freaklikeme wrote:
What is so special about the 280/4 APO?
Having used and compared both the 280mm f/2.8 APO and 280mm f/4 APO side-by-side the only reason I'd recommend the f/2.8 over the f/4 is if you can't work at all without the f/2.8 maximum aperture.
Image detail: the f/4 is phenomenal from the center to the extreme corners at full aperture. The f/2.8 never reaches the f/4's performance at comparable apertures in the center and at the edges it falls well behind. With the f/4 the subject pops into focus no matter where it is in the viewfinder. The f/2.8 is less distinct.
Color quality: the f/4 lens' colors are rich, well-saturated, clean and with full gradation. The f/2.8's colors aren't quite 'there'. The f/4 controls flare better too.
Bokeh: the f/2.8 APO can be harsh at times, the f/4 is more neutral.
Size, weight: the f/4 is no lightweight but it's more portable than the f/2.8
Minimum focus distance: the f/4 will focus closer.
Tripod collar: seems trivial but the f/4's tripod collar lock is handier, especially if your 'pod isn't perfectly plumb.
Extenders: the Leica 1.4x APO-Extender-R was made specifically for the f/2.8; there's a slight loss of performance but it's still quite good. With the f/4 there's no perceptible loss of performance.
The f/2.8 is an excellent lens. The f/4 is a masterpiece.
telyt wrote:
Having used and compared both the 280mm f/2.8 APO and 280mm f/4 APO side-by-side the only reason I'd recommend the f/2.8 over the f/4 is if you can't work at all without the f/2.8 maximum aperture.
Image detail: the f/4 is phenomenal from the center to the extreme corners at full aperture. The f/2.8 never reaches the f/4's performance at comparable apertures in the center and at the edges it falls well behind. With the f/4 the subject pops into focus no matter where it is in the viewfinder. The f/2.8 is less distinct.
Color quality: the f/4 lens' colors are rich, well-saturated, clean and with full gradation. The f/2.8's colors aren't quite 'there'. The f/4 controls flare better too.
Bokeh: the f/2.8 APO can be harsh at times, the f/4 is more neutral.
Size, weight: the f/4 is no lightweight but it's more portable than the f/2.8
Minimum focus distance: the f/4 will focus closer.
Tripod collar: seems trivial but the f/4's tripod collar lock is handier, especially if your 'pod isn't perfectly plumb.
Extenders: the Leica 1.4x APO-Extender-R was made specifically for the f/2.8; there's a slight loss of performance but it's still quite good. With the f/4 there's no perceptible loss of performance.
The f/2.8 is an excellent lens. The f/4 is a masterpiece....Show more →
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing, Doug. And, as always, lovely photos.
In this case, I would've happily given up the 2.8 for a decrease in bulk, but I wasn't willing to pay for that convenience. If the prices on the 4 ever come down, I'll have to give it a try. Until then, I'm going to be satisfied with excellent.
So the last lens on my Lieca wishlist is the pre-modular 400/2.8. Any thoughts or shots to share on that one?
freaklikeme wrote:
So the last lens on my Lieca wishlist is the pre-modular 400/2.8. Any thoughts or shots to share on that one?
No personal experience, but I've seen test photos from someone who owns both the pre-modular 400mm f/2.8 APO and the latest Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS and it's a dead heat except at f/2.8 where the Leica is visibly more detailed and contrastier.
I would pay $3k for Leica 280mm f4 if one came onto the market. Although 350mm f4.8 is a pretty good lens, I woud not mind getting my hands on the "masterpiece".
There are couple shots taken with a Leitz 350mm and Canon 1Ds3.
Question for you guys...thinking about getting a 90mm for my Nikon D700. Which version....under $1,000.... Is generally regarded as best? Summicron or Elmarit? Certain version? I will be using Leitax conversion.
agnius wrote:
I would pay $3k for Leica 280mm f4 if one came onto the market. Although 350mm f4.8 is a pretty good lens, I woud not mind getting my hands on the "masterpiece".
i would love to have that masterpiece as well, however i doubt i will ever be able to afford it. at 1/10th the price the of the 280mm the 350mm is very nice - though it would be much nicer if it was APO.
telyt wrote:
No personal experience, but I've seen test photos from someone who owns both the pre-modular 400mm f/2.8 APO and the latest Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS and it's a dead heat except at f/2.8 where the Leica is visibly more detailed and contrastier.
Robert Stevens (Robsteve) has extensive experience with with the pre-modular 400/2.8. He preferred it over the Canon IS due to the better microcontrast of the Leica wide open. The modular 400/2.8 is based on the pre-modular optics and the two are quite similar. The modular maybe a tad sharper, according to someone who has both and compared the two against each other.
Here are some samples of the modular 400/2.8. These were taken with a Canon 5D Mark II at ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/180 s.
rsolti13 wrote:
That's the lens that set me on the road to ruin. .....
My thoughts precisely. Oddly enough, it was the surprising results I got from my DLux 4 that started this tragedy. Soon after, I bought a Nikon D700 and rediscovered MF lenses & made the mistake of reading about the Leitax mounts at the same time as I took serious note of Leica images. Started with a 180 APO Telyt, then I just couldn't resist the 100 APO because the micro Nikkor 105 doesn't hold a candle to it, and now a 90 Summicron or Elmarit looks so compelling compared to my Nikkor 85...while I wasn't that impressed with the ZF 28 compared to the Nikkor 28, the Leica R 28 v.2 ROM now looks sooooooo appealing... Lord, when will this torment end...
What I can't understand is why they wouldn't rework a compact R DSLR and just abandon the format altogether after 40 years. Unless they have no interest in going mass, or it's another reflection of faulty corporate decision making, I would have gladly gone the Leica route over Nikon if the option was available.
PSquared63 wrote:
Robert Stevens (Robsteve) has extensive experience with with the pre-modular 400/2.8. He preferred it over the Canon IS due to the better microcontrast of the Leica wide open. The modular 400/2.8 is based on the pre-modular optics and the two are quite similar. The modular maybe a tad sharper, according to someone who has both and compared the two against each other.
Thank you, gentlemen. Peter, very impressive performance from the modular 400. Thanks for sharing. I hope the pre-mod works out as well. Finding one at a reasonable price will be the challenge, but all things in time.
Looking at the rear, there may be mirror interference.
Dear god that one is expensive! I now see why he ask if he could rent before he committed to something like that. I would imagine that could be hard to unload.
