Lens lust help: APO decisions

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Archive 2009 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

adamM
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p.1 #1 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

I thought it was over for a while, but the lens lust has once again begun, this time for some APO action.

Here's the desire: A telephoto prime, around 180mm, small-ish, outstanding quality. Mostly for landscape photography and distant video (5D2). It has to fit in my smaller day-bag. My 70-200 2.8L IS is just too big and heavy.

I'm going to be traveling through Cuba soon and need a 5 lens arsenal of fantastic glass.

The candidates: Leica APO Telyt-R 180mm f3.4, Voigtlander 180mm APO lanthar f4. The CV 125mm is interesting for the speed, but it's maybe a hair too short...

I've been leaning towards the Leica, but the MFD is potentially an issue. The Voigtlander seems very impressive indeed.

For anyone who has had/used both of these, could you perhaps share something to help me tip the scales. I'd appreciate it very much.

Cheers,
/A

Nov 09, 2009 at 06:55 PM

wayne seltzer
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p.1 #2 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

How about the Leica 180 APO 2.8?

Nov 09, 2009 at 08:22 PM

AhamB
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p.1 #3 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

@Wayne: That one might not be "small-ish" enough for Adam.

Nov 09, 2009 at 08:50 PM

guyharrison
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p.1 #4 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

If the Voigtlander 180mm f4 APO is anything like the 125 APO Macro that I have, that is the lens, hands down! VERY compact, light, smooth focusing, all you are looking for. Can't comment on the Leica. For what its worth, the CV 125 APO macro is one of the finest lenses I have ever used, at least equal to the Zeiss N 100 Makro (but without AF), but much smaller and lighter and even more beautiful out of focus and shallow dof effects. For a travel/portrait lens, it is no contest!

Can't comment on the Leica.

Nov 09, 2009 at 09:11 PM

adamM
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p.1 #5 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

Hi Wayne,

The Leica 180 APO 2.8 would be pretty dreamy, but it's about 2x the cost and size for what i'm aiming for.

The CV 125 APO macro looks absolutely fantastic. It's a bit close to my 90mm summicron... which is why i'm leaning to the 180mm...

I wonder if either of the CV's have the resolving punch the Leica Telyt-R has at infinity. That Leica is flat-out ridiculous. If the CV's resolve anything like the APO Telyt-R, that would tip the scales in their favor because of their incredible MFD.

Nov 09, 2009 at 09:58 PM

rachp
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p.1 #6 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

I haven't used the Leica but I own both Voigtlanders. I cannot find a flaw with either CV lens! The 180 is right up there with the 125 in sharpness, bokeh, build, etc.

Nov 09, 2009 at 10:11 PM

wayne seltzer
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p.1 #7 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

adamM wrote:
Hi Wayne,

The Leica 180 APO 2.8 would be pretty dreamy, but it's about 2x the cost and size for what i'm aiming for.

The CV 125 APO macro looks absolutely fantastic. It's a bit close to my 90mm summicron... which is why i'm leaning to the 180mm...

I wonder if either of the CV's have the resolving punch the Leica Telyt-R has at infinity. That Leica is flat-out ridiculous. If the CV's resolve anything like the APO Telyt-R, that would tip the scales in their favor because of their incredible MFD.

From what I have seen and heard here the CV 180 is a great lens and is light. Its just very very hard to find one. Lloyd Chambers of Diglloyd website really liked his copy and may have some comparison shots, I am not sure.
I gave up trying to find one and went with the Leica 180 APO 2.8 which is amazingly sharp throughout the aperture range even at 2.8 and has an incredibly smooth and easy enough resistance manual focus ring which is perfect for quick manual focusing. Yes, its price is much more than the CV, so I think you can't go wrong with the CV if you can find one.
I just don't understand why CV doesn't make this lens again as it would be very popular.

Nov 09, 2009 at 11:14 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #8 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

I recently worked through this choice myself. I really liked the Leica- truly astounding amounts of detail at distances over 100 yards or so and typical Leica colors. Closer than 100 yards, and things get iffy. The CV performed nearly as well at long distances and much better close, so I went with the CV. You can pick up new PK-A mounts of the CV from CameraQuest and the leverectomy is both simple and reversible.

Nov 10, 2009 at 12:21 AM

adamM
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p.1 #9 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

I'd love to see how iffy the APO Leica's are up close. Is it iffy in the still-great-just-not-unbelievably-awesome way, or actually really iffy?

While the price delta between the Leica and the wonderful APO Voigtlanders isn't extreme, the rarity of the latter lenses seems to be. They're hard to find...

Anyone have a shot with the Leica 180mm f3.4 around the MFD of 2.5m?

Nov 10, 2009 at 02:19 AM

thrice
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p.1 #10 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

I'd part with my mint AIS 180 APO-Lanthar for the right price. Found it indispensible at the wedding I just shot, but I don't like shooting weddings and would love another excuse to tell people when they ask me. "Sorry I don't have the appropriate lenses"

I even have a chipped (with 180mm in the EXIF) adapter that focuses spot on infinity, I'm told this is a rarity with F-EOS adapters.

Nov 10, 2009 at 03:08 AM

adamM
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p.1 #11 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

Thrice, PM sent

Nov 10, 2009 at 03:26 AM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #12 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

adamM wrote:
I'd love to see how iffy the APO Leica's are up close. Is it iffy in the still-great-just-not-unbelievably-awesome way, or actually really iffy?

While the price delta between the Leica and the wonderful APO Voigtlanders isn't extreme, the rarity of the latter lenses seems to be. They're hard to find...

Anyone have a shot with the Leica 180mm f3.4 around the MFD of 2.5m?

Iffy like where-did-all-that-glorious-detail-go? iffy. It's not a flaw. It's just not what the lens was designed for. And it was only disappointing in comparison. Search the APO, Alternative Image, and bokeh threads. There are examples of both.

Nov 10, 2009 at 04:56 AM

adamM
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p.1 #13 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

I've checked out the APO thread, and there's some great shots there. That thread is partly why i've become APO focused on my next lens acquisition.

I didn't have anything to contribute - no APO lenses as of yet - so i didn't want to derail that thread from what it was intended, showing off great examples of fine glass.

In a perfect world, i'd probably get the CV 125mm and 180mm, but for now i need to choose one. If i didn't already have the grand 90mm Summicron, i'd go for the CV 125.. but i need something a bit longer to complete my ultimate lens travel lineup.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. It's a tough choice.

Nov 10, 2009 at 06:01 AM

AlanD
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p.1 #14 · Lens lust help: APO decisions

The Leica is stunning. It's per pixel sharp on a 5D2.

Nov 11, 2009 at 12:14 AM

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