JuzaPhoto uses technical cookies and third-part cookies to provide the service and to make possible login, choice of background color and other settings (click here for more info).

By continuing to browse the site you confirm that you have read your options regarding cookies and that you have read and accepted the Terms of service and Privacy.

OK, I confirm

You can change in every moment your cookies preferences from the page Cookie Preferences, that can be reached from every page of the website with the link that you find at the bottom of the page; you can also set your preferences directly here

Accept Cookies

Customize

Refuse Cookies

Leica Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 : Specifications and Opinions

Lens photo unavailable

The Leica Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 is a tele lens for FF and APS-C, manufactured from 1979 to 1998 (discontinued). The focus is done by Manual Focus, it does not have image stabilization. The average price, when it has been added to the JuzaPhoto database, is 350 €;

7 users have given it an average vote of 9.0 out of 10.

Specifications
Focal lenght	180 mm
Angle of view	13.7°
Format	FF, APS-C
Max. aperture	f/2.8
Aperture blades
Lenses/Groups	5 elements in 4 groups
Min. focus distance	1.80 meters
Reproduction ratio
Features
Stabilization	No
Focus	Manual Focus
Internal Focus	No
Built and notes
Tripod ring	No
Extenders	No
Filters	67 mm
Lens hood	Yes (not supplied)
Weather sealing	No
Weight	810 g
Dimensions	75 x 120 mm
Buy
Leica Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8, buy on Ebay JuzaPhoto contains affiliate links from Amazon and Ebay and JuzaPhoto earn a commission in case of purchase through affiliate links.

Publish your advertisement on JuzaPhoto (info)

Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

Do you want add your opinion? You do it by joining JuzaPhoto, it is easy and free!

There is more: by registering you can create your personal page, publish photos, receive comments, join discussions and you can use all the features of JuzaPhoto. With more than 254000 members, there is space for everyone, from the beginner to the professional.

Jörg Beschmann

sent on May 18, 2025

Pros: Build Quality, Sharpness, colors, bokeh. Easy to handle. Absolutely amazing with a monopod.

Cons: Not for me

Opinion: The Leica 180mm Elmarit-R 180mm Version II is in my opinion one of Leica's most underrated lenses for the R System. My copy is from the first batch. It was build in 1978. It's price even for newer copies is below 500 EUR at the moment. I use it with the Nikon Z7 and the Sony A7R II. The resolution is very good. Even crops look great. The handling is nice. The focus ring as a nice resistance. You can use it hand held. I prefer to use it with a monopod, because I have the habit to use the 200% magnification of the viewfinder to set the focus. It's a sharp lens with a nice bokeh and great colors. I like the Leica colors most for shooting in full daylight. I like it more than my Nikon 2.8/180 mm ED AiS. I like it more than the Nikon 80-200 zoom lenses. The Contax Zeiss 2.8/180 is hard to compare, because there too many bad copies - I have one. Of course there is the Leica APO-Elmarit-R 180 mm. It has a different price tag and the first version has a ninje star bokeh. I have not seen any pictures in the internet which might convince me that APO-Elmarit-R 180 mm is a must have lens. The Elmarit-R 180mm is very well built and one of the most durable Leica lenses. If you're interested in the Elmarit-R 135mm (it is not that well build), you should also consider this lens. It's a geat lens and a buy without regret at a moderate price.

Schroeder3000

sent on March 21, 2018

Pros: sharp, good colour (portrait), compact and light for that what it is, good design, easy to focus

Cons: color in landscape so far as i can see

Opinion: i put this lens out of the box and was immediately n love with that thing. its beautiful and compact design (from 1982) is still perfect. the sharpness on my A7r2 is stunning! i get one from ebay for 399€ and i am very happy that i have tried it. i will not give it back! important is to use version 2 (from serial number 2.939.701) not version 1 which is pretty heavy 1,21 kg (vs 810 g) and not as sharp as version 2. more info: https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/180mm_f/2.8_Elmarit-R_II

