The 180mm Shoot-out

Home · Register · Search · Software · Hosting · Software · Join Upload & Sell

FM Forums \| Alternative Gear & Lenses \| Join Upload & Sell
1 2 3 4 5 end

The 180mm Shoot-out

Lee Saxon
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · The 180mm Shoot-out

I'm putting together an extensive comparison test of primes at the 180mm focal length. I'll be measuring actual focal length at various distances, running Imatest, doing Diglloyd-esque A-B comparisons of static subjects (some of which will test resolution, some chromatic aberration) at various apertures, and doing "field testing."

These are all stills lenses, marked in f-stops. As some are quite old, I expect actual transmission to vary quite a bit. I would love to measure actual T-stops. Can anyone recommend a way to do this?

Suggestions for additional tests are welcome, as well!

I've acquired these lenses (multiple copies of most):

Hasselblad Sonnar 180/4 CF
Leica APO-Telyt-R 180/3.4
Nikon AF Nikkor 180/2.8D ED-IF
Nikon Nikkor 180/2.8 ED AI-s
Sigma APO-Macro 180/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
Tamron SP180/2.5 LD(IF)
Vernon Edonar 180/3.5
Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 180/4 SL
Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 180/2.8 MC

(and if anyone can loan or rent a Leica APO-Summicron 180/2, they would be credited as a sponsor)

Edited on Feb 18, 2013 at 09:50 PM · View previous versions

Jan 12, 2013 at 07:46 PM

Lee Saxon
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · The 180mm Shoot-out

[deleted]

Edited on Feb 18, 2013 at 07:14 PM · View previous versions

Jan 12, 2013 at 07:47 PM

carstenw
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Leica 180mm f/2.8 APO-Elmarit-R, 180mm f/2 APO-Summicron-R

If you were in Germany, I could lend you my 180/2 for the test. The Leica 180mm f/2.8 II is also a good lens, but maybe not worth buying just for a test. The first version is not that interesting.

Definitely test for CA in tree branches with sun behind somewhere! This is where a lot of these fall down. Also test for sharpness wide open and at f/4 and f/8, at the near limit and infinity, in non-contrasty light conditions. Other than that, boke, near and medium distances, and for portraits.

Maybe consider adding 200mm lenses to the test.

Edited on Jan 12, 2013 at 08:20 PM · View previous versions

Jan 12, 2013 at 08:20 PM

jcolwell
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Sounds like a good plan. Hopefully, you'll have some good atmospherics, as the APO-Telyt-R really shines for distant subjects - infinity and beyond!

Jan 12, 2013 at 08:20 PM

Bifurcator
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · The 180mm Shoot-out

When you do it include a moderately priced zoom that covers 180mm (hopefully a 100-300 or a zoom of XX-200mm known to be good at the long end) for posterity. It will add controversy to the test and shake some people's faith.

On the prime list there's:

Tamron SP180mm F2.5 LD
Contax 180mm F/2.8
Canon EF 180mm F/3.5L
Nikkor-P Auto 180mm f/2.8
Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 180mm F/2.8

All of which I dig.

And
Sigma APO 180mm f/3.5
Zeiss Sonnar 180mm F/4 ZV - as long as you're doing MF lenses.
Jupiter-6 (M39) 180mm F/2.8

Of course most of those won't mount on a Canon body... such a shame! (Maybe borrow a "real" camera for the test! hehe...j/k)

Edited on Jan 12, 2013 at 09:30 PM · View previous versions

Jan 12, 2013 at 09:09 PM

wayne seltzer
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · The 180mm Shoot-out

180/2.8 APO, VL 180/4, mamiya 200 APO

Jan 12, 2013 at 09:15 PM

philip_pj
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Yes, the Voigt 180/4 and do check for CA (a body of water seems to do the trick) and maybe setup a fair bokeh comparo. If 200s are allowed, Minolta's 200mm f2.8 APO.

And thanks in advance for any work you put into this, Lee.

Jan 12, 2013 at 10:04 PM

bobbytan
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Zeiss Sonnar T* 180/2.8

Jan 12, 2013 at 10:23 PM

mpmendenhall
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Along with Bifurcators's recommendation for a "moderately priced zoom," you could include the Contax 100-300/4.5-5.6 (a more expensive zoom, reputed to be very good).

