Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/03/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]<<What kind of photography are you doing?>>>> Good morning Lucien, I'm a photojournalist and shoot all over the place. Mainly people working and doing things , much of it in the forest related industries the past year. That's from guys cutting trees in the bush to the executives in office and sawmill workers. <<<I'm a little bit anxious about the weight (travel) and the slowness of the focusing (portrait).>>>>>> It might be a tad heavy for back packing, but you say you will use it with the 2X and that is an excellent combination, as I have used it that way quite often rather than carry the 280mm 2.8. I'm not sure what you mean about slowness of focus, as I can focus mine simply by placing one finger with slight pressure against the ring and it rolls very smoothly and quickly. I also use it for editorial portraits and it's great because it is slightly smaller than the 80-200, it's easier to handle. My choice would still be the 70-180 2.8 because it is faster and the stop makes a major difference sometimes in getting the exposure or not. If you don't need the speed and you do not work wide open aperture very often, then obviously save the money and get the f.4.80-200. The speed/cost of any lens should determine more of why you spend the money or not, simply because if you stop down for most of your picture taking why waste money on a fast lens? In my case, I do so much work wide open or one stop down because I use the highest possible shutter speed and the widest possible aperture whenever I don't need a great deal of depth. Keeps your subject completely separated from the background, which on most occasions you only need as a mush of colour anyway. ted grant Victoria, Canada http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant