[LRflex] Re: Leica 180 APO versus Nikkor 200

Chris,

I've owned both the 180 3.4 and Summicron APO lenses,
Both are fantastic.  Only downside to the 3.4 is the
close focusing distance.  Upside is the (relatively)
light weight.  It was designed for night surveilance
photography, so it is optimum or near so wide open! 
You DEFINITELY will want to pick up the original 2x
extender, and don't spend the extra $$ on the newer
APO converter for this lens, as the original extender
was designed with the 3.4 lens.  You will have an
excellent 360 6.8 for an extra 200-250!  Again, don't
be afraid to shoot it wide open, even with the
extender!  

It is excellent for B&W.  I recall Leitz advertising
materials showed a b&w scenic shot with the 180 3.4
and an orange filter to demonstrate the extreme
sharpness of their lenses, and then with the 2x to
show how there is little loss with the 2x -- they also
compared using the 2x to simply enlarging an area from
the shot without the 2x, to show how much sharper it
is with the 2x.  

Don't ever be concerned with using the lens in high
contrast situations -- it was designed for them.  When
people say it has high contrast it is in the sense
that it will hold detail in shadows and highlights
like other lenses can't.  Get a loop and look at the
detail in the bird's dark feathers and white feathers,
not whether the reflections in the water are burning
out.  If your highlights burn out, it is exposure, not
the lens being "too contrasty."  You will also see
more shadow detail in available light shots.

Good choice, Enjoy!

Tom Schofield


--- Chris Birchenhall <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> A local dealer let me try out a 3-cam 180 Apo f3.4.
> I took it out on my SL2.
> Yes it is a sharp lens, but you have to control
> contrast or use it where
> contrast is not too demanding or high contrast helps
> with the photograph?
> Here is one of my first shots on Superia 400, yes a
> common bird shot (wrong
> group I know!); it was a dull day but the contrast
> here is in my view too
> high.
> 
>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7180494@N02/440574535/in/photostream/
> 
> Here is a simple detail from a canal boat; here the
> contrast helps:
> 
>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7180494@N02/440574541/in/photostream/
> 
> Needless to say I bought the lens!
> 
> Here one taken with the R8 and Velvia 50 where I
> have exploited the contrast
> - I am a sucker for cloudscapes:
> 
>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7180494@N02/440574545/in/photostream/
> 
> I am wondering if this lens is not best for B&W? I
> will want to compare it
> to the 80-200 f4 (with the latter at its 200 end). I
> don't have a Nikon 200
> to compare. 
> 
> Chris



 
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