[Leica] 180mm tests, part 1 of 3 (at least!)

[Erwin Puts <imxputs@knoware.nl>]

The subject of this test report are two lenses, the APO-Summicron-R 
2/180 (1994) and the APO-Elmarit-R 2.8/180 (1998).
I used the MTF graphs, the optical bench (projection) test and a long 
series of practical shooting. All pictures were done with Velvia and 
Elitechrome 100 and Kodachrome 25/64. Also the XP2 super was used 
extensively.
The R8 body (one of the few with the blue display!) was attached to 
these lenses and once again. I was impressed by the extremely 
intuitive user interface of this camera. Yes, it is heavy and big and 
yes it looks large. The 2/180 however is a tripod only lens and on 
tripod (location and studio) you do not notice the bulk of the R8, 
only its extremely efficient functioning as a photographic tool. The 
F position is perfect. In the studio you attach your flash unit to 
the R8: measure the flash intensity (spot metering only), adjust the 
aperture  and you shoot. The slides were exposed perfectly.
On location I shot fashion type pictures at dawn. Why? The f/2 
aperture gives very nice out of focus background and the semi-dark 
situation tests the contrast of the lens wide open. The exposure of 2 
seconds at f/2 is beyond the capability of most AF sensors. So manual 
focusing is a must here.
I always wonder why R8 comments focus on the feature of AF. There are 
many situations where AF is not needed or not possible and the R8 is 
a camera, designed for work in those areas where AF may not be 
helpful or necessary. Of course the AF feature is nice to have and in 
many instances imperative, but the R8 is an instrument for those 
picture taking situations where manual focus will do fine or must be 
used. It is a different perspective, but indeed, judgement of the 
capabilities of the R8 must be made after extensive use of the camera 
and its lenses in many environments. The lack of AF may be sorely 
missed sometimes, but the camera has a lot to offer beyond AF.
The 180 pair as example is of such optical performance that you may 
wonder if AF can handle it. The depth of field of the 180mm at f/2 
and 2.5 meter is about 1 cm (10 mm). That's pretty accurate and any 
AF system would be hard pressed to focus that accurately. It is by 
the way a new experience to use such a lens with DoF even less than a 
Noctilux.
The Leica documentation mentions that the 2/180 can be used hand held 
and used on a monopod. This you can forget. A slight movement will 
generate unsharpness  at full aperture. So this a lens for stationary 
use, landscape, portrait, nature, wild life, the fashion cat walk. 
You name any location where a high speed ,very contrasty lens  needs 
to be deployed (because of subject and exposure) and the 2/180 is 
your companion.
The extremely high quality of this lens is not degraded by the 
permanently attached protective filter in front of the lens  and will 
fuel the discussion of the use of filters.
If ever a lens challenges the still conventional wisdom of contrast 
versus resolution and the role of image quality in relation to 
artistic intention, it is this lens.
Of extremely high contrast, the 2/180 also exhibits a rarely seen 
definition of fine detail and a very distinctive 
unsharpness/sharpness gradient.

The 2.8/180APO  is on the same level of image performance if not 
better. Part of the magic of these lenses is the internal focusing, 
that improves imagery significantly and also gives the smoothest 
focusing this side of the Mississippi. This lens is handholdable, but 
best performance will be extracted when the lens is supported.
The perspective of the 180mm in combination with the distinctive 
background blur are excellent for portraiture, full figure and 
fashion/glamour photography.  The rendition of the finest detail in 
the subject sets a new standard and the overall contrast brings in 
detail and a new level of penetrating power for long distance shots.
The 70-180 Vario lens has an excellent 180 position. But both these 
180 (2 and 2.8) are better and if you need the ultimate in 
performance one of both is the choice. The 2/180 has obviously more 
weight (2.5 Kilo versus less than a kilogram) and a much larger 
diameter. The full stop advantage may be crucial and so the choice 
should be made very carefully. We look at these aspects at the end of 
the report.
I will close now by noting that the 2.8/100 is dethroned as the 
reference lens for the R line.
To be continued.

Erwin