Leica LTM FINALLY: a sample with the 1.5 Canon 50mm on Leica IIIC

[LeicaTom]

Just had a chance to shoot a handful of lens TEST shots this past weekend with my beautiful Retro Hairstylist/Mua Revie Roulette as the subject

Done with my 1946 "Half Race" Leica IIIC and Canon 1.5 50mm (no shade, I left it at home, but no big deal it did`nt matter)
It was around 2 o'clock in the afternoon - sunny - "wide open" f1.5 @ 1/1000 sec on Kodak CN400

I`m IN LOVE with this lens now, it`s going to be hard getting it off my IIIC for sure my #1 ART LENS

.....now I want a LTM 85/90 mm lens that will do the SAME THING for me?
I`ve heard the Nikkor 2.0 85mm P.C. on LTM is the closest thing to the SONNAR look?
or what about the Canon f1.5 85mm? (ANY SUGGESTIONS - OPINIONS?)

I`ll post more photos as I book more shoots

Enjoy!

Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

Hello Tom,
Don't forget the 105mm f2.5 Nikkor LTM, its a "cracker" but a bit "pricey" but would be my first choice, see Dante Stella's review.
Best Wishes,
William

awwwwwsoooo!!!! Yes, I did forget that one, I need that "dreamy" Sonnar stuff ala Portrait style - lot`s of pretty gals to work with in the Retro business

Tom

 

[FrankS]

Isn't the Contax (and FSU clone) 85 f2 lens a Sonnar? Got to get yourself a Contax or Kiev!

Nice shot!

 

[john_van_v]

Wow, congrats on the lens and the way kewl retro model !!

Smoking is glamerous ~and~ good for you.

I am waiting on a Jupiter 1.5 lens, and I bought an extra glass assembly for it as insurance.

 

[john_van_v]

....now I want a LTM 85/90 mm lens that will do the SAME THING for me?
I`ve heard the Nikkor 2.0 85mm P.C. on LTM is the closest thing to the SONNAR look?
or what about the Canon f1.5 85mm? (ANY SUGGESTIONS - OPINIONS?)

I have looked over a lot of pictures from Soviet lenses, and they seem to give a nice flat texture to faces, I am adding two examples. The photogs's names are in the image names:

 

[LeicaTom]

I have looked over a lot of pictures from Soviet lenses, and they seem to give a nice flat texture to faces

Thanks John!

Well, honestly I`ve NEVER been a fan of soviet cameras/lenses, I would much rather pay a premium and buy the German or Japanese glass right away
I`ve heard so much about shoddy workmanship, lenses falling apart, bad focusing etc. etc. I don`t have time for tinkering with them either, I`ve got two left thumbs (I`m not mechanically inclined)

With the Leitz, Canon or Nikkor lenses all I have to worry about is the condition or how well it was used before......what the test of time has done to them, or if they were CLA`d etc.

I`m not sure about the Canon f1.5 85mm vs. the Nikkor f2.0 85mm I have`nt seen them matched up here at all - has anyone done that yet, in a REAL portrait test?

Tom

 

[ferider]

Congrats on your Canon, a fine lens indeed.

For tele:

I recommend to stay away from the J-9 - you must be very lucky to find one fitting your Leica.

Your choices are:

For LTM mount: Nikkor 85/2, 105/2.5 and 135/3.5 (see my avatar )
For M mount also: Konica M-Hexanon 90/2.8

If speed is not so important the 105 is the best. But big. Not so expensive, between
US 250 and 300.

Best,

Roland.

 

[raid]

I second the tip to try out a Nikkor 105mm/2.5. It is extremely sharp when compared to a Summicron 90/2 or a Nikkor 85/2.

Raid

 

[John Shriver]

The Canon 85/2.0 and 85/1.9 are nigh well direct copies of the Zeiss 85/2.0 Sonnar. The 2.0 even has the aperture ring going in the Zeiss direction, that was fixed in the 1.9.

The Nikkor 85/2.0 and 105/2.5 may be too sharp for flattering portraiture, especially the latter. The Nikkor 85/2.0 is a nicer handling lens than the Canon, shorter and well balanced.

A really clean Elmar 90/4 is a charming little lens. If you want an "art" look, you can get it there. Get a coated one, not butchered. Cheap!

 

[ferider]

The Canon 85/2.0 and 85/1.9 are nigh well direct copies of the Zeiss 85/2.0 Sonnar.

The Canon is a good lens but a Sonnar it is not. Otherwise agreed, John.

