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

Leica Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8

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
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?

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 259000 members, there is space for everyone, from the beginner to the professional.

Jörg Beschmann

sent on 18 Maggio 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 21 Marzo 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 16 Gennaio 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 27 Marzo 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, 3071 views

Yesterday's

by Dsrock71
12 comments, 231 views

At 50°

by Dsrock71
11 comments, 208 views

by Bernalor
4 comments, 2869 views

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

by Mb339
16 comments, 1904 views

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 1599 views

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
4 comments, 1399 views

Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
10 comments, 1887 views

Publish your advertisement on JuzaPhoto (info)

The Little Creature

by Dsrock71
9 comments, 171 views

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
5 comments, 1466 views

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 1459 views

Model-by-case

by Giuliano1955
9 comments, 991 views

Yet another dragonfly ;-)

by Dsrock71
9 comments, 194 views

Portrait

by Giuliano1955
4 comments, 1411 views

In the meadows

by Dsrock71
17 comments, 267 views

Untitled Photo

by Andreamontalbano
0 comments, 1373 views

October Butterfly

by Dsrock71
4 comments, 148 views

October Butterfly

by Dsrock71
2 comments, 118 views

Sixteen years

by Giuliano1955
2 comments, 1086 views

Awakenings

by Dsrock71
2 comments, 179 views

Little portrait

by Giuliano1955
4 comments, 1072 views

Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
6 comments, 1123 views

Autumn

by Giuliano1955
5 comments, 719 views

Between the leaves

by Dsrock71
11 comments, 195 views

Butterfly

by Dsrock71
5 comments, 116 views

Little wing

by Dsrock71
18 comments, 501 views

Mantis

by Dsrock71
6 comments, 156 views

One of the last of the year...

by Dsrock71
4 comments, 133 views

Canadair i-dpcd

by Mevill
3 comments, 1076 views

Green tunnel

by Chicco.al
1 comments, 1624 views

by Bernalor
2 comments, 1795 views

Untitled Photo

by Giuliano1955
0 comments, 690 views

Violets

by Giuliano1955
2 comments, 646 views

Publish your advertisement on JuzaPhoto (info)

Awakenings

by Dsrock71
9 comments, 138 views

Little snow

by Mevill
3 comments, 1564 views

October butterfly (against the sun)

by Dsrock71
6 comments, 119 views

May butterfly

by Dsrock71
8 comments, 164 views

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.

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

Buy

Offerte Usato RCE

Reviews

What do you think?

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