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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 was 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
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Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

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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, 2996 views

HI RES 24.0 MP

Yesterday's

by Dsrock71
12 comments, 192 views

At 50°

by Dsrock71
11 comments, 177 views

by Bernalor
4 comments, 2819 views

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

by Mb339
16 comments, 1867 views

HI RES 15.7 MP

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 1554 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
4 comments, 1356 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

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Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
10 comments, 1834 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

The Little Creature

by Dsrock71
9 comments, 141 views

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
5 comments, 1445 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 1431 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

Model-by-case

by Giuliano1955
9 comments, 967 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Yet another dragonfly ;-)

by Dsrock71
9 comments, 160 views

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
4 comments, 1377 views

HI RES 8.9 MP

In the meadows

by Dsrock71
17 comments, 208 views

Untitled Photo

by Andreamontalbano
0 comments, 1349 views

HI RES 17.5 MP

October Butterfly

by Dsrock71
4 comments, 91 views

October Butterfly

by Dsrock71
2 comments, 82 views

Sixteen years

by Giuliano1955
2 comments, 1035 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Awakenings

by Dsrock71
2 comments, 131 views

Little portrait

by Giuliano1955
4 comments, 1047 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
6 comments, 1099 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Autumn

by Giuliano1955
5 comments, 689 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Between the leaves

by Dsrock71
11 comments, 161 views

Butterfly

by Dsrock71
5 comments, 86 views

Little wing

by Dsrock71
18 comments, 472 views

Mantis

by Dsrock71
6 comments, 124 views

One of the last of the year...

by Dsrock71
4 comments, 96 views

Canadair i-dpcd

by Mevill
3 comments, 1038 views

Green tunnel

by Chicco.al
1 comments, 1567 views

HI RES 16.0 MP

by Bernalor
2 comments, 1761 views

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Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 663 views

HI RES 20.0 MP

Violets

by Giuliano1955
2 comments, 626 views

HI RES 11.9 MP

Little snow

by Mevill
3 comments, 1524 views

HI RES 4.7 MP

October butterfly (against the sun)

by Dsrock71
6 comments, 86 views

May butterfly

by Dsrock71
8 comments, 137 views

Butterfly

by Dsrock71
4 comments, 99 views

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

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

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Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

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