Any suggestion for a match of Leica R 180mm lens with a Canon Camera body using an adaptor. I don't know much about R lenses and Canon camera bodies. I like to have built-in motor drive, bright screen, AE, adjustable diopter, solid but not so big and heavy camera body. Which 180mm R lens is better for portrait at wide open. Thank you.

-- kenny chiu (amchiu@worldnet.att.net), January 15, 2002

Answers

Buy an R7 and forget the plastic stuff:-)

-- Bud (budcook@attglobal.net), January 15, 2002.

My goodnes there is much talk about R lenses on Canon bodies today.

The only bodies that make sense in my opinion and experience are the EOS 1 and 3 which can take a canon screen with a focusing aid (split or microprism) if you find you need one. The 1n is a great deal right now at Bh for around $900. On the other hand, I just got a couple of R4s's for $600 and am very happy.

Can't comment on the lens.

Good luck,

-- JDR (jrivera@vapop.ucsd.edu), January 15, 2002.

Look HERE!

RE portraits: The 180 APOs are the sharpest. But my recent test showed the f/3.4 is sometimes subject to 'busy' backgrounds. I haven't tried the f/2.8 APO.

The (more or less) recent non-APO f/2.8 and f/4 180s are pretty good compromises between sharpness and 'prettiness'. The older 'fat' 180 from the '60's and '70s shows its age optically - soft and low-contrast by comparison.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), January 15, 2002.

I'm not sure if any R 180's other than the 2.8 APO-Elmarit or 2.0 APO- Summicron hold that much optical advantage over the 70-200 (or is it 210?)/2.8-L "IS" inasmuch as the IS would permit sharp images handholding down a couple more shutter speeds.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 15, 2002.

I think that for real shooting situations when you do not have time to think the R to EOS adapter is a waste of time. If you are on the tripod taking landscapes then it might work. The idea of going back to manual aperture strikes me as such a Rube Goldberg step backwards as to amaze me. If you want the Leica optics then get the Leica body, otherwise you will be stuck with 1950s optical mechanics. If you have Leica lenses and you also happen to have an EOS kit then it might make some sense, but otherwise I would just get an R8 and be done with it. The features are much the same (R8 vs. EOS) for all practical considerations as you are manually focussing in both.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), January 16, 2002.

Kenny

I use a 180/3.4 APO Telyt on a EOS-3, using the adapter from Stephen Gandy referenced by Andy Piper. All the comments given on function pretty much apply. It does work within limitations. I agree, however, that if you are in the market for both a camera and a lens, don't mix brands, you lose the best of both systems. In my situation, my R3 MOTs died and I didn't have a telephoto lens for my EOS-3. Now it not the time for me to make major photo purchases (two kids in college), so I went to the adapter to allow me to use a lens (a very good lens) that otherwise would have just sat on the shelf.

Bill

-- Bill Holtz (Taiwha@aol.com), January 16, 2002.