What 200mm lens for next level sharpness beyond usual suspects?

The only one that I have used is the Nikon 200/2. Leitax, Fotodiox, and Urth are also options for Leica R.

I had not heard of infinity problems with Leica R. I did have trouble with Contax Zeiss, so I understand your concern.

I even have Canon EF lenses where infinity is before the mark.

Kjeld Olesen said:

Most likely atmospheric haze and dust are impacting your images more than your lens if shooting on a tripod with the 200/2.8 L at 1/1000 sec and f/5.6

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I think this issue needs to be highlighted more. It's really hard to get perfect IQ when shooting across longer distances. In many cases impossible, if the atmospheric conditions aren't ideal. No new lens or camera is going to improve the sharpness of your images if you're already limited by the air between you and your subject.

So as a first step I'd test the lens in a controlled environment to rule out heat haze. Indoors in a large room or corridor would be ideal, or on a cloudy day with clean air (and not over water!)

Maybe the lens is sharper than you think, and it's haze and dust that's reducing your sharpness.

The 200mm f2 lenses will be significantly sharper than the f2.8 zooms and primes.

To take advantage of the GFX 100 sensor one would need a 350mm lens, to even start to challenge the EF 200/2 on the 5DSR. The 5DSR sensor essentially equates to an 85 MP 33x44mm sensor, so not far behind the GFX100 at all.

John Crowe said:

The 200mm f2 lenses will be significantly sharper than the f2.8 zooms and primes.

To take advantage of the GFX 100 sensor one would need a 350mm lens, to even start to challenge the EF 200/2 on the 5DSR. The 5DSR sensor essentially equates to an 85 MP 33x44mm sensor, so not far behind the GFX100 at all.

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Except that using a 350mm lens on the GFX 100 is like using a 290mm (350×36/44) on the 5Ds. The OP could have used a 300mm lens on his 5DsR if pixels on the subject were the consideration but his original post said "I shoot ships from a particular vantage point where the 200mm is absolutely perfect." The nearest lens to the required field of view is the Fuji GFX 250mm f/4 to replicate that.

John Crowe said:

The 200mm f2 lenses will be significantly sharper than the f2.8 zooms and primes.

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Perhaps, but I'd be curious to see side by side results. "Significantly" is subjective, and nobody has dinged the latest f2.8 EF zooms for lacking sharpness on high res bodies. Sounds like a case of calling the last 2% "significant"? How much difference is it really going to make outside of test charts in lab conditions?

John Crowe said:

To take advantage of the GFX 100 sensor one would need a 350mm lens, to even start to challenge the EF 200/2 on the 5DSR. The 5DSR sensor essentially equates to an 85 MP 33x44mm sensor, so not far behind the GFX100 at all.

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Where are you getting those numbers from? The GFX 250mm is the equivalent of a 200mm on a 24x36mm sensor. I highly doubt any 200mm lens on the 5DsR is going to out-resolve a 100mp GFX with its native 250mm lens. They will both have the same field of view.

My mistake on the crop factor. More like 250mm on GFX is correct, but I highly doubt the Fuji lens is built to the same standard as the full frame f2 primes being discussed.

I got my crop factor wrong so 250mm is close enough.

Once you've used one of the f2 lenses you'll realize just how sharp they are.

The GFX 250 would not be designed to the high level of standard as the various f2 primes discussed. As I already explained the GFX sensor is not that much superior to the 5DSR. However, putting one of the f2 primes on the GFX 100 might eak out a tiny bit more than the 5DSR.

Quite a few people have used the EF 200/2.8 L on the GFX, but I have not seen comparisons to the GF 250/4 yet. Would be interesting to see.

If a prime at f/5.6 or f/8 isn't sharp enough I don't know that anything is going to be. I agree that to go to a medium format 100mp body and a telephoto may be the option. You'll get more pixels, not necessarily more sharpness, but more detail because of it.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me on this quest. I am trying out 3 options

a) renting a canon 200mm f2

b) trying out a new in box Zeiss ZE 135mm f2 APO - I know I said that the 200mm was what i was looking for, but this has come up out of the blue and due to the insanely high resolution I want to try it out on the 5DSR. I have reviewed all of my "shipping shots" and there are some I have taken slightly wider that this will deliver. Its an itch I also have to scratch alongside the 200mm quest.

c) Waiting it out until a decent copy of the Leica 180mm f3.4 APO comes along. Most of these that are on the market are from 1975 currently, and I don't want to risk quite a bit of cash on something pushing 50 years old!

Will let you know how I get on! I am thinking of disposing of all of my Nikon kit which may go some way to funding a 200mm f2 eventually, or a pristine Leica 180mm.

rmexpress22 said:

If a prime at f/5.6 or f/8 isn't sharp enough I don't know that anything is going to be. I agree that to go to a medium format 100mp body and a telephoto may be the option. You'll get more pixels, not necessarily more sharpness, but more detail because of it.

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fair shout - but it was more of an exercise to understand, keeping the 5DSR in place - technically can I achieve significantly more sharpness than what the usual 70-200, 200mm 2.8 suspects can deliver. Its not that I'm unhappy with my shots its more to understand can I get even better - assuming technique and conditions are already top notch.