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Archive 2016 · Small telephoto for travel?

MAubrey
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Small telephoto for travel?

That FDn 80-200 has some corner issues. You guys could probably use a better copy of that lens...

Apr 17, 2016 at 03:22 PM

Chuck Eklund
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Small telephoto for travel?

When you do use your 70-200 for travel type images, at what FLs do most of your images fall?

Chuck

Apr 17, 2016 at 03:40 PM

dbehrens
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Small telephoto for travel?

Small and light? I would rule out anything f/1.4 - f/2. Also 70-200 is not really small and light.

I have 2 such:
CV 90mm f/3.5 APO Lanthar LTM - a super sharp lens with superb micro-contrast. This lens shoots very sharp! 260g + adapter.
Canon 135mm f3.5 LTM - a super cheap and surprisingly good lens. Has 10 blades for pleasing bokeh, great contrast, nice portrait wide open and really sharp at f5.6 and 425g + adapter.

Small - I can place either in a pocket.

Apr 17, 2016 at 03:46 PM

bjornthun
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Small telephoto for travel?

The SLR version of the CV 90/3.5 will focus closer (45cm I think) and in addition comes with a close up lens attachment, but it's not as light as the LTM version. Optically they're the same.

Apr 17, 2016 at 04:36 PM

DavidBM
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Small telephoto for travel?

bjornthun wrote:
The SLR version of the CV 90/3.5 will focus closer (45cm I think) and in addition comes with a close up lens attachment, but it's not as light as the LTM version. Optically they're the same.

If you put the LTM on a close focus adapter, you get the close focus abilities of the SLR version and its still smaller...

Apr 17, 2016 at 07:06 PM

DavidBM
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Small telephoto for travel?

For multiday hiking I'd go with

CV Color-Heliar 75mm f2.5: cheap, tiny, very sharp, only 275 grams including adapter (a little more with a close focus adapter)

OM 100 f2.8. A nice classic affordable and light (similar weight with adapter). The earlier E-Zuiko version is a lot cheaper, though the coatings are a little different. Only worse in tricky light.

I think these are the gold standard for hiking. I'd get the CV if I was taking a 35 or wider prime, or a wide zoom, as my other lens. I'd take the OM if had a 50 prime with me.

If it's general travel and walking around all day without many days food and shelter on your back you could go heavier without it mattering. The you might consider Batis 85, Tele Tessar 85, one of the Leica lenses, the CZ 90 or 100 etc etc...not that any of them is masses better than the two above.

If you want to combine really light with really sharp and don't mind spending serious (but not insane) money, the summarit-M 75mm f2.5 (or newer 2.4) are like the CV 75 on steroids. A little sharper (the cv is no slouch) but better coatings. A little heavier at around 320g without adapter, but that's still light.

Apr 17, 2016 at 07:30 PM

freaklikeme
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Small telephoto for travel?

If you can live with f/4 and vignetting, the ZM Tele-Tessar 85 is a very nice tiny lens that's great for landscapes and panos, decent for everything else. Personally, my choice would be the C/Y Sonnar 85, which is bigger but not huge, and a better all-arounder.

At 100, I think you're on the right track with the C/Y Sonnar 100/3.5.

Apr 18, 2016 at 02:01 PM

waterden
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Small telephoto for travel?

If you have an LA-EA4 adapter I would suggest you check out the Minolta AF 135/2.8, aka "pocket rocket". This is an excellent little lens and has a Leica-style sliding hood for additional compactness. Personally, however, I would and do take the FE 70-200/4 when travelling but if space is tight that little 135 is a gem.

Apr 18, 2016 at 05:07 PM

GMPhotography
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Small telephoto for travel?

Im a little surprised or maybe I missed a post, no one mentioned the new one coming 70-300

Apr 18, 2016 at 06:10 PM

TheEyesHaveIt
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Small telephoto for travel?

Thanks all - the Minolta 135/2.8 looks good. As does the Canon 135 STM or the OM 135 / 2.8. Seems like a good balance between 70 and 200 in terms of focal length.

