[Leica] 80-200 reponses

[tedgrant@islandnet.com (Ted Grant)]

Hi folks,

A few weeks ago I asked for thoughts on the 80-200 f4.0 zoom lens, either
in comparison or general use. Thought you might like to see some
conclusions.
==============
<<<<<<<<Not that it's meaningful, but the 80-200 is stamped "Made in Japan".  I
think this is one of the lenses made by Kyocera...  Boy, Yashica lenses sure
have gone up in price!>>>>>>>

<<<<<<I am using the 80-200 f4 now for almost a year exclusively and am
pretty enthusiastic about its performance especially the sharpness of the
pictures.>>>>

<<<<<The 80-200/4 is a great lens, very sharp.  The image quality is
excellent wide open and stopped down.  I believe it is based on the Zeiss
80-200 and made in Japan for Leica by Kyocera.  It is a bit heavy and long.
Some people don't
like "two touch" zooms, and it can be confusing remembering which ring does
what in the heat of battle.>>>>>>

<<<<My wife bought one a couple of months ago. She choose it over the 70-180
primarily because of size and weight. She and I both prefer the two touch
system and find the lens easy to handle on her RE/winder, but less so on my
R3/no winder.

It hasn't been used a great deal but I was astounded by the quality of the
results she showed me. (not very scientific; just the reaction of a long
time Leica shooter)>>>>>>>

<<<<<I have a new 80-200 f4 and love it. I use it on an R8 with winder. I
find the handling is very nice, better than an F5 and 80-200 IMHO. The lens
is sharp with great contrast. I find it as good as a fixed focal length in
use and I check my slides with a 10x loupe. I also have a 180 and find I do
not use it. I prefer the zoom. I bought the lens when the rebates were in
effect and felt it was an excellent value for a Leica lens. I have also
used the lens on my R5 with motor drive and it is fine but not as nice as
with the R8/winder combo.>>>>>>>>

<<<<I have been using it for a few months now, and have been pleased.  Light, a
bit slow, sharpness quite good for a zoom. Easy to use. Good color rendition.>>>

Now you have read some "user comments", seems generally as I found my own
reactions. I used mine on an R8 with winder and found it very well balanced
in this fashion, even better with the R7 and motor.

80-200 considerably lighter than the 70-180 on either of the above cameras,
but  one must decide which you require for your picture taking, "speed of
lens & weight?" Or slower and lighter? Obviously pocket book is as much a
factor also.

I've always opted for speed of aperture, rather than concern of wigglies
per mm while shooting for feeling of the moment. A personal preference in
relation to using available existing light.

The 80-200:

If one doesn't require the 2.8 aperture of the 70-180, I'd jump at the
80-200 in a blink. It is light, easy to handle and exceptionally sharp wide
open, has good over all contrast.

Only confusion?  As with all the long Leica zooms, 70-180; 80-200; 105-280.
The two rubber rings controlling focus and zoom are of the ___same rib
texture___ which creates confusion when looking through the lens and
working by feel. The  turn of the wrong ring, because they both "feel the
same," throws the image out of focus instead of zooming or vise versa.
Can't repeat what I said on a couple of occaisions.

It shouldn't be necessary to take eye from the viewfinder to confirm you
are on the right rubber ring. To say you get used to it and know you are on
the right ring.....let me respond, ___"T'ain't so!!"___  Extremely
frustrating if one is shooting action/moving subject and cranks the wrong
ring negating the ultimate moment to a blurred or too tight framing.

I placed a 1/4 inch rubber elastic around the the zoom ring and it made all
the difference, never twisted the wrong ring after that. However, putting a
1/4 inch rubber elastic around the ring of a multi thousand dollar lens to
correct a "design error" is a bit much. Certainly when this "feel thing"
should have been discovered before the lens made the street. Imagine you've
just popped mega dollars for the 70-180 and a one penny elastic now makes
it work wonderfully? :)

But then everything in the world would be perfect if designers were
perfect.....then we wouldn't have anything to bitch about! :) :)

All in all?  I'd have an 80-200 f4.0 without question, it's a fine lens
(apart from the ring rubber) extremely sharp and nice crisp edge contrast
with excellent colour rendition.

As far as comments...."made in Japan by Kyocera" I can only say, that if
these folks are producing Leica glass/lenses under Leica specs... I'll take
them any day!

Thank you to those responding, you confirmed most of what I'd discovered.







Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant