Leica R Lens Test

[Adrian Jebef]

Here's a test I put together shot on my set of custom Leica R lenses. Please excuse the bad operating and bad hair. Enjoy.

https://vimeo.com/77594094


A quick pic of the set:

Leica R Set

19mm f2.8
24mm f2.8
28mm f2.8
35mm f1.4
50mm f1.4
80mm f1.4
135mm f2.8
70-180mm f2.8

 

[Matt Uhry]

Thanks for Sharing, I'm a fan of the R's too. Are those the VFG conversions ?

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com

 

[Adrian Jebef]

This set is actually a prototype sleeve design by Brian Goff of Action Products. Each lens is PL mounted but requires a custom Epic PL mount for a shorter flange depth on the camera body.

 

[Dave Blackham]

Very nice lenses. We have two similar sets. You will have to go a very long way to get better images these lenses are capable of making.

 

[Mathias Erichsen]

Great test! I have a set of summicron's myself and find them amazing.

I just did a 2 day shoot with a set of Canon K35's on A camera and a set of Leica-R on B cam. More Iris-blades and faster wides on the Canon's but I think they intercut really nice

 

[Phil Holland]

Heh. PV WH. Love me some Leica-R glass, interesting notes on that PL mount. I'd add the 60mm f/2.8 to that set so you have a good macro lens. I actually use mine a fair bit for close ups even.

Gah. Seeing these makes me want to put together another set.

 

[Samir Patel]

Hi Adrian, can you tell us the serial number ranges these lenses were. Were the 19 and 28 version 2s

 

[Adrian Jebef]

SP:

Here's the S#s:

19mm V2 # 3504617 1990
24mm # 2905715 1978
28mm # 3184649 1982
35mm # 3946647 2002
50mm # 2932052 1978
80mm
135mm # 2964630 1978
70-180mm


I couldn't get to the 19mm, 80mm, and 70-180 as they've been sorta re-housed. If I get them serviced again and taken apart I'll make sure to add the serials.

 

[Samir Patel]

Thanks Adrian! I kinda like the way the 50 renders and it's not the newest batch which is interesting.

 

[Mark M]

Nice test! Rendering of the 35 and 50 stood out to me too, especially into the lights.

Do you happen to recall the f-stops used?

 

[Mark Pedersen]

Here's my Leica Set. Love them!

15, 19, 24, 28, 35, 50, 60, 80, 90, 100, 135, 180, 280, 35-70mm, 70-180mm

Summicron C's soon to join them

 

[Mark M]

Here's my Leica Set. Love them!

15, 19, 24, 28, 35, 50, 60, 80, 90, 100, 135, 180, 280, 35-70mm, 70-180mm

What a gorgeous set!

Your 35, 50 and 80 are Luxes, right? Also is your 35-70 a 2.8 or 4?

 

[Adrian Jebef]

Nice test! Rendering of the 35 and 50 stood out to me too, especially into the lights.

Do you happen to recall the f-stops used?

Most of the time I shot the test wide open but there are points in the clips where I ramped the iris to about a 4 or 5.6 to see the effect on focus, sharpness, and flare/bokeh. You can see the difference pretty well in the backlit flare shots.

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

awesome test!!!

thank you, A.

 

[Jason Diamond]

I have the exact same set minus the Zooms and 280mm Love them!

 

[Mark Pedersen]

What a gorgeous set!

Your 35, 50 and 80 are Luxes, right? Also is your 35-70 a 2.8 or 4?

Yes. 35, 50, and 80 are Luxes. The 90 is the f2 Asph. The 35-70 is the f4. It's a great performer, but the only odd man out at f4. All the rest are 2.8. I had a 35-70 f2.8 but sold it. The mechanics weren't good, and it didn't hold focus through the zoom at all. As a still lens, fantastic. But not as a cine zoom. The 70-180mm however is fabulous.

I was fortunate enough to start collecting early enough to find the best versions of each focal, with late serial numbers and really clean copies. I bought everything on eBay and only had to return one 80mm. Took about 9 months.

My thanks to several folks on RedUser who provide great guidance on the journey

Curious, does anyone have experience using a Bright Tangerine Viiv with these lenses? I've been using clip ons, but its too much weight on these little guys. The Viiv seems like a good solution.

M

 

[Mark Pedersen]

Nice test! Rendering of the 35 and 50 stood out to me too, especially into the lights.

Do you happen to recall the f-stops used?

The 80 is tricky wide open. It is prone to veiling flare and soft in the edges so be careful of backlighting... but it also has a very nice, organic feel for the same reasons. Crack it down to a 2 and the veiling more or less disappears, the contrast and sharpness increase and it falls in line with the rest of the family. Kinda like a Super Speed.

Very popular as a portrait lens for fashion in its day...

The latest version of the 50mm is spectacular.

M

 

[Mark M]

Yes. 35, 50, and 80 are Luxes. The 90 is the f2 Asph. The 35-70 is the f4. It's a great performer, but the only odd man out at f4. All the rest are 2.8. I had a 35-70 f2.8 but sold it. The mechanics weren't good, and it didn't hold focus through the zoom at all. As a still lens, fantastic. But not as a cine zoom. The 70-180mm however is fabulous.

I was fortunate enough to start collecting early enough to find the best versions of each focal, with late serial numbers and really clean copies. I bought everything on eBay and only had to return one 80mm. Took about 9 months.
M

Thanks Mark. From what I've gathered, the 90 f2 Asph is simply amazing. I imagine it pairs well with the latest 50 lux.

I'm about 6 months into the Leica R treasure hunt and hopefully reaching some sort of finish line. At the moment I have two 35-70 f4s and have been very pleased with them so far. I've found they have more of a straight-up look than some of the others, but very consistent and sound. Also recently acquired the 35, 50 (not the newest) and 80 Luxes. The 80 is an interesting bird and more challenging than I expected, so still trying to figure that one out (your comments about it were helpful, thanks).

Am pondering the fabulous 70-180mm after seeing/hearing so many good things about it, but may put that notion on hold as just received a very nice 70-200mm f4 and trying to work within some sort of budget, plus still need to finish cinevising. So many great Leica R options available, and still learning about new ones...

 

[Mark M]

The 70-180mm however is fabulous.

I've somehow talked myself into getting one that came up at a reasonable price. I consider this along with the 90 asph, 50 e60 lux and 28-90 dream lenses, even though I've yet to try them all. The 100 APO and 35 lux are probably my favorite on-hand thus far...

With a dearth of information on these lenses, especially for redusers, threads like these have proved invaluable along the way.

A big thanks to everyone who's contributed!

mm

 

[Mark M]

Most of the time I shot the test wide open but there are points in the clips where I ramped the iris to about a 4 or 5.6 to see the effect on focus, sharpness, and flare/bokeh. You can see the difference pretty well in the backlit flare shots.

When re-watching it was quite obvious, thanks.

This is very easily the the best Leica R prime video test I've come across to date. Hopefully you've had a chance to put them to work on a project or two since.