The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Pierantonio62

sent on January 16, 2022

Pros: Sharpness, blurred contribution, tonal range

Cons: For its characteristics, none

Opinion: Excellent lens, typical Leitz rendering in color and for the contribution of blurred. Compared to the previous version it loses a third of the weight and thanks to an abnormal dispersion lens it improves for sharpness already at maximum aperture; closing the diaphragm of at least 2 stops holds the comparison with the apo telyt to which it is preferable for the portrait and for nearby subjects where the detachment of the planes is particularly pleasant. Not very sought after (it deserves more consideration), which allows the purchase at affordable prices

Berserk84

sent on March 27, 2018

Pros: sharp in the middle and soft the right, very good focus, beautiful lens despite age, manual focus, brightness

Cons: manual focus (but is it a real counter ??), not stabilized (is it a real cons?)

Opinion: another lens tried a few days ago with adapter ring on the canon 5d mk2, used with great satisfaction.rnOttimo colors, warm and with an excellent focus to TA if the subject off the background well.rnNon is not focaccia with a manual 180 and not stabilized but once taken the hand is absolutely priceless. I love this lens even if my heart has been kidnapped by the 135 Leica R 2.8

Photos taken with Leica Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8

Letizia

by CesareCallisto
1 comments, 2856 views

HI RES 24.0 MP

by Bernalor
4 comments, 2717 views

And spring the bone ..... emh .. the walnut.

by Mb339
16 comments, 1793 views

HI RES 15.7 MP

At 50°

by Dsrock71
9 comments, 84 views

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 1463 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
4 comments, 1291 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
10 comments, 1781 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
5 comments, 1381 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

Publish your advertisement on JuzaPhoto (info)

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 1371 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

The Little Creature

by Dsrock71
7 comments, 83 views

Model-by-case

by Giuliano1955
9 comments, 904 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
4 comments, 1320 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

In the meadows

by Dsrock71
17 comments, 146 views

Untitled Photo

by Andreamontalbano
0 comments, 1284 views

HI RES 17.5 MP

Sixteen years

by Giuliano1955
2 comments, 947 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Yet another dragonfly ;-)

by Dsrock71
7 comments, 55 views

Little portrait

by Giuliano1955
4 comments, 982 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
6 comments, 1029 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Autumn

by Giuliano1955
5 comments, 627 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Between the leaves

by Dsrock71
11 comments, 110 views

Little wing

by Dsrock71
18 comments, 414 views

Awakenings

by Dsrock71
0 comments, 73 views

Canadair i-dpcd

by Mevill
3 comments, 969 views

Green tunnel

by Chicco.al
1 comments, 1489 views

HI RES 16.0 MP

Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 623 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Violets

by Giuliano1955
2 comments, 582 views

HI RES 11.9 MP

Little snow

by Mevill
3 comments, 1452 views

HI RES 4.7 MP

by Bernalor
2 comments, 1672 views

Autumn

by Giuliano1955
5 comments, 591 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Clouds

by Giuliano1955
2 comments, 802 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Succulent (with incoming guest)

by Dsrock71
4 comments, 317 views

Maurizio

by Giuliano1955
2 comments, 698 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Ebony & Ivory

by Mevill
0 comments, 1066 views

Publish your advertisement on JuzaPhoto (info)

Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 718 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

May butterfly

by Dsrock71
8 comments, 82 views

Autumn

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 941 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

by Mevill
1 comments, 1311 views

HI RES 3.7 MP

The sample photos are selected automatically between all photos posted by JuzaPhoto members, using the camera and the lens selected in the techs. If you find evident errors (e.g. photos taken with cameras and lenses that are not available yet), you can contribute to improve the page by sending a private message to the user that has entered incorrect values in the photo caption.

Reviews » Lenses » Lenses Leica » Leica Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8

Leica Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 : Specifications and Opinions

Buy

Offerte Usato RCE

Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

Photos taken with Leica Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8