p.2 #2 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
I agree with freak on both his APO lenses. The 100 APO is near the top in the 100 range. Beyond the microcontrast and resolution and lack of aberration, the colors are transparently vivid, almost prettier than reality (the proof is that unlike non Leica lenses, the Leica shots require little if any boost in saturation as a rule.). It's great at all distances, and as I recall from someone's series here, it's suffers very little from diffraction when stopped down to f/16 or more. It is pricey though. Under $1400 is a bargain to me. The 180 APO is a nice compact 180, sharp as the dickens. Don't have experience with CV, though I've heard and seen good things.
Mar 09, 2012 at 01:08 PM
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p.2 #3 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
Mescalamba wrote:
Leica R 90mm f2.8 Elmarit is pretty sharp lens, not sure if it would be best for landscape, but it might be interesting..
It is actually excellent for landscapes. The only drawback to this lens is the relatively slow max aperture.
p.2 #5 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
I don't know what people have against it, I loved mine. It can't give you quite the look of a 100/2 at close up, but apart from that, it always looks good. Bokeh is nice, never ugly, it is pin sharp at all distances, has great contrast and handles well.
I have had both lenses and I would choose the Leica APO 100 over the Voigt 125 if I needed one again. The Voigt 125 is a superb lens but I think the asking prices today are ridiculous.
p.2 #7 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
Phuang3; yes, I think so too. Since I was mainly using it for infinity shots I thought it was a bit behind the best glass I have used around that focal length. It is stellar for close up and mid range, but around infinity I do think the Leica APO 100 is better.
p.2 #8 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
My experience from these lenses are different:
The CV is great. The Elmarit is great.
Both are APO lenses but my CV had less of defocus fringe, both showed some CA just around the plane of focus. I have no direct controlled comparison images to show but my impression is the Elmarit had less of SA (in fact, it's one of the technically best lenses I ever used, very good wide open, even better at f/4 and from there one could start to see degradation due to diffraction on a high pixel density sensor).
Both were good for infinity work. I compared the CV to the Leica Telyt-R 180/3.4 and they were about the same at distances around 2km and I think that is good praise indeed for the CV.
The CV goes to 1:1 which never is wrong for a macro lens but for my use 1:2 certainly was close enough.
Again no direct comparison but the CV had, even if half a notch only, somewhat smoother rendering of background OOF highlights and high contrast objects. That is, again, my impression only.
From my Pentax days back in 2006-2008 I recall the CV as a very popular macro. It was way better than anything from Pentax and could be bought for USD 600, new, in PK/A mount. But, there were several reports talking about soft long distance images. Still, some had no problems.
My conclusion is that the CV is about as good as the Leica. The different Zeiss 100/2 Macro reincarnations may be a hair "sharper" at large openings. The Zeiss suffers badly from defocus defringe making it less fun in real life, if you ask me.
Should I buy one of these lenses again I would just grab one that turned out to be OK and available at a decent price. The differing reports about long distance problems with the CV are probably, or may I say obviously?, due to the usual Cosina quality control problems.
Note: I bought my Elmarit from Henrik so at least one of the lenses we are discussing here is the same one (and good copy from all I can tell).
There is more to read about the CV in the CV125 image thread over here.
p.2 #9 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
As always, the equipment is just a tool. I am glad that this has turned into a civil discussion to evaluate these high end tools.
What I do find interesting is that I see FAR more interesting CV samples on flickr than with the 100mm Leica. Perhaps, there are way more CV's out there or they just got into the right hands.
So, I bought a Tokina 90mm (bokinaII) w/adaper and will buy the Leica. It will be fun to compare experiences, but I hardly have time to take "any" pictures and will refrain from trying a head to head.
I have had my 7D for 2.5 years and the NEX-5N for only 6 months. My count on the NEX is higher. The weight and conspicuous nature of the big DSLR limits its use for me. I take the NEX everywhere...
