Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/04/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Henning, I tried both the Nikon and the Leica 400mm lenses when Howard was with us last year. The thing I really liked about them was the weight, so I really tried - on my Nikon D300 they were lightweight 600mm lenses. I, at least, found it very tough to use on moving subjects - could be mainly due to lack of familiarity, of course. After using my autofocus lenses (70-200 & 200-400), Howard promptly sold both these lenses and shifted to Nikon AF lenses. For stuff that moves, and sometimes moves fast at oblique angles, I still think autofocus makes life much easier. Cheers Jayanand On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 9:24 AM, Henning Wulff <henningw at archiphoto.com>wrote: > Hi Jayanand, > > Canons have a similar over-ride system as do some other systems which works > quite well, but for manual focus neither can touch the slide focussing, > especially for rapidly moving subjects. > > In the late 70's after having used the 400/6.8 for a number of years I got > fed up with the lens' field curvature and sold it, getting the Nikon > 400/5.6PC which was their first foray into low dispersion optics. It was > 'ED' before there was 'ED', and it was an outstanding lens optically - > miles > ahead of the 400/6.8. I haven't tried it lately as my son has it, but it > was > better than anyone else's 400 at least until the year 2000 including all of > the later Nikons. However, the handling sucked and I often regretted > selling > the 400/6.8 as I really couldn't do wildlife with it. Shortly before 2000 I > switched from Nikon to Canon for a number of reasons, and acquired the > 100-400 Canon. Talking only about the 400mm end, at it's best it's as good > optically as the 400/6.8, but nowhere near the 400/5.6 Nikkor. However, it > was a zoom, had autofocus and above all had IS. That together made it > preferable to the Nikkor. The zoom and the IS also made it preferable for > the most part to the 400/6.8 Leica. > > Optical performance is one thing but having a lens that can make it easy to > get the shot is even more important. > > A couple of years ago I decided to find a 400/6.8 again, and I got it as > well as the 560 for a good price. When it is bright out, and I don't need > the IS, and I don't need the zoom part, I use the 400/6.8. I only use the > 560 when I REALLY need the extra reach, as it doesn't handle nearly as well > as the 400. The 400 is great on full frame, but is especially nice on the > 7D, as the viewfinder is good and you get the extra magnification. I also > use it on the Panasonic G1 and GH2, but the resolution isn't quite good > enough for the GH2 sensor, and considering you're dealing with an angle of > view equivalent to an 800 on full frame, finding your target quickly can be > challenging! > > > Henning, >> All the new Nikon telephotos, at least, have what is called a M/A switch - >> you can use a manual focus override even if the body is on autofocus mode. >> I >> use this to fine tune focusing all the time on my 200-400. My view is, at >> least for wildlife photography, capturing action is much easier with >> autofocus. For static subjects, manual focus would be fine. >> Cheers >> Jayanand >> >> >> On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 8:43 AM, Henning Wulff <henningw at archiphoto.com >> >wrote: >> >> I think these lenses were priced up to $20,000 or so, and in the 80's >>> when >>> they were trying to unload them they offered a free car (VW Fox; >>> Brazilian >>> made) with the lens. >>> >>> They are also a true long focus lens, not telephoto so are about 800mm >>> long. This one has a triplet of very large size (f/6.3) with exotic >>> glasses; >>> not easy to make, use (or sell :-)). >>> >>> As for the quality of the 400 and 560 f/6.8's vs. newer lens, the newer >>> lenses will win in general. A new AF300/2.8 Nikkor with 2x teleconverter >>> will probably have more even performance, but won't be better in the >>> center >>> than the 560. The 300 alone will be a noticeable amount better than the >>> older lenses. >>> >>> If you don't practice a lot with the slide focussing, autofocus will >>> definitely give you more useable shots of animals out in the open. In >>> the >>> bush, autofocus is a pain and really doesn't work. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > -- > > Henning J. Wulff > Wulff Photography & Design > mailto:henningw at archiphoto.com > http://www.archiphoto.com > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >