Good long lens?

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behyer

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Jun 12, 2012
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Okay, I'm spoiled, I'm used to pretty nice lenses on my NEX-7, including the Zeiss 24/1.8, the Touit 32, a Biogon 35/2, and a Leica Summicron-M 90/2 (pre-Aspherical model). I'd like a long lens, the faster the better, but not so big that it dwarfs the camera (so I'm not interested in a DSLR lens with an adapter).

I've tried two so far, the Olympus Zuiko 200/4, and the Leica Elmarit-R 180/4. The Leica is okay, I guess, but it's not in the same class as my other lenses. The Zuiko is disappointingly poor, especially since I used to shoot OM cameras and I expected it to be better. (Maybe the poor performance is a function of the NEX-7 sensor, but the other lenses I have give great results.)

Any suggestions? Did I buy the wrong Leica 180? I can't afford the newer ones but how about the 180/3.4 APO? That can be had for $1100 +/- and it's supposed to be good. Or should I scrap the 180-200mm focal length idea (270 to 300mm equivalents) and try a 135 (200mm equivalent)? Leica R or M?
 
I had (and liked) the Elmarit-R 135, but sold it because my Minolta MC Rokkor 135/2.8 (the 4 element version - $120) is sharper from corner to corner, while the older MC Rokkor-PF 35/2.8 (6 element - $40) has equal bokeh and is pretty close in sharpness.

Both work great on the NEX7. There is also a later MC and MD Rokkor 135/2.8 with a 5 element design that is supposed to fall in between the other two. The "PF" lens is terrific for portraits, while the 4 element lens is just sharp at any distance, any aperture and anywhere in the frame.
 
I've had good luck with an old Leica Elmar 135mm f4.0 and an old Nikkor 200mm f4.0 AIS on my NEX-7. The Leica is fairly small. The Nikkor has very good image quality, and it is not huge, but it is an SLR lens.

Here is a shot with the Leica at f4.0. Won't win any awards, but gives you an idea of what it will produce. Focus point was the left upper lobe of the front leaf.


Untitled by AmSteinsgraben, on Flickr
 
Don't know what's keeping Sony from getting out a tele for the NEX line. A 'middle telephoto' has been on their roadmap since what seems like forever.. Even then, probably will be something in the 85-105 range, so may be a little short for when you're looking at something 200-ish..

There's a 300/6.3 mirror in the pipeline from Rokinon, might be interesting if you're going for ultimate compactness, and are willing to live with the OOF donuts.. Probably a good lens for astro photography as the mirror does away with a couple of lens specific abberations, and it's shot at infinity..
 
ChipMcD said:
I've had good luck with an old Leica Elmar 135mm f4.0 and an old Nikkor 200mm f4.0 AIS on my NEX-7. The Leica is fairly small. The Nikkor has very good image quality, and it is not huge, but it is an SLR lens.
Click to expand...

+1 to the Nikkor 200/4 AIS. I picked one up in Tokyo for the equvalent of 65$ and don't think I could do much better at any price.
I am using it on m4/3 cameras, not Nex.
 
Fast long lenses are big. I favor the Minolta MC's and MD's on my two Nex bodies. The 200mm F3.5 Rokkor, the 200mm F4 Rokkor, and even the 200mm F4.5 have all been good performers for me. The 135mm F2.8 Rokkor and 135mm F4.5 Rokkor are also excellent optical performers. None of these lenses will break the bank, either, and they are very also plentiful.
 
The Zuiko 200/5 is tiny and a great performer on film. Never liked the 200/4. The Zuiko 180/2.8 is outstanding, small for it's class, but maybe too big for you.

In your shoes I would either try the Zuiko 200/5 or the 200 Micro Nikkor. I would feel 135 to be too close to your available 90mm Summicron.
 
I use two 135mm both f4; a Leica Tele-Elmar and a CZJ Sonnar. The Sonnar is lighter and I tend to use it more.

I've used my Komura 200/4.5 and it works well. I also have the Komura Telemore95 for it and that gives me an effective focal length of 600mm on the NEX-7. However with the Telemore it has to be shot on a good tripod and the RRS camera plate connection with the A-S type clamp is good but the slightest breeze and you can't take a picture. I'm thinking of getting a rotation collar/A-S type lens foot custom machined for it as the balance point of the combo is a fixed aluminum ring at the back-end of the lens.
 
Long lenses are technically more trivial than wides - it is quite hard to find a bad long lens (short of laying hands on a defective one), even if you look back fifty years. This creates more competition, both with third party makers and the backstock of the last half century, so original makers generally don't offer much in terms of plain long primes, and concentrate on zooms and ultra-fast ones.

For Sony, AF issues are another point that won't make them rush their teles. The way the current Nex series cameras go AF hunting does not mate that well with heavy, large lenses - before they get bad press for compromising between slow focus and sucking the battery dry (or rolling out a very slow lens to evade these pitfalls), they might hold their breath until they have some kind of PD AF in a future camera.
 
I was amazed at the sharpness and colour rendering of the the Zuiko 200/4 mounted on my Ricoh GXR. Even hand held, it's a remarkable lens - and a mint example cost me $60 on RFF. The build quality looks about as good as anything I've got, including Leica and Nikon. Never tried it on my OM-1, but will soon...TW
 
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