Canon on the left, Nikkor 85/2 on the right. The Canon is a more symetrical (double Gauss) design.

Roland.

 

[raid]

Gauss/Sonnar... no offense, Roland. The Canon is a great portrait lens.

 

[ferider]

reread my post, nobody argues that.

How's your GAS-free summer ?

 

[wlewisiii]

That's a wonderful shot from the lens that is at the top of my "GAS" list. I can also vouch for the gausian (I thought it was a Sonnar too until I bought mine and was surprised by the reflection count ) Canon 85/2. It's a bit*h to focus on a Bessa R and IME flares really easily (even indoors!!!), but well worth the effort.

Now if you can find yourself a nice Elmar 90/4 that's prewar & uncoated you can have a very delightful (& I'd say unique) look and feel as well. Very different from anything else out there right now that I have used. Plus they generally go stupid cheap because everyone "knows" they are no good

William

 

[LeicaTom]

Thanks folks for droppin in and giving suggestions and a kind words about Revie`s photo......she`s a real darling!

I guess it`s best I describe the "look" I need for my portrait work and that`s more as the 1.5 50mm Canon looks/feels sharp in the middle and soft gracefull breakaway into the bokeh, not the texbook razor sharpness across the lens

Many of those 1950`s "girlie" magazines had that look and for what I`m doing, dim light - floods - "notell motel" styles and the artistic nude/lingerie outdoors style a mix of Peter Gowland and Elmer Batters for all who know and remember who they were......

The major factor is that I have the SONNAR signature in a portrait lens that`s going to be priced reasonable - I`m not looking for a free ride, but I don`t want to throw like $800 at a lens either, I`m all about caps and hoods and UV filters for protection too, so I have to take that all into consideration

I`m sure that after explaning the "look" I want now, maybe I can find the right lens for the job

Thanks again

Tom

 

[Peter A (NYC)]

If you need longer, you might like the Hektor 135mm 4.5. Low price and easy to find.

 

[wlewisiii]

If you can live with the speed, the Elmar is your best bet. From what I've seen from the results from mine is fairly comparable to what you are looking for.

That said, a dirt cheap alternative (even cheaper than the Elmar usually) is the Canon 100/4. This is a coated cooke triplet lens that is far nicer than it is usually given credit for and provides a very nice look as well. I managed to drop & lose (!!!) mine while walking home the other night, not noticing due to a bit too much focusing fluid... :bang:

Either will give you good results with slight differences in fingerprint. But isn't that half the fun?

William

 

[LeicaTom]

If you need longer, you might like the Hektor 135mm 4.5. Low price and easy to find.

Yep, I do have a Hektor 135 already, but it`s sat unused in the Brigadier`s leather cases a bit too long, it`s very clean, but very stiff and as I`ve said before not being mechanically inclined, I have to scrap up some dough $ and send it off to Sherry K. sometime before I try it, it`s so tight that I can`t focus it when it`s on the camera, it`s ready to screw out of the mounting.......hehehehe funny old stuff!



Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

If you can live with the speed, the Elmar is your best bet. From what I've seen from the results from mine is fairly comparable to what you are looking for.

That said, a dirt cheap alternative (even cheaper than the Elmar usually) is the Canon 100/4. This is a coated cooke triplet lens that is far nicer than it is usually given credit for and provides a very nice look as well. I managed to drop & lose (!!!) mine while walking home the other night, not noticing due to a bit too much focusing fluid... :bang:

Either will give you good results with slight differences in fingerprint. But isn't that half the fun?

William

I`ve heard good things too about the f4.0 100mm Canon.......you lost yours?
That`s terrible

I know I`ll be giving the 90 and 135mm Leitz`s their try soon, I just want to try to capture that "dreamlike" look that f1.5`s given me, I`m nutz about that lens, I want to shoot with it eveyday now, there`s just not enough models booking at the moment ~

Tom

 

[wlewisiii]

I`ve heard good things too about the f4.0 100mm Canon.......you lost yours?
That`s terrible

Yeah, that was a really bad morning when I realized I had no clue where it was. If you can find one, it's a really nice little (very!) lens so I'll probably get another someday.

One thing I'll always do is recommend Canon LTM lenses very strongly. Excellent lenses with a much lower price tag than Nikon or Leica lenses. For me, that's a wonderful combination...

William

 

[laptoprob]

Remember to check experiences on contrast differences between lenses. Modern lenses tend to have higher contrast, but some older ones do too. I don't think you want high contrast for your dreamy shots.
I have a great Jupiter 9 BTW. Lucky me I guess.