abhishek@1985
Member
Hi friends,
I absolutely adore my Leica M2 especially when coupled with the 35mm f3.5 summaron and the 50mm f2 hexanon. However, the other day I shot a few frames with the 90mm f2 summicron on my friend's M9 and loved it to death.
Looking for a 90mm lens. But wonder how difficult will it be to nail the focus on M2? Any experience , tips will be much appreciated..
Also please let me know if a different M body would be a perfect match for the 90mm summicron..
I absolutely adore my Leica M2 especially when coupled with the 35mm f3.5 summaron and the 50mm f2 hexanon. However, the other day I shot a few frames with the 90mm f2 summicron on my friend's M9 and loved it to death.
Looking for a 90mm lens. But wonder how difficult will it be to nail the focus on M2? Any experience , tips will be much appreciated..
Also please let me know if a different M body would be a perfect match for the 90mm summicron..
sanmich
Veteran
M3 surely?
lonemantis
Well-known
Assuming your M2's rangefinder isn't horribly out of alignment, and the 90 Summicron is in good shape, you should have no problems getting good focus with it close up and wide open.
If you do have problems though, instead of buying a new body you should send the M2 and 90 cron to be calibrated for each other, then you'll save some money and it will definitely work!
If you do have problems though, instead of buying a new body you should send the M2 and 90 cron to be calibrated for each other, then you'll save some money and it will definitely work!
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
The M2 was built for the 35/50/90 kit - almost the standard kit for a press photographer in the late 50's and early 60's. Nailing focus with a 90 is no problem - just be sure that you are on the "spot" with the focus patch. Depending on which lens you are using, the depth of field is more shallow and with lenses like a Summicron 90 - there is very little room for error.
As for choices, the Hexanon 90f2.8, Elmarit 90f2.8, Apo Lanthar 90f3.5 are good, "regular" 90's - and the Summicron 90f2.0 is the fast one. I personally like them all - but the Summicron 90f2 vII (also known as Big Bertha) is a really good portrait lens, soft corners at f2 but nice center sharpness, without being "clinical". Few subjects appreciate every wrinkle or flaw!
As a general, carry around, 90 I use the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90f3.5 - light and compact and sharp with medium contrast. This is just my personal preference, any of the Konica/Leica etc will do well.
I had the Summicron 90f2 Asph and was disappointed with the result. Good, when you stopped it down to f4/5,6 but rather mediocre at f2.0! The 80's and 90's Summicron 90's (pre-asph) are OK, but not stellar performers - and the first version of it (1981/82) has a "collapsing hood" designed by an idiot. It will collapse over the aperture ring and you spend a fair bit of time trying to get it to work. In the end I drilled a hole in the hood and locked it in place with a set-screw. Too many shots screwed up!
As for choices, the Hexanon 90f2.8, Elmarit 90f2.8, Apo Lanthar 90f3.5 are good, "regular" 90's - and the Summicron 90f2.0 is the fast one. I personally like them all - but the Summicron 90f2 vII (also known as Big Bertha) is a really good portrait lens, soft corners at f2 but nice center sharpness, without being "clinical". Few subjects appreciate every wrinkle or flaw!
As a general, carry around, 90 I use the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90f3.5 - light and compact and sharp with medium contrast. This is just my personal preference, any of the Konica/Leica etc will do well.
I had the Summicron 90f2 Asph and was disappointed with the result. Good, when you stopped it down to f4/5,6 but rather mediocre at f2.0! The 80's and 90's Summicron 90's (pre-asph) are OK, but not stellar performers - and the first version of it (1981/82) has a "collapsing hood" designed by an idiot. It will collapse over the aperture ring and you spend a fair bit of time trying to get it to work. In the end I drilled a hole in the hood and locked it in place with a set-screw. Too many shots screwed up!
thegman
Veteran
I used a 90mm APO-Lanthar on my M3 and it coupled and worked perfectly. However, that's a slower lens with a longer base length RF. I'd expect it all to be fine, but I guess if your RF is a little out of alignment,you'll find out soon enough.
ferider
Veteran
It works well. After the M8, the M2 is the best Leica for 90mm use ....
ktmrider
Well-known
No Problem. .72 is the Standard M Viewfinder
No Problem. .72 is the Standard M Viewfinder
I have used a 90 Tele Elmarit with M2 and M6. Have for years with absolutely no problems. I mean the .72 viewfinder is standard. If you think you might have a problem, check out one of the viewfinder magnifiers.
No Problem. .72 is the Standard M Viewfinder
I have used a 90 Tele Elmarit with M2 and M6. Have for years with absolutely no problems. I mean the .72 viewfinder is standard. If you think you might have a problem, check out one of the viewfinder magnifiers.
richardhkirkando
Well-known
I've had some trouble nailing focus consistently with my 90 Summicron wide open/close on my M7 (.72 finder) and old M2. Bracketing focus usually helps. No trouble at all with my 90 Elmar, or with the 'cron at longer distances.
bastian a.
Well-known
A 0.72 finder will be good enough for 90mm!
Of course it's easier with a 0.85 finder or the 0.91 finder of the M3 or a magnifier (x1.25 or x1.4).
Of course it's easier with a 0.85 finder or the 0.91 finder of the M3 or a magnifier (x1.25 or x1.4).
Vics
Veteran
I knew I wouldn't use a 90 very much, so I took the "cheap" way out and bought the Elmar-C f/4. I like it a lot, small, light, perfect for the travel uses I have in mind. I'm shooting it on an M3, so I can't comment on focusing on an M2.
sparrow6224
Well-known
I too love the 90/4 Elmar-C. Even cheaper and very very good is the Canon 100mm f/3.5. It's screwmount, so you need a 28-90 adapter with it. Just remember that your image is slightly smaller than the frameline. It's a tiny lens available for about $100-$150 and a great optical performer.
I've been shooting a lot of 75 and 90 using my M6 0.72-- same baseline as the M2. I recently bought a used Leica 1.25 magnifier for the eyepiece. As John Candy used to say, it blows up real good.
I've been shooting a lot of 75 and 90 using my M6 0.72-- same baseline as the M2. I recently bought a used Leica 1.25 magnifier for the eyepiece. As John Candy used to say, it blows up real good.
paradoxbox
Well-known
the m3 is the best for 90mm that can't be disputed, the magnification is much higher, but the M2 is OK for 90mm. critical focusing at low light levels and wide open may be more difficult - the 1.25 magnifier will help but also darkens the finder a little.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
It's really easy: until the Internet, no-one assumed it wasn't. I have three 90s (f/3.5, f/2.2 and f/2) and have borrowed others and have never had a problem with my M2s.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
philipus
ʎɐpɹəʇɥƃı&
I have no problem focusing my Elmarit-M on my 0.72x TTL.
I've been curious about the Tele-Elmarit-M though. It's so small and f2.8 is really useful for film, imho. A perfect lens for a light (travel) kit. A little less contrasty than the Elmarit-M if I understand it correctly but that could be nice too sometimes.
I've been curious about the Tele-Elmarit-M though. It's so small and f2.8 is really useful for film, imho. A perfect lens for a light (travel) kit. A little less contrasty than the Elmarit-M if I understand it correctly but that could be nice too sometimes.
sanmich
Veteran
focusing is one thing, and the M2 should be good enough.
composing is another story, and the M3 is king here...
composing is another story, and the M3 is king here...