[LRflex] Re: R lenses
- From: "Aram Langhans" <leica_r8@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:58:24 -0800
Miguel
You didn't say what you like to shoot, so it is hard to recommend lenses,
but Doug's list is all inclusive.
I do have the 24mm and I find it the equal of my previous 25mm Zeiss on my
Rollei. I find no faults in the lens other than the rear element extends
into the camera body, so would create a problem if I decided to use it on a
full frame digital, but not a problem for you with R9.
And if there were one lens in the range you specified that I would buy it
would be the 100/2.8 APO Macro. Amazing lens. And if your shooting
includes any desire for macro, it is THE lens to get. Doug drools over his
280 APO for his work, and I drool over my 100 APO for my work. I've never
used the 280, so I have no comment on it. It is out of your specified
range, anyway. Get the 100 APO! STOP, Do Not Pass Go until you have that
lens if you want something from 100-180. Even if you do not do macro (yet),
it performs equally good from close to distance. And you will have the
capability for macro when the time comes.
Aram
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Doug Herr" <wildlightphoto@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 5:48 AM
To: <leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [LRflex] Re: R lenses
Miguel Asensio wrote:
... I'm looking at wide angle lenses in the 20 - 28mm range
and short telephotos from 100 - 180mm.
Could anyone give me a run-down of the R lenses in those ranges and
their strong points?
stretching your focal length range a bit...
19mm: the older version (big front element) is good but in most respects
is out-performed by the 2nd version (built-in filters)
21mm: the 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon-R, a Schneider design, is older than the
19mm lenses. It's more convenient if you want to use filters other than
the ones built into the late 19mm lens, but is not as sharp particularly
at the widest apertures. The diaphragm has 4 blades.
24mm: this is a minolta design; it has many fans, and possibly an equal
number who are not impressed with it. Might be a personal taste issue, or
a heritage issue. I have no personal experience with it.
28mm: early version (detachable lens hood) is quite good at distances,
late version (built-in rectangular hood) is improved at distances and much
improved at close range.
100mm: f/4 macro is good but not spectacular. This lens was made both for
bellows only and with a helical focussing mount. f/2.8 APO macro is
apochromatic and spectacular: bright colors, outstanding detail, gradation
& contrast, good bokeh. The 100 APO uses a dedicated supplementary lens
(Leica's name for these is Elpro) for the 1:2 to 1:1 range.
135mm: good for its day, but heavy and a long-ish minimum focus distance.
The early version (Germany) flares readily but has nice creamy bokeh.
Stop it down to f/5.6 or so for best results. The late version (Canada,
heavier than the first) has improved performance at close range.
180mm: the f/4 Elmar's best features are its compact size, light weight
and small filter size. Optical performance is good but not great; as with
the 135, it flares readily but has good bokeh.
The 180mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt is a very old design, originally developed for
the US Navy. It's performance at/near infinity is outstanding, degrading
at closer distances somewhat. It has a long minimum focus distance and
early versions use an unusual Series 7.5 filter size. Late versions are
optically identical but use 60mm threaded filters.
There are three 180mm f/2.8 Elmarits. The earliest version is very heavy
and has a built-in non-rotating tripod mount. The second version is much
lighter and has no tripod mount. I won't comment on performance of these
lenses because I haven't used either very much. The third 180 Elmarit is
the APO, which is a delightful lens is most respects: it's very sharp,
shows delightfully smooth bokeh, light weight and has an excellent minimum
focus distance. IMHO the two things that would improve it are a bit more
resistance in the focussing ring, and a built-in rotating tripod mount.
An add-on rotating tripod mount is available but I find it not as smooth
and effortless to use as the one on the 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt.
The 180mm f/2 APO-Summicron-R has an excellent reputation and I have
almost zero experience with it.
Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com
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