Leica Vario-Elmar-R 1:4/80-200 - looking for 80-200 grail

[Piotrek]

For some time I've looked for best 80-200 zoom which will replace in my bag two portrait lenses between 100-200. So my search was driven by two goals: best IQ and not heavier than 1kg. I thought about various Vivitars 70-210, old and new Pentax zooms, Tamron 19AH 70-210 and even Angenieux 70-210. At the end I started to think about Leica. I found that Leica 80-200/4 has the best score in photodo (better than canon 80-200/4). So I bought it.

My impression after few days of using it. It is quite heavy - little over 1kg, but as other leicas is very user friendly - has build in hood, all parts moves extremally gently and are very precise. At f4 IQ is amazing. I did't test it enough to have final opinion about bokeh. Overall it looks that it was't wrong decision.

All shots at f4.

[thePiRaTE!!]

Impressive Piotrek. Looks like work from a prime, congrats on your decision, looks right to me.

Kelly.

[poilu]

[Excalibur]

Well I look for and buy cheap gems as many years ago found that buying expensive stuff didn't make me a better photographer.....my best zoom (bought for £4) at 200mm is the Kiron 80-200mm f4 but it looks like your duck is sharper than mine.....erm well I don't have IS and didn't use a tripod (that's my excuse ).

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn172/chakrata/img598.jpg

[LucisPictor]

This lens is considered to be the best 80-200 lens ever.

[IANUS]

Does anyone know how this lens compares to the Zeiss 4/80-200 for the C/Y mount.
Are there big differences or perform both lenses about the same.

Btw. nice shots Piotrek - it seems you found your lens for this range.

[LucisPictor]

[Piotrek]

[IANUS]

[poilu]