Will have to shoot more with my 70-200 to see if I can make that work or if I should just drag it with me (fits in my backpack now).

Apr 18, 2016 at 08:40 PM

DavidBM
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Small telephoto for travel?

GMPhotography wrote:
Im a little surprised or maybe I missed a post, no one mentioned the new one coming 70-300

Guy I think that's because the OP was looking for a tele much smaller and lighter than his existing 10-200 f4...and then mentioned a few small legacy 100s.

Apr 18, 2016 at 10:34 PM

waterden
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Small telephoto for travel?

Of these, only the Minolta is AF. There are also manual focusing Minolta MD 135/2.8 (several iterations, some better than others), MD 35-105 and MD 35-135. If you decide on the MD135/2.8 make sure it's the 55mm filter version and not the inferior 49mm filter version. I own both the AF and MD (55 filter) primes and prefer the former but this is a personal choice - both are excellent.

TheEyesHaveIt wrote:
Thanks all - the Minolta 135/2.8 looks good. As does the Canon 135 STM or the OM 135 / 2.8. Seems like a good balance between 70 and 200 in terms of focal length.

Will have to shoot more with my 70-200 to see if I can make that work or if I should just drag it with me (fits in my backpack now).

Apr 19, 2016 at 03:13 AM

TakenWild
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Small telephoto for travel?

I have the FE 70-200 like the original poster and I also find it too heavy and bulky for travel landed trips.

I bought the zeiss c/y 100mm f3.5 and I'm very happy with it! I'm also currently buying a Minolta MD 200mm f4 and a Olympus OM 200mm f5 with various adapters to test.

I know I'd grab the c/y 100mm f3.5 over the FE 70-200. I'm also in hope that one of the 200mm lenses will be good enough for long end. I probably sell my FE 70-200 then. The new FE 70-300 might sway me if it's as good as the Canon 70-300L, but I'll still keep the C/Y for lighter trips. I love 300mm!

Apr 19, 2016 at 04:59 AM

Charlie N
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Small telephoto for travel?

IMO skip 100 go straight to 135/200. At least for my style, 200 has been the better companion to the 55. A legacy one can be had for dirt cheap and very good optics. Look for the fdn 200/4, about 400-500g, not too big, built in hood. The 135/2.8 is nice too

Apr 19, 2016 at 05:53 AM

GMPhotography
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Small telephoto for travel?

I might have missed that . Thanks

DavidBM wrote:
Guy I think that's because the OP was looking for a tele much smaller and lighter than his existing 10-200 f4...and then mentioned a few small legacy 100s.

Apr 19, 2016 at 06:11 AM

ken.vs.ryu
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Small telephoto for travel?

http://sonyalphanex.blogspot.com/2012/03/sony-nex-7-135mm-lens-battle-part-1.html

The Serenar 135 did well for a 60 year old lens.

Charlie N wrote:
IMO skip 100 go straight to 135/200. At least for my style, 200 has been the better companion to the 55. A legacy one can be had for dirt cheap and very good optics. Look for the fdn 200/4, about 400-500g, not too big, built in hood. The 135/2.8 is nice too

Apr 19, 2016 at 12:17 PM

austinschutz
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Small telephoto for travel?

If you want the long end, the Voigtlander 180mm f/4 SL is fantabulous. Look for K-mount, they are usually a bit cheaper.

Apr 19, 2016 at 05:30 PM

DavidBM
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Small telephoto for travel?

austinschutz wrote:
If you want the long end, the Voigtlander 180mm f/4 SL is fantabulous. Look for K-mount, they are usually a bit cheaper.

+1 for the Voightlander 180/4.
Up there with the small Leica 180 as the sharpest light small tele in the 180-200 range. And a very handy close focus.

Very pricey though - as the OP says, look for K mount, Or M42. Both sometimes cheaper. Though the difference has lowered since the A7 series makes it irrelevant which mount its in.
And also look for one that is a bit cosmetically trashed - that will save big bucks because the collectors don't want them.

Apr 19, 2016 at 06:38 PM

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