I appreciate all of the responses! Especially the samples. Thanks!
p.2 #11 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
The Tokina doesn't have the color purity of an APO lens, but it's very sharp and has the nicest bokeh I've seen so far among 90~100mm lenses. It has a gentle drawing style but quite good contrast -- no Zeiss "pop" though.
p.2 #13 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
Both lenses are world class lenses, maybe my CV copy was not the tightest spec out of the factory, but it was nothing really wrong with it.
I had the opportunity to buy a CV125 in K mount a few months ago, boxed for less than $700, and I did see it in the flesh, but I passed on the offer. Now I realize I could have used it on the GXR M with a Pentax to M adapter which is readily available over here. But still, I don't think it was worth the hassle.
My copy of the CV125 was made to order by Cosina in Contax Y/C mount back in the days with 8 weeks delivery time.
p.2 #14 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
AhamB wrote:
The Tokina doesn't have the color purity of an APO lens, but it's very sharp and has the nicest bokeh I've seen so far among 90~100mm lenses. It has a gentle drawing style but quite good contrast -- no Zeiss "pop" though.
Thanks, Aham. How's the color? Every Tokina lens I've shot with heavily favored blues and purples.
p.2 #15 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
daleaherman wrote:
So, Krosavcheg, what is your verdict on the subject ??
Any pics to share ?
I was sure I posted a comment...bleeding IPhone!!
Well, I haven't had both lenses side by side in exactly same situations so I really can't compare.
To me it seems as Elmarit has better reproduction of vivid colours - bright reds, blues and purple for instance.
The CV is a bit mor subdued, but I like its contrast and clarity (whenever I can focus correctly).
p.2 #16 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
This is my post from a different thread:
I got my CV125 without too many expectations, simply found one for a decent
price and bought it right away to try it out. First picture blew me away.
Especially comparing to my Zeiss 100MP which I love, but which makes me
crazy often with the amount of purple/cyan aberrations.
Zeiss has much more character in "regular" shooting, but CV 125 is simply
way better optically. Mine has absolutely zero CA, NONE. Great bokeh.
Beautiful colors. It's amazingly sharp wide open and has an absolute clarity.
But Zeiss has way more character
First shot is a typical Zeiss 100MP shot which I can not replicate with my CV125.
The following shots show how great CV 125 is.
I think people who say it's not sharp or it has some CA, might have gotten a bad copy...
As far as Leica 100 APO - from what I've seen it's not as good APO as the CV125
and has much less "character" than Zeiss 100MP.
p.2 #17 · Dilemma: Leica Elmarit-R 100mm APO vs CV125 Lanthar or neither
I've had all of them - CV 125, Tokina/Bokina and Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5, Leica 100, Zeiss MP Kept Zeiss. I am not a serious macro shooter so my opinion should not matter here. But if you ask about my personal impression, Tokina was among the sharpest (yes, sharper than CV!) and the bokeh was smooth as silk but the purple fringing was pretty noticeable, CV had punchier colors and was to me "better" in IQ than Leica if you want APO but was not quite as much built-like-a-tank, and as for Zeiss... While it's not APO I was amazed at how the results with it look 3D and just full of life.
If I had to do macro shots for living, CV would be the one I would keep as a brilliant lens and reliable workhorse - even though it did not strike me as much as Zeiss. It's really a shame that they do not produce this lens anymore. May be they have some sort of non-compete agreement with Zeiss for whom their produce the 100/2 MP?
??
Kept Zeiss. I am not a serious macro shooter so my opinion should not matter here. But if you ask about my personal impression, Tokina was among the sharpest (yes, sharper than CV!) and the bokeh was smooth as silk but the purple fringing was pretty noticeable, CV had punchier colors and was to me "better" in IQ than Leica if you want APO but was not quite as much built-like-a-tank, and as for Zeiss... While it's not APO I was amazed at how the results with it look 3D and just full of life.