FPjohn
Well-known
Hello:
Does anyone know of a direct comparison of images between the three 75mm lenses - Leica 75mm f1.4, f2 and CV 75mm f2.5? That is on the same camera, film, light conditions etc.
yours
Frank
Does anyone know of a direct comparison of images between the three 75mm lenses - Leica 75mm f1.4, f2 and CV 75mm f2.5? That is on the same camera, film, light conditions etc.
yours
Frank
Bertram2
Gone elsewhere
No. But I doubt that watching scanned negs on a monitor is the right way to come to any conclusions related to their performance. These three lenses are so close to each other anyway that the difference in the "footprints" only can be interesting.
So it would be better to go to the dealer and mount all three on your RF body and compare 20X30cm prints later.
Best,
Bertram
So it would be better to go to the dealer and mount all three on your RF body and compare 20X30cm prints later.
Best,
Bertram
FPjohn
Well-known
75mmm shootout
75mmm shootout
Hello:
I'm far from Calgary or New York where that might be done. I was hoping for a hardcopy source and a verbal description. Web images would not be very discriminating as has been rightly said.
yours
Frank
75mmm shootout
Hello:
I'm far from Calgary or New York where that might be done. I was hoping for a hardcopy source and a verbal description. Web images would not be very discriminating as has been rightly said.
yours
Frank
Hektor
Leicapile
Erwin Puts could tell you, if would like his opinion have a look at his website - www.imx.nl - I think
I have a 75f1.4 and can describe the results from that fairly accurately if you wish.
I have not used the 75f2 or the vc75, but I think Roger Hicks has. - www.rogerandfrances.com
Both Roger and Erwin might give you an email response if they not too busy and harrassed.
Regards John C.
I have a 75f1.4 and can describe the results from that fairly accurately if you wish.
I have not used the 75f2 or the vc75, but I think Roger Hicks has. - www.rogerandfrances.com
Both Roger and Erwin might give you an email response if they not too busy and harrassed.
Regards John C.
back alley
IMAGES
FPjohn said:
interesting choice of cities, where are you?
joe
FPjohn
Well-known
Hello:
Hektor-Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check the sites and contact them.
BackAlley- I'm in NB and a former customer of The Camera Store. The Biggies are in NY.
Leitz/Leica expertise is problematic in most other places I might find myself.
yours
Frank
Hektor-Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check the sites and contact them.
BackAlley- I'm in NB and a former customer of The Camera Store. The Biggies are in NY.
Leitz/Leica expertise is problematic in most other places I might find myself.
yours
Frank
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Traut
Well-known
I am interested as well. I just bought a used CV 75. My thinking is this will give me an opportunity to see if I like the focal legnth for free at my leisure.
FPjohn
Well-known
75mmm shootout
75mmm shootout
Hello:
If Hektor wishes to post his impressions and Traut gives an account of his CV 75 when available we are almost 2/3ds of the way to an indirect comparison!
Frank
75mmm shootout
Hello:
If Hektor wishes to post his impressions and Traut gives an account of his CV 75 when available we are almost 2/3ds of the way to an indirect comparison!
Frank
Hektor
Leicapile
OK FP, - I'll try and keep it short and sweet unless asked to expand,
Firstly a good lens is one where you can't tell, apart from DoF, whether it's wide open or f8 and you like the sharpness, (or softness), and you like the "bokeh" (OOF areas).
About the nearest you'll get to that, in the affordable sort, is a second-hand current spec 90f2.8 Elmarit. - sharp and contrasty all over, - the 135 is even better.
Now to the 75f1.4,
Wide open - it's hard to focus !, - twice as hard as a noctilux wide open, and four times as hard as a 50f2 wide open ! - the DoF at 10 feet is razor thin.
Wide open, if you imagine a 10x8 print, and put coffee mugs in the corners, those areas are at least a stop under exposed, due to vignetting. - a mathematically unavoidable phenomenon.
The middle is sharp and contrasty, but smooth and creamy OOF areas.
At F2 and below, you can't tell it's not a Summicron, except that objects in the pic are 50% bigger.
It's big and heavy, bigger and heavier than a noctilux, but beautifully balanced, - you can use it all day if you've had your porridge, (back alley joe are you listening)
It's incredibly fantastic because it's f1.4 - 400asa film is not good enough for this lens, - but 100asa in low light is what it's made for.
BTW, a noctilux is a stop faster but it'll vignette nearly 3 stops in the corners, and you'll have to get a lot closer, (DoF problems again)
The 75f1.4 is a whole stop faster than the 75f2, which can be mission critical on 100asa in low light.
