p.1 #6 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
At that price on the Leica, you shouldn't have trouble re-selling for at least as much as you payed (perhaps even at a nice profit) if you decide the lens isn't what you want.
Note that the Leica only natively goes to 1:2 magnification (vs. 1:1 for the CV); if you are interested in the 1:2-1:1 range, you'll need to budget another $300-$500 for Leica's matching Elpro adapter (a very nice closeup lens designed specifically for the 100/2.8). Using a closeup lens means the Leica will have a shorter focal length / working distance close up, while the CV will give you a longer macro working length.
I have the Leica 100/2.8; it's technically excellent at all distances, but I agree with Mescalamba that it's not my favorite 100mm lens for longer distance work. There are many other 100mm choices that might not have quite as high resolving power and chromatic correction, but yield a better "look" at medium to far distances.
I have no experience with the CV 125/2.5; I just wish I had bough one when they were more common at ~$1000, and considered a good deal for a lens "nearly as good" as the more expensive Leica. Now that the CV is often more expensive, the choice is not nearly as clear cut. I'd recommend looking at sample images from both lenses and deciding on personal preference, since I don't think there is a a compelling objective reason to definitely choose one over the other.
p.1 #8 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
FlyPenFly wrote:
Hmmm that's interesting.
Can you guys describe in more detail why the Leica 100mm doesn't look quite right beyond macro distances?
It's hard to pin down to any one factor. If you pixel peep, you will find nothing but the utmost excellence in resolution, contrast, and color. On the other hand, images as a whole are often unexciting. The bokeh is not terrible, but often not excellent either, with white "donut shaped" blur disks common to many APO designs in the transition region between focus and defocus that can cause a "lumpy" look. There is some vignetting at f2.8, which would typically be decreased in faster lenses stopped down to this point. It's sometimes hard to separate a clear plane of sharp focus from the rest of the image, leading to images that are perceptually soft (even though the actually-in-focus parts are very sharp).
p.1 #9 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
I own both, bought before the price madness set in. The CV, besides the extra "reach" afforded by the longer FL and the 1:1 that you can only get with the Elpro (as mentioned above) is a better all-around lens; probably use it more as a short tele than a macro. The bokeh, a subjective thing, is wonderously smooth and the sharpness at f/2.5 makes it eminently useful there though I think it reaches its peak at around f/5.6. I also found accurate focus easier with the Voigtlander, can't tell you exactly why.
The Leica 100 appears to have been optimized as a complement to the 90 and 80 R lenses in that it performs best in the macro-to-mid distance, as the other short teles have relatively long MFD'd as a result. At infinity, field curvature is evident and the built-in hood isn't always that effective preventing flare. Would also agree that the drawing style for objects at distance is less appealing than the CV.
The CV's bokeh reputation as a "cream machine" (I do loathe the term) is well-deserved. The only other lens that produces such luscious blur that I've used is the ZF.2 1,4/35.
p.1 #10 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
Thanks for the elaboration, guys. I've thought about upgrading to the Leica a few times, but will stay with the Contax MP100/2.8 for now. I also have a Tokina 90/2.5 which' bokeh probably at least matches that of the CV125.
p.1 #11 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
This is very interesting topic. I am in the same boat and cannot decide between CV vs Leica. Last CV on ebay went with 3.3K and which I think is crazy price to pay for it. I wish Cosina made SLII for 125.
p.1 #12 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
You are not alone Wilco. I do have one, and it's more or less my everyday lens.
But at these prices you start to think a better place for it is a safe.
p.1 #13 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
wilco23 wrote:
This is very interesting topic. I am in the same boat and cannot decide between CV vs Leica. Last CV on ebay went with 3.3K and which I think is crazy price to pay for it. I wish Cosina made SLII for 125.
There are compelling reasons there may never be an SLII version
p.1 #14 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
If you want to try something different from the 'run of the mill' Leica/Zeiss/CV stuff, there's always the old Kilfitt Macro Kilar 90/2.8 or tne frightfully expensive Kinoptik Apochromat 100/2.
p.1 #15 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
Well thanks guys.
I was hoping to get the Leica 100mm F2.8 APO Macro to replace my macro lens and my 85mm ZA Planar for tele landscapes but if it's no good for that, I'll be pulling my sales ad for that lens.
p.1 #16 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
wilco23 wrote:
This is very interesting topic. I am in the same boat and cannot decide between CV vs Leica. Last CV on ebay went with 3.3K and which I think is crazy price to pay for it. I wish Cosina made SLII for 125.
That is crazy! I bought mine (EF version, mint) for USD 350 few years ago. The seller was trying lower the price, because no one was interested in this manual lens. After taking some shots with it, I'd say Leica 100 APO is still a better lens. Its micro-contrast is just amazing.
p.1 #20 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
Hmm. I really love the Leica at all distances. I don't use it for portraits, except with small children whose skin is perfect enough to stand up to that amount of detail resolution, but otherwise, I find the performance at infinity to be equal to close/macro. In some ways, I prefer it, since the bokeh close up tends to be fairly busy and highly structured.
Web samples don't do this lens justice. You really need to see it printed large to appreciate it. That said, they only lens I trust more to shoot a nine-shot pano like this would be the APO-R 180/3.4.
??