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Archive 2015 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's

  
 
Lee Saxon
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


What options are out there for fast (below f/2.8) manual focus 180/200's?

I have a 180/2 APO-Summicron-R and I'm aware of of the C/Y 200/2 Aposonnar, Nikon 200/2 AI-s, and rare Canon 200/1.8 FDn. Any others? How do they stack up (although I'm aware we're splitting hairs at this level)? Are the modern/current 200/2's significantly better (not taking IS/VR or AF into consideration since I use neither)?



Sep 28, 2015 at 01:11 PM
mawz
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


Lee Saxon wrote:
What options are out there for fast (below f/2.8) manual focus 180/200's?

I have a 180/2 APO-Summicron-R and I'm aware of of the C/Y 200/2 Aposonnar, Nikon 200/2 AI-s, and rare Canon 200/1.8 FDn. Any others? How do they stack up (although I'm aware we're splitting hairs at this level)? Are the modern/current 200/2's significantly better (not taking IS/VR or AF into consideration since I use neither)?


The current Nikon 200/2 VRII is significantly better than the AI-S, a combination of improved optical design and Nano-coating. I can't comment on the others.



Sep 28, 2015 at 02:36 PM
JohnJ
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


Lee Saxon wrote:
What options are out there for fast (below f/2.8) manual focus 180/200's?
...


Not sure. Maybe there are some odd aerial or projection lens but probably without helicoids, adjustable apertures or both.

Anyway, any excuse to post a couple of pics of the R 180 Cron!

http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/Leica/R180Cron/IMG_7808_1_pc_1000.jpg

http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/Leica/R180Cron/IMG_7782_1_pc_1000.jpg

I've been using mine far more often in recent times and I don't find it wanting optically in any significant way, at close range or at distance. I do covet the 1.8/200 EF Canon, an AF lens so not relevant to your post, for it's smooth bokeh though.



Sep 28, 2015 at 04:14 PM
uhoh7
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


For MF, the Nikon 180 ED AIS is stellar. opps not below 2.8 sry


DSC01133 by unoh7, no Crop

Edited on Sep 28, 2015 at 04:43 PM · View previous versions



Sep 28, 2015 at 04:40 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


I've owned these:

Tamron SP 180/2.5 LD IF MF
SMC Pentax 200/2.5

They're both great in the centre, the Pentax is better elsewhere. The SMC Pentax-A* ED 200/2.8 is a bit better again, but not faster than f/2.8.

I currently have the Canon EF 200/1.8L. It has a manual focus ring.

(The 200/1.8L requires power from the camera to enable manual focus.)



Sep 28, 2015 at 04:42 PM
Fred Bruche
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


At a slightly longer focal length but just as fast, there's the Olympus OM 250 f2 (I currently own). Incredibly sharp wide open and almost as heavy as the APO-Summicron... but my comparison will stop at the weight since I don't it


Sep 28, 2015 at 06:55 PM
freaklikeme
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


Lee Saxon wrote:
What options are out there for fast (below f/2.8) manual focus 180/200's?

I have a 180/2 APO-Summicron-R and I'm aware of of the C/Y 200/2 Aposonnar, Nikon 200/2 AI-s, and rare Canon 200/1.8 FDn. Any others? How do they stack up (although I'm aware we're splitting hairs at this level)? Are the modern/current 200/2's significantly better (not taking IS/VR or AF into consideration since I use neither)?


CarstenW did a comparison of the APO-R 180 and the Nikon 200/2 VR over in the alt forum at GetDPI. As I posted in the thread there, it seems like Nikon caught up with Leica... finally.

I used to lust after the Aposonnar until I got to use one. It's a very nice lens that sells at a high price more out of rarity and brand-recognition than performance, I think.

There is the Angenieux 180/2.3 that squeaks under the requirements. Never shot with it or even been in the same room with one. Ditto the nFD 200/1.8, though I have used the EF version.



Sep 28, 2015 at 07:55 PM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


There is also the Olympus OM 180 f/2. It is supposed to be excellent as well.


Sep 28, 2015 at 10:04 PM
phuang3
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


I like the Summicron, but it's MF which limits the my successful rate of taking good pictures. I wish to trade it for a Canon 200/2 IS.

One example from 180 Summicron. I took hundred shots, but only a fraction of them are in focus.

http://kspqm.kymco.com/ckfinder/resource/johnny/image/summicron180.jpg

Edited on Sep 30, 2015 at 03:12 AM · View previous versions



Sep 29, 2015 at 06:20 AM
rico
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


freaklikeme wrote:
I used to lust after the Aposonnar until I got to use one. It's a very nice lens that sells at a high price more out of rarity and brand-recognition than performance, I think.

