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Three Leica products I wish I'd owned sooner...


johnastovall

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Regarding the 180/3.4, I've had one for at least 20 years, actually maybe longer, having gotten it whenever it was first offered to the public. When I first got it, I thought it was fantastic. Then I moved to digital but not to the DMR, so the 180/3.4 sat in a drawer for 10 years. When I finally got an R9 and DMR I also got both the 180/2.8 APO (ROM) and the 180/2. Meanwhile, the 180/3.4 is still in the drawer because, for some reason, I had come to the conclusion—unsubstantiated by my own photos, mind you—that the 180/2.8 APO was superior to the 180/3.4 and the 180/2 simply blew the other two away for great bokeh. This is embarassing to admit that I formed these opinions without giving the 180/3.4 another chance on the R9/DMR. Should I have given it another chance? If so, what is it about the 180/3.4 that is superior to the 180/2.8 APO (forget the 180/2...it's a different horse for a different course, which I realize).?

 

Is it the relative light weight and smaller package that the 180/3.4 represents or is there another reason you are all so big on it?

 

 

Hello Edlaupic,

 

I too have the same trio of 180mm Leica lenses. The 3.4 I bought new in the early 80's. Although optically wonderful, I never really liked the firm feel of the focusing so never used this lens as much as I should have. If I had used it more I am sure that the focus would have eased. A few years ago I bought the 2.8 APO which I really love, and find the focus action very pleasurable. It has a closer focus range also. The f2 dream machine comes out to play from time to time. I have used the f2.8 and f2 much more than I ever used the 3.4. The 3.4 sits on the shelf, in as new condition. Sometimes I consider selling it, but can never bring myself to do it. I may try it out on the DMR this week.

 

The only Leica lens I wish I had bought sooner is the 280 f4 APO. I bought the 180 f2 at the time and didn't have the money for both.

 

Mark

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  • 1 month later...
... 280/4 Apo Telyt R ... is reason enough for a digital R solution.

 

I agree!! The 280mm f/4 APO Telyt and the DMR together are 100% magical. The only thing that would improve on this is a full-frame R-mount camera with DMR or better image quality.

 

btha04.jpg

 

feha02.jpg

 

Both photos: R8/DMR, 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R

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  • 2 weeks later...

Not a Leica product - but in all seriousness the Zeiss Sonnar 1.5/50mm lens is the number one thing I wish I'd had my hands on sooner. It would have saved a lot of searching for my favorite 50. This lens couples impressively with the M8's sensor. The combination creates a colour reproduction so pleasing that I haven't shot film since I got it.

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