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


johnastovall

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Guest darkstar2004

My Noctilux f/1.0 - I can thnk of many situations in the past where it would have been great to have it at hand.

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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?

 

I was told by Leica that the Canadian military paid for the R & D on the 180/3.4 and that whilst it retailed at £2000 in the 90's it should have been a £10,000 lens! It was known to be the best but frowned upon because it didn't have a "prime" aperture.

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I was told by Leica that the Canadian military paid for the R & D on the 180/3.4 and that whilst it retailed at £2000 in the 90's it should have been a £10,000 lens! It was known to be the best but frowned upon because it didn't have a "prime" aperture.

 

I had heard it was US military, not Canadian.

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I stand corrected - Leica Canada for the US Navy I believe?

 

That's what I've heard.

 

280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R

 

1.4x APO-Extender-R

 

DMR

 

Only because the original topic of the thread was "three Leica products... ", I left out the Leicaflex SL and 400mm f/6.8 Telyt. These, along with the DMR, 280mm f/4 APO and 1.4x APO-Extender are the Leica products I wish I had begun using (vs. merely owned) much sooner.

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Guest maddoc2003jp
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the m7/72 as well.

it's perfect.

 

+1. The M7 0.72x is close to perfect, IMHO. It would be perfect with an easier adjustable ISO / DX dial but then ... What is perfect anyhow ? :D

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Surprisingly I have almost the exact same experience withe the Leica 180 s . I bought the 180 3.4 apo when it was released went through a few copies but still have the last version with the 60mm filter. I also have both the 2.8 and 2.0 apo s and use them on my DMR.

 

For pure optical performance the 180 3.4 is still competitive with the newer lenses. The big difference is the focus/handling. The 180 2.8 apo is by far the best handling longer lens I have seen. The focus mount was designed for two finger adjustments .....I can follow focus a surfer with this lens. It also mates with the 1.4apo extender to create a great 250/4 (thats a 350FOV on a DMR).

 

The 180 3.4 was designed for military use at distances . It performs its best at infinity. It also has a very long throw(read slow but precise) ....I always found it difficult to use for sports ( and used the older 180/2.8 pre apo version just for the ability to focus).

 

For travel the 180 3.4 is still a fine choice but I find the 180 2.8 apo as an almost perfect lens. The 180 2 is just to big and heavy for most of my work .

 

 

Are you sure? I have to get home to check, but I'm 95% convinced that is not possible, as the extender will hit the rear element of the lens. I do use it with the 2x apoextender as a light-weight 360, though.

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Noctilux, MATE and 21mm ASPH Elmarit for me. Still don't own any of them though :(

Though nowadays, having the M8, the new 18mm would replace the 21. In fact, I've taken a bit of a flyer - having just got a second M8 body, one of the free UV/IR filters I've ordered is for the 18. I'm saving like mad for one now, in the hope of being able to afford one for my 50th.

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Are you sure? I have to get home to check, but I'm 95% convinced that is not possible, as the extender will hit the rear element of the lens. I do use it with the 2x apoextender as a light-weight 360, though.

 

If it's the 180mm f/2.8 APO-Elmarit-R, it depends. An early version in original configuration cannot be used with the 1.4x APO-Extender-R, but a later version, or an early version modified, may be used with this extender. My 180 APO Elmarit-R is an early version, modified and it works fine with the 1.4x.

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If it's the 180mm f/2.8 APO-Elmarit-R, it depends. An early version in original configuration cannot be used with the 1.4x APO-Extender-R, but a later version, or an early version modified, may be used with this extender. My 180 APO Elmarit-R is an early version, modified and it works fine with the 1.4x.

I see, Doug, thanks :)

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