Regrettably, I have to agree—at least with the advent of the latest Canikon versions with AF/VR/IS. The Aposonnar is sufficiently sharp and color corrected, but the b/g bokeh is outright jagged w/o. The f/g melts but, for my pictorial needs, is the wrong design decision. It was a performance leader in its time (mid '90s), but the new CZ 135/2 shows what CZ can do today.



Sep 29, 2015 at 07:44 PM
hiepphotog
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


As Steve said, there is that rare Olympus 180/2 and an even rarer/longer 250/2 (close enough to 200). Above 200, you have the Nikon 300/2.

Years back, Son did comparison between these 200ish fast lenses and the Oly is not as good as the rest. However, the 250/2 is supposed to be quite better than the 180/2 so it might hang with the like of Cron 180 and FD 200/1.8. I saw shots from the APO Sonnar, and not only it's not quite as sharp as others, but its bokeh and purple fringing bring shame to Zeiss name really.

And I DO think we need to split hair at this level . The price for any of these is not a small sum for a one trick pony to have unique-looking portraits. For any other use, smaller/lighter lens can do the job just as well, and I'm a picky one in term of sharpness. I would never pay for a Cron 180 at its current price right now, though I do want to repurchase one. It has nothing over the Canikon 200/2, definitely not over the Canon 200/1.8.



Sep 29, 2015 at 08:39 PM
pdmphoto
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


freaklikeme wrote:
CarstenW did a comparison of the APO-R 180 and the Nikon 200/2 VR over in the alt forum at GetDPI. As I posted in the thread there, it seems like Nikon caught up with Leica... finally.

I used to lust after the Aposonnar until I got to use one. It's a very nice lens that sells at a high price more out of rarity and brand-recognition than performance, I think.

There is the Angenieux 180/2.3 that squeaks under the requirements. Never shot with it or even been in the same room with one. Ditto the nFD 200/1.8, though I have used the
...Show more

The Angenieux 180/2.3 APO is the best 180-200 lens I have ever used. I have tried just about all the 180-200 from Canon, Minolta, Leica, Sigma. It has top notch IQ, it is f/2.3, internal focusing, with a large and nicely damped manual focus ring, yet the lens is relatively small and light (just over 1/3 weight of Canon AF fast 200's). It also accepts regular 82mm filters on the front ring

http://www.imaginenature.com/angenieux_5.jpg.



Sep 30, 2015 at 08:23 PM
hiepphotog
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


pdmphoto wrote:
The Angenieux 180/2.3 APO is the best 180-200 lens I have ever used. I have tried just about all the 180-200 from Canon, Minolta, Leica, Sigma. It has top notch IQ, it is f/2.3, internal focusing, with a large and nicely damped manual focus ring, yet the lens is relatively small and light (just over 1/3 weight of Canon AF fast 200's). It also accepts regular 82mm filters on the front ring

http://www.imaginenature.com/angenieux_5.jpg.


Are you saying this lens is better than the like of Canikon 200/2 and Cron 180/2? 2.3 is certainly not bad. 1/3 of the weight of a 200/2 would be less than 1kg. That would be a feast I have to say. I'm thinking of getting that Zuiko 180/2, but this might be a better choice if it's indeed so. What's the MFD?



Sep 30, 2015 at 10:23 PM
helimat
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


Nice Paul


Sep 30, 2015 at 10:36 PM
phuang3
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


hiepphotog wrote:
I'm thinking of getting that Zuiko 180/2, but this might be a better choice if it's indeed so. What's the MFD?



Zuiko 180/2 is the rarest. Last time I saw it on eBay, and the final bid was close to $5500!
I'd love to see samples from it.




Oct 06, 2015 at 01:49 AM
ZoneV
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Manual Focus fast 180/200's


JohnJ wrote:
..
Not sure. Maybe there are some odd aerial or projection lens but probably without helicoids, adjustable apertures or both.
....


There are special rare lenses like Lenzar 184.6mm f/0.9 or Kollmorgen 153mm f/1.0, Kilfitt Zoomar 240mm f/1.2 or a Zeiss UR 250mm f/1.0 - somewhere, but likely at extreme cost when they are sold.

I have lenses like the Rathenow (later Zeiss) Visionar 183mm/1.9 another ROW 200mm/1.9 (not Visionar), Meyer Kinon 200mm/2.1 and other fast projection lenses.
For my own pleasure I made lenses like ~180mm/1.2.

I expect all modern lenses to be better in terms of MTF and CA correction. Bokeh is probably different.



Oct 15, 2015 at 02:19 AM





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