Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks for that Al, At the moment I'm using an old (East german) Carl Zeiss Sonnar which I converted to fit a Viso III, and thereby also an SL (with adaptor), the iris stopped working but it's only use is for concert photography where I use it wide open anyway. It's very heavy and I have the option on a 2nd version Leica lens for 550 GBP which sounds reasonable to me... I've also seen an ad. for a 300/2.8 Russian, er sorry Marc, Soviet lens (s/h) for 300GBP. Anyone encountered one of these? Anyone tried any concert photography with a 300/2.8? I did see someone using one recently but didn't get a chance to chat to him about it, it must be bordering on the boundery of shakiness, even with a monopod... Jem ---------- From: 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us' Sent: 28 April 1998 17:30 To: KIMEJ44; 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us' Subject: Re: [Leica] what happened?/180.2.8 lens In a message dated 98-04-28 07:27:45 EDT, you write: << I'd be interested in seeing that comparison. I'm contemplating buying a s/h 2nd version, not the heavy first one or the newest either. Do you have any thoughts on the cf between the first and second versions as well? Or any other Luggers? Jem >> I have used the old (heavy) first version and found it to be a good performer. It had typical (of that era) response to contrasty situations. What seemed to happen was an ever so slight bleed of higlight detail into the shadows when shot wide open. It was and still is the best example of 180s from that time (Nikon also made a 180 2.8). The improvements, I feel, came from better coatings and newer glass formulations in the second and current non APO versions. The main difference in the APO and current versions of the 180 is extremely well corrected at maximum aperture. I like to shoot wide open and appreciate the great corrections put into this lense. You won't go wrong with the current versions, you will only see a slight and I do mean slight difference in sharpness and accutance wide open. There is a difference in the color accuracy, brightness and character of the lense. Al