105-280 f4.2 Vario Elmar

[holmes]

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Trying to put together an 'R' bag I have to keep myself about a certain focal length. My 'M' system handles the uber wide (28 f2 asp) to short tele with my 75 f1.4. It's the same thing as doing professional, which I did over a matter of 40 plus years. Needing the right lens to cover the assignment. Photo editors and publishers of high school and college text books are demanding. Even in retirement I still had that problem with my wonderful Ms. So I thought about a SMALL bag with a couple of R lenses to give me reach. I found a new R6.2 along with the Elmar 180 f4. For the second camera a nearly new R7. I decided to minimize and found a new 105-280 4.2 Vario Elmar, E 77. My Ms have taken me around a good portion of the states and Bavaria (Munechen), Austrian Alps, Italian Alps, Trieste and Venice on the Adriatic. Verona for the out door opera in the old Roman coliseum. I digress. The 105-280 f4.2 was the first Leica lens with a ROM chip. Anything anyone can tell me appreicated. Thanks

[SteveYork]

Trying to put together an 'R' bag I have to keep myself about a certain focal length. My 'M' system handles the uber wide (28 f2 asp) to short tele with my 75 f1.4. It's the same thing as doing professional, which I did over a matter of 40 plus years. Needing the right lens to cover the assignment. Photo editors and publishers of high school and college text books are demanding. Even in retirement I still had that problem with my wonderful Ms. So I thought about a SMALL bag with a couple of R lenses to give me reach. I found a new R6.2 along with the Elmar 180 f4. For the second camera a nearly new R7. I decided to minimize and found a new 105-280 4.2 Vario Elmar, E 77. My Ms have taken me around a good portion of the states and Bavaria (Munechen), Austrian Alps, Italian Alps, Trieste and Venice on the Adriatic. Verona for the out door opera in the old Roman coliseum. I digress. The 105-280 f4.2 was the first Leica lens with a ROM chip. Anything anyone can tell me appreicated. Thanks

 

It has a very fine reputation, but it is a very heavy too. I question whether the lens can be handheld, because it's close to 2kg. But I think it is also one of the few lenses that can take the 1.4x extender. This lens and a extender can cover just about...well, not everything, but a lot.

 

 

Color Foto test report on the 105-280 (out of a possible 100 pts.) is 86.2. To give you some context, the legendary 50mm Summicron M tested at 83.2. Who knows what those numbers all mean, but the zoom must be a very special lens.

 

I find myself in much the same boat, and have put together a similar outfit centered around a new R6.2. Unfortunately, I discovered the beauty of the Leicaflex SL viewfinder. I've been so impressed with the old camera for telephoto work (I'll only use it on birds and bees trips) that I've been thinking about reevaluating everything.