[LRflex] Re: R lenses
- From: David Simms <simmszee@xxxxxxxx>
- To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:57:30 -0800 (PST)
Sweet obscessions !
I just checked the MTF curves of the 28-90mm against single focal lengths 28mm,
35mm and 90mm. The zoom doesn't seem to give up very much at the low and the
high ends but it outperforms the 35 mm f 2 Summicron. of course, what does a
wee bit of optical performance matter if a) you're not using a tripod b) you
didn't get the shot because you were "octopussing" a lens change.
Dave
________________________________
From: "wildlightphoto@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <wildlightphoto@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, November 30, 2009 10:46:33 AM
Subject: [LRflex] Re: R lenses
David Simms wrote:
> ... the sterling 70mm to 180mm zoom which is reputedly as sharp, or
sharper,
> as any of the best single focal length lenses.
zooms! I forgot all about zooms. In the longer end of the focal length
range Leica has sold several models. The 70-180 f/2.8 APO certainly
deserves its sterling reputation. Nearly as good and much smaller, lighter
and affordable is the 80-200mm f/4.
The 80-200 f/4 is a Leica design made for Leica by Kyocera in Japan. Don't
be bothered by the manufacturing location, this is as Leica a lens as they
come. Sharp at full aperture with excellent color rendition, flare
resistance and bokeh, some light fall-off toward the corners at f/4, very
solid Leica construction quality.
Other lenses in this range are Minolta designs, made by Minolta for Leica,
in chronological order:
80-200mm f/4.5 - quite an old design, from 1976 IIRC
75-200mm f/4.5
70-210mm f/4
The f/4.5 lenses use 55mm filters, the f/4 zooms use 60mm filters. The
Minolta-sourced lenses were good in their day, but the 80-200 f/4 and the
70-180 APO are quite a bit better.
My experience with the Minolta-sourced zooms is limited to the 75-200 f/4.5
which has excellent flare resistance, but shows some wierd bokeh artifacts
and isn't Leica construction quality. It also has a hood that cannot be
retracted at the shortest focal lenght, making turning a polarizing filter
frustrating. The front element also rotates while focussing so this is not
a lens I'd recommend for using a polarizing filter. Contrasted with this
the 80-200mm f/4 has non-rotating focus and the hood can be retracted at
all focal lengths.
At the short end Leica also made a 21-35mm which I have no experience with.
Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com
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