75 or 90

[Jonathan_100]

If the IRS gods smile brightly in my direction, I'll be picking up a Bessa system this spring. I have the lenses narrowed down, 50/1.5 and a 35/2.8, however I'm stuck when in comes to the short tele. I shoot a lot of street so the longer lens won't be my primary, I'm just looking for one that can isolate the subject from the background nicely when opened byond 5.6 and can be quickly and accurately focused.

Thanks,
Jonathan

 

[varjag]

For portraits, a 90 IMHO would be preferrable. 75 is a tad too short.

 

[wlewisiii]

If you're shooting mostly street and little in the way of portraits, I'd suggest the 75 would be a better bet for you. It's a tad bit faster and I find that focal length sufficently long for the occasional portrait. Either is a good choice. If you can try them out somewhere that might help.

William

 

[Jonathan_100]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunatley what passes for camera shops around here aren't well stocked with VC lenses. Do either of you have samples?

Jonathan

 

[wlewisiii]

Fraid not. My only lens in that range is a prewar 90/4 Elmar. For portraits, it's excellent, but a bit long on the street.

William

 

[Nick R.]

The CV90 is a great lens; I have it, but it's just at the edge of my comfort zone for a walking around lens. On the other hand, 35, 50, 75 are all too close, imo, to be an all-around set. I'd try 35, 50, 90 to get some distance between your focal lengths. For me, 28, 50, 90 is ideal. That's what I generally carry when I'm walking. However, I've been thinking of getting a 75 to have a smaller long lens to carry around.

 

[sockeyed]

If you're planning to use a 50 a lot, I'd lean toward the 90, as 50 and 75 are really quite similar. That said, I really like my CV 75/2.5 (I don't have a 90mm).

Here are some samples:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockeyed/tags/7525/

Here's one in-line:

 

[Nearsighted]

I have the CV 75/2.5 I use with my R and I really like it. It seemed like the next logical step up from the CV 35/2.5. And with my R I don't need an aux. finder. I just recieved my CV 25/4 (w/ finder) so my 3 lens combo is 25, 35, 75. I haven't tryed out the 25/4 yet but I'm excited and a little nervous about the zone focusing thing. I'm not sure if the 75mm would be the best choice if you are set on the 50mm. Good Luck.

 

[Nearsighted]

Sorry for being repetitive. I guess others have already pointed that out. Check out Sockeyed's flickr page.

 

[FPjohn]

35/75

35/75

Hello:

40/75, or 35/75, is a natural two lens combo as has been pointed out. Makes a 50, if you do not already have one, an extra. I consider my 75 a normal lens with some reach.

best of light to you.
Frank

 

[StuartR]

I find that I prefer the 75mm to the 90mm focal lengths. It may be because the 75mm summilux is such a fantastic lens. For street work I prefer a 75 as well, as it gives you a little more leeway while still giving you the feel of a telephoto. For longer work, I prefer the 135 to the 90, as the telephoto effect is much more apparent. Here are a few comparison shots:

75mm summilux:

More below:
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/vivien-as-bresson.jpg
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/sunflower-75lux.jpg
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/skaftafell-airport.jpg


Compare that to the 90mm f/2.8 tele-elmarit:

More below:
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/ToshiCCWS.jpg
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/dragon.jpg


And finally the 135mm Tele-Elmar, which exhibits much clearer telephoto effect:
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/horsefarm-ruins1.jpg

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Stuart: your first and the sunflower photos are beautiful.

Must...not...look...must...resist...75 lux...temptation...

 

[StuartR]

I will also add that I find the 50 and 75 to be quite different in use. The 75mm is clearly in the telephoto range, and the similarity in the framelines is deceptive. The 75mm gets 50% closer than the 50mm. It also (well the Leica ones anyway) focus to .7m, instead of 1 meter of the 90s. So you can actually crop more tightly with the 75mm lenses than the 90s (other than the Macro elmar).

 

[StuartR]

Thanks Gabriel. It is a beauty of a lens.

 

[blakley]

For portraits, definitely the 75. Here are a couple of portraits with the Leica 75/2 Summicron (forget the 75/1.4 Summilux!). You'll probably be 99% as happy with the CV 75.

 

[StuartR]

Don't forget the summilux. Get both. They do different things. Or at least evaluate both and choose the one more appropriate for your style. The summilux is faster, has less depth of field and gives you more control over sharpness, while the summicron is sharper, more consistent across the f/ stops and smaller/lighter. When used at 1.4 to f/2, the summilux is much creamier and softer than the summicron. Beyond f/2.8 or f/4 and it is very sharp. In any case, there is room for both. I am receiving a summicron for evaluation tomorrow, so I will be sure to shoot with both and be able to show people (and myself) the difference.

 

[BillBingham2]

Jonathan,

My 2 cents (have lots of GAS in the RF world so beware)....

If you want a three lens set, go with a 25/40/75. Depends upon what body you are getting. If it's not a M mount, the 40 is out. I have the lens and love it. I got a 25 with a 15 I wanted and find the 25 is my carry around all over lens (it's on an L).

I am getting a 75 for my son (he is using a 35/1.7 on an R I just got). While I have a 85/2 he can use, the fstops turn in a different direction from the arrows (meter).

For street shooting I love the 25 and have had great luck with several 35mm lenses.

The nice thing about the 40 is it is 1.4, fast and smaller than the 50. Just a bit bigger than the 35/2.8.

Hope this helps.

B2 (;->

 

[dostacos]

well as you can see, my kit includes the 35/2.5 the 50/1.5 and the 75/2.5

love the 35, my standard lens for the Bessa dory shot with buildings [execpt currnently it wears the 50 for the contest]

the 50 is nice for low light and can bring things just a little closer or more importantly get you a little farther away [ see my bird picture he did not like it when I tried to roll up on him with the 35 🙂 ]

the 75 is also I nice choice dory on the beach pic[ I was going to trade a Nikkor 85 but it was sick so I kept both and sent cash ]

I find my photography is going in a different direction with the RF cameras, so I am leaning more and more to the wide angles which is why the next lens was the 25/4 I am also happy with that as it allowed me to get a shot of a large thing that I could not get far enough away to get a otherwise good shot [see the Pilgrim]

 

[Jonathan_100]

Thanks for all of the feedback. In the end I'll most likely go with the 90 since it matches up nicely with the 35 and 50 thus giving me three very distinct focal lenghts.

There was a mention or two of picking up a 28. I do like the 28 look, however if I like the Bessa system, I'll grab a 25/4 when I have a chance. I currently have a 24 for my SLR and like the extra wide look.

Thanks again everyone.

Jonathan

 

[MCTuomey]

Jonathan, apologies if you already know this, but the baselength of the Bessa Rxx system is a bit short to focus longer glass at f/2 and wider apertures. For example, when I tried it in a local shop I was not very comfortable focusing the 90/2 Cron on my R2A. The R3A is better in this respect, but generally fast, long glass is challenging with a Bessa. I have had no problem with the CV 75/2.5 and the Tele-elmarit 90/2.8, btw.