One for the "R" experts out there

[franklid]

Anyone with experience of the 350mm f4.8? How would you compare this to a 180mm APO elmarit with a 2x APO converter - slower obviously but performance otherwise? Grateful for any views/opinions?

best wishes

David

[parisian]

There are pics and a test report here; clicky

It is a heavy beast 1.8Kg so unlikely to use handheld. Pics don't look too bad at all.

[TimF]

Erwin's comments on the 180mm f/2.8 can be found here (fairly near the bottom). The top doesn't specifically state Apo-Elmarit, but it is that lens. The recent Leica Apo R lenses (90, 100 macro, 180, 280 etc) are almost certainly the finest Leica have ever designed for the R series. Performance is pretty much as good as it gets even wide open.

I haven't used the 180mm with a converter, or the 350mm at all, but I wouldn't be surprised if the 180/x2 pairing was slightly better. On the other hand, if you don't have the 180mm already, finding it won't be easy or cheap.

[franklid]

Thanks for the sage replies, and the link to that lens test which was really handy. I am fortunate enough to have an APO elmarit 180 and I suspect the APO converter is probably the way to go, despite being a slightly slower combo.

[topoxforddoc]

David,

Go with the 180 APO-Elmarit and 2x APO extender. I have the 180 summicron and it's just fabulous. That and my 280/4 APO-Telyt are my 2 favourite lenses. The 2x APO converters don't really degrade the image much at all. The 180 and 280s are amongst the best lenses Leica have ever made.

Charlie

[Mark_Norton]

...and are sadly no longer making.