Jan 13, 2013 at 09:18 AM

artur5
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Bifurcator wrote:
When you do it include a moderately priced zoom that covers 180mm (hopefully a 100-300 or a zoom of XX-200mm known to be good at the long end) for posterity. It will add controversy to the test and shake some people's faith.

On the prime list there's:

Tamron SP180mm F2.5 LD
Contax 180mm F/2.8
Canon EF 180mm F/3.5L
Nikkor-P Auto 180mm f/2.8
Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 180mm F/2.8

All of which I dig.

Or do you meant a NIKON body ?

Jan 13, 2013 at 11:01 AM

Lee Saxon
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #11 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Thanks for the comments, guys. So far I've purchased Nikon 180/2.8 ED AI-s, Leica 180/3.4 APO-Telyt-R, and Tamron SP180/2.5 LD-IF.

Since the Nikon is cheap and common, I've bought several and will screen for bad samples. Doubt I'll be able to do this with any of the other competitors, but we'll see.

carstenw wrote:
Leica 180mm f/2.8 APO-Elmarit-R, 180mm f/2 APO-Summicron-R

If you were in Germany, I could lend you my 180/2 for the test.

I've always wanted to do BMW European Delivery (factory pick-up). Add in the chance to use a 180/2 and I might have to finally do it!

carstenw wrote:
The Leica 180mm f/2.8 II is also a good lens, but maybe not worth buying just for a test.

There's enough R demand I'm sure I could resell it after the test. I may go for it.

Bifurcator wrote:
Zeiss Sonnar 180mm F/4 ZV - as long as you're doing MF lenses.

I thought the ZV series were just rehousings of the CFi/CFE lenses (into "classic" silver like the C lenses), so the Zeiss 180/4 ZV was the same lens as the Hasselblad 180/4 I mentioned in the OP. Is that not right?

Jan 13, 2013 at 11:48 PM

erichard
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · The 180mm Shoot-out

You might as well include the Canon 70-200 2.8 II zoom, as that is the biggest competitor for many folks, if you have it. Non Alt, but would be Alt vs Canon.

Jan 14, 2013 at 12:55 AM

pdmphoto
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Older Sigma 180/2.8 APO Macro was available in Nikon mount. Angenieux 180/2.3 APO was also available in NIkon mount. The Angenieux very hard to find in good condition, and expensive. The Sigma's have been showing up lately and are excellent.

Jan 14, 2013 at 03:33 AM

hauxon
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #14 · The 180mm Shoot-out

The Voigtlander 180/4 is a sweet lens.

Jan 14, 2013 at 10:49 AM

Lee Saxon
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #15 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Exciting new 180/3.4 APO-Telyt-R arrives tomorrow and I just realized I forgot to order a Leitax!! Guess it's just gonna sit around looking pretty for a while :/

Jan 15, 2013 at 04:27 AM

ocean2059
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #16 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Lee, look forward to your comparison. Will you be using Nikon or Sony body? Thanks,

Jan 15, 2013 at 04:53 AM

thrice
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · The 180mm Shoot-out

ocean2059 wrote:
Will you be using Nikon or Sony body?

He stated Nikon FF in the first post.

Jan 15, 2013 at 05:07 AM

Almass
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · The 180mm Shoot-out

The standard for the 180mm is the Leica R APO 180/2.8. It would be redundant to test for the Cron 180/2 as both Elmarit and Cron level out as of 2.8.

Jan 15, 2013 at 07:10 AM

carstenw
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · The 180mm Shoot-out

Except that the 180/2 Cron is f/2!!!

Jan 15, 2013 at 10:16 AM

jamesdak
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #20 · The 180mm Shoot-out

erichard wrote:
You might as well include the Canon 70-200 2.8 II zoom, as that is the biggest competitor for many folks, if you have it. Non Alt, but would be Alt vs Canon.

Well, I already tested my Canon 70-200/2.8 zoom against both my Leica R 180/3.4 and my Mamiya 200/2.8 APO and the Canon fell short of both lenses across the board. The version II will have to be a lot better than the first USM to come close to the good primes.

Jan 15, 2013 at 06:03 PM

1 2 3 4 5 end
FM Forums \| Alternative Gear & Lenses \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 4 5 end