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Leica-R lens recommendations

apsheng

Member
..... I've converted the 19/28/50.1/4/80/100 to use on the D800E and could not be happier ..especially for street shooting at night where having a run from 1600 thru 6400 ISO is common .... .
Hi Roger:
I converted my R glass to Sony mount and used them on the A900. However, focusing had always been a challenge especially with the R80 @1.4. Now I am considering getting the A99 for its EVF and focus peaking. I am curious how well manual focusing works on the D800E? Does it have an optional split-image screen? I apologize that I am not familiar with the latest Nikon gear.
Thanks,
Alan
 

algrove

Well-known member
Not in the top 4 perhaps, but the 80-200/4 is a very versatile lens and still reasonably priced. The 28-90 balances very nice on the M.

Will be trying the R 15/2.8, 19/2.8 and maybe 28/2.8 PC tomorrow at the Pro Shop WPB on the M.
 

glenerrolrd

Workshop Member
Hi Roger:
I converted my R glass to Sony mount and used them on the A900. However, focusing had always been a challenge especially with the R80 @1.4. Now I am considering getting the A99 for its EVF and focus peaking. I am curious how well manual focusing works on the D800E? Does it have an optional split-image screen? I apologize that I am not familiar with the latest Nikon gear.
Thanks,
Alan
I ve had good luck in using manual focus on with R lenses on the D800E . I spent a lot of years focusing off a ground glass screen using manual focus . My technique s similar to using an M ..I find a high contrast item that approximates the distance I need . The more I shoot the higher my hit ratio of in focus photographs . Probably the most difficult aspect is understanding that there is no such thing as a hyperfocal distance using a d800 until you get above f5.6 . When you miss you can easily see it . I have very good eyesight and can still focus on a highlight when its plenty dark out . I don t think my experience is conventional wisdom as few photographers like manual focus on a d800E .

I would love a better focusing screen but I am I understand they are actually darker . So I might focus better but not see the frame as well . No one seems to be tackling the D800 with replacement screens and I have two bodies where the screen seems pretty well calibrated ..so I am not interested in making a change .
 

apsheng

Member
Thanks Roger for sharing your experience with manual focusing on the D800E. Unfortunately my eyesight is not what it used to be. I find it difficult even with a matte screen on the A900. My last Nikon was the F3HP and was hoping they still offer a similar split-image screen. Would have loved to try the D800E for my R glass but sounds like it won't be an improvement over the A900.

Alan
 

yatlee

Member
Sony A99 with focus magnification is the way to go. I have no problem focusing wide open with it. It also comes with build in stablization.
 

algrove

Well-known member
I never owned one, but it was the Leica R series cameras which have long been discontinued. The last R camera was the R9 which was discontinued in 2009 by Leica so now that the new M can use R glass via an R to M adapter these lenses can be used on this new Leica camera.

If you are not into Leica, the reason this is somewhat of a big deal is that the longest M lens has always been the 135mm. The R lenses have some very long telephoto lenses in the series (15 to 800mm) with the 80-200, APO 70-180 and the 105-280 favorite zoom lenses. Fixed lenses in the most popular telephotos are 180, 280 with some very special modular long lenses in 280/400/560 range. Of course most of these lenses can take the Leica APO 2x and some the APO 1.4x extenders which give very long range, high quality images.

Also R macro lenses are some of the best, specifically the APO 100/2.8, but a non-APO 60/2.8 is also available.
 

jonoslack

Active member
Nice Reply Lou
I really can't see much point in using wider R lenses on the M - the M lenses are almost always at least as good, much smaller, and of course they're rangefinder coupled too.

I've used the following:

21-35 zoom - not bad, but not great (I'm going to sell mine)
28-90 zoom - fantastic - sharp all over, and it handles nicely
80-200 f4 zoom - I really like this lens - nice quality and focuses quite close
60 Macro Elmarit - It works really well
180 f2.8 APO - Legendary lens - just lovely . . . I'm going to sell mine though, because I like the 80-200 zoom, and I'm not likely to carry both with me!

Anything except zoom or macro 135mm or below I'd rather use an M lens.

all the best
 
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