The 2x APO that I am sending you has been used with all my 180mm APO (f3.4, f2.8, f2) without any problems. I only replaced it with a ROM version to get the Exif and any automatic image corrections the camera may do when it knows what lens is mounted.
The Leica Apo 2.8/180 can take the Apo 1.4x tele-converter but only the few that was first made. The one you have is the later version thus it will not take the 1.4x TC. It has been awhile now so I forget the serial number that it will take.
Pham Minh Son wrote:
The Leica Apo 2.8/180 can take the Apo 1.4x tele-converter but only the few that was first made. The one you have is the later version thus it will not take the 1.4x TC. It has been awhile now so I forget the serial number that it will take.
It's the first version that will not work with the 1.4x APO-Extender-R. Current production will work fine.
I tried the Canon 200/2.8L, Leica 180/2.8 (non-APO), and Leica 180/3.4 APO. The Canon was at the bottom of the list. I preferred the Leica 180/3.4 APO over the 180/2.8 non-APO. For the price of the Leica 180/2.8 APO you might also want to consider a Angenieux 180/2.3. It's 2/3 stop faster, fully APO, and I think it has more character.
Both 180/2.8 APO & 180/2 APO have extremely smooth (loose?) focus throw. Initially I was not used to it, but after I took hundreds of photos I start to like this idea. This allows me to track my subject very fast by just one finger. On the other hand, focus throw of my 180/3.4 APO is tight, it's harder to maintain stability while truning the focus ring. (Another reason: focus ring is too close to the body making the whole setup unbalanced.) I once tried a 1st ver of 400/2.8 APO. Its focus ring is huge, but very smooth, too. I guess the 180 APOs inherited this idea.
I don't shoot much SLR but have so far found the Canon 200/2.8L to be a great lens. Then again, when I shoot SLR, I usually want the AF. I also feel that Canon's telephoto range is where all their best lenses are - 135 and up.
As far as the original question, best quality will probably come from the newest Leica lens in that list without a TC. Either the APO 180/2.8 or 180/2, or if you want 300mm, go for the APO 280/4. TC's are always going to reduce quality. While it might be an acceptable reduction in quality, it's still going to be a reduction. I'd probably go for the APO 180/2.8 - the 180/2 is huge.
PSquared63 wrote:
The copy of 180/2.8 APO I have does not take the Leica 1.4x APO, but it does take Canon 1.4X II without a problem. At least for the 1 series, you need a chipped adapter or you'll get an error.
One thing I did notice with both 1.4x and 2x Leica APO extenders on 1DsM3 is that they do vignette wide open on the Leica 800/5.6. I don't have the Canon camera any longer, and I don't know if the 180/2.8 APO will vignette with the 2X APO on a full-frame sensor. Stopping down for landscapes will probably take care of the vignetting, but I don't know that for a fact.
A used Leica 2X APO would be fine. But, make sure it's the APO and not the older 2x....Show more →
PSquared63, you are right, the EF 1.4x extender fits on the 180 APO 2.8 but I got an error like you mentoned since my Leica adapter is not chipped. Now need to chip my adapter.
BTW, this lens is incredible just like you guys mentioned.
p.3 #10 · Leica R for Canon telephoto alternatives
I'm sure the Leica 180 f/2.8 APO is superb, but for ~$600 the EF 200 f/2.8 is hard to beat and I think the 135 f/2 is even better. I can understand looking for alternative UWA lenses but the L tele primes are excellent.
p.3 #11 · Leica R for Canon telephoto alternatives
Pixel Perfect wrote:
I'm sure the Leica 180 f/2.8 APO is superb, but for ~$600 the EF 200 f/2.8 is hard to beat and I think the 135 f/2 is even better. I can understand looking for alternative UWA lenses but the L tele primes are excellent.
+1, I had hoped to find an alt in the 135 range that would be fairly fast. The only ones I could find as fast as the EF135 cost about as much, (unless I missed something!) so I went and traded for the real deal, and I have to say, it was a great move.
p.3 #12 · Leica R for Canon telephoto alternatives
Wayne:
It should be a bit sharper than that. The 180mm APO is an internal focusing lens and will focus past infinity, so you need to be really careful focusing at infinity. If you shoot this again, try bracketing the focus to get an idea if your focusing screen may be off a bit. In focus, both the shingles on the roof and the siding will have very sharp edges.
p.3 #13 · Leica R for Canon telephoto alternatives
Thanks Robert for the feedback. This is great as I want to make sure my copy is working properly.
I focused this shot with liveview focusing on the sailboat masts which were in the left side of the picture and are a bit closer to me than the boat house building.
I was shooting at f8 and shutter speed was 1/200. I forgot to use MLU but I think the shutter speed was high enough to not cause any degradation.
I will retake this shot and focus on the boathouse this time and then post what I got.
BTW, is this a good test shot scenario for this lens?
p.3 #14 · Leica R for Canon telephoto alternatives
It could be camera shake if it was windy. The shutter speed of 1/100th is too low to avoid camera shake. I would try this again using mirror up, and shoot at f2.8 or f4. This lens doesn't get any sharper stopped down, so shooting at a wider aperture will give you a much faster shutter speed. Since you are using live View, you should be able to get the focus right on the building.
It looks like a pretty good spot to test. I usually shoot buildings in the distance and look for detail in the shingles, siding and bricks.
p.3 #15 · Leica R for Canon telephoto alternatives
Leica was at f5.6, Canon at f8 and Zeiss at ~f4.
Ran out of land to move closer to get Zeiss shot with same viewing angle as the others.
Canon was clearly worse at f4 and really bad at 2.8, where as Leica is solid throughout aperture range.
p.3 #16 · Leica R for Canon telephoto alternatives
Wayne:
They now look like they should. Look at how sharp the edge transition of the siding and shingles is compared to the Canon.
On the DMR I will sometimes get moire on siding like this. I know it is sharp when I see that. It usually shows up as you open the shot in Lightroom, but then disappears seconds later as Lightroom just deals with it.
p.3 #18 · Leica R for Canon telephoto alternatives
robsteve wrote:
On the DMR I will sometimes get moire on siding like this. I know it is sharp when I see that. It usually shows up as you open the shot in Lightroom, but then disappears seconds later as Lightroom just deals with it.
