I'd love to have an accompanying Leica 90-280, but you know... Let me know your thoughts. Thanks

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan, 

Many images shot with the 90-280 here: 

 

[jaapv]

On 8/20/2025 at 10:49 AM, lanetomlane said:

I've had the 90-280 for years and absolutely love it. In addition to landscape I've used it for motorsport, horse trials, rugby and its last outing was to take photo's of Red Squirrels, as seen below :-

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I thought that there was something inadequate with Leica’s AF ????

[Luke_Miller]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

I thought that there was something inadequate with Leica’s AF ????

Only for some users apparently.