It's nearly 2 stops faster than the VC, so you'd probably have to use 1600asa in low light with that one !
Hmmm...... I'll stop there for now........ Quick edit on last sentence
Regards John C.
Firstly a good lens is one where you can't tell, apart from DoF, whether it's wide open or f8 and you like the sharpness, (or softness), and you like the "bokeh" (OOF areas).
About the nearest you'll get to that, in the affordable sort, is a second-hand current spec 90f2.8 Elmarit. - sharp and contrasty all over, - the 135 is even better.
Now to the 75f1.4,
Wide open - it's hard to focus !, - twice as hard as a noctilux wide open, and four times as hard as a 50f2 wide open ! - the DoF at 10 feet is razor thin.
Wide open, if you imagine a 10x8 print, and put coffee mugs in the corners, those areas are at least a stop under exposed, due to vignetting. - a mathematically unavoidable phenomenon.
The middle is sharp and contrasty, but smooth and creamy OOF areas.
At F2 and below, you can't tell it's not a Summicron, except that objects in the pic are 50% bigger.
It's big and heavy, bigger and heavier than a noctilux, but beautifully balanced, - you can use it all day if you've had your porridge, (back alley joe are you listening)
It's incredibly fantastic because it's f1.4 - 400asa film is not good enough for this lens, - but 100asa in low light is what it's made for.
BTW, a noctilux is a stop faster but it'll vignette nearly 3 stops in the corners, and you'll have to get a lot closer, (DoF problems again)
The 75f1.4 is a whole stop faster than the 75f2, which can be mission critical on 100asa in low light.
It's nearly 2 stops faster than the VC, so you'd probably have to use 1600asa in low light with that one !
Hmmm...... I'll stop there for now........ Quick edit on last sentence
Regards John C.
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Hektor
Leicapile
I should add that my above comments apply to B/W film, I don't think I've ever shot colour film with it, and I've just checked the passport, - I've had it for fifteen years !
Graybeard
Longtime IIIf User
If I may ask a related question, where do 75mm lens users find that focal length has advantages?
I find a natural "step" between a 50mm and a 90mm in how I compose and frame an image. A 75mm seems to me to be either "too short" ot "too long" a focal length when the 50 (or 60mm) and the 90 mm are available.
-Graybeard
I find a natural "step" between a 50mm and a 90mm in how I compose and frame an image. A 75mm seems to me to be either "too short" ot "too long" a focal length when the 50 (or 60mm) and the 90 mm are available.
-Graybeard
Hektor
Leicapile
Well, Graybeard.... Speaking for myself,
75 is like a 50 with more "pull" and is better for facial expressions and features.
you get a bigger image object, or you can afford to shoot from a little further away, - easier tight framing or less cropping.
I know what you mean about 90s - they are great - but when did you last see a 90f1.4 ? - it would be unusable anyway, - I couldn't focus it accurately, or predictably, handheld, and the front element would be the size of a teaplate.
Quality 75s are easier to correct for aberrations than 50s
I like f2.8 for 90s but too slow for 100asa low light
I used to have a 60f2.8 reflex lens till it got stolen, i liked it a lot, but again a bit slow, but so sharp !
If you need to, you can do everything you want to with a good 50f2 and a small selection of film, but you can do magic things with a 75f1.4 or a 50f1 and 100asa film.
90s are king for waist-up portraits and daytime outdoor geography.
75 is like a 50 with more "pull" and is better for facial expressions and features.
you get a bigger image object, or you can afford to shoot from a little further away, - easier tight framing or less cropping.
I know what you mean about 90s - they are great - but when did you last see a 90f1.4 ? - it would be unusable anyway, - I couldn't focus it accurately, or predictably, handheld, and the front element would be the size of a teaplate.
Quality 75s are easier to correct for aberrations than 50s
I like f2.8 for 90s but too slow for 100asa low light
I used to have a 60f2.8 reflex lens till it got stolen, i liked it a lot, but again a bit slow, but so sharp !
If you need to, you can do everything you want to with a good 50f2 and a small selection of film, but you can do magic things with a 75f1.4 or a 50f1 and 100asa film.
90s are king for waist-up portraits and daytime outdoor geography.
Traut
Well-known
HT's quick comparison
75mm 1.4
75mm 2.0 and $600 worth of film
75mm 2.5 and $600 worth of film and $2200 worth of bodies
all for the same $$$
75mm 1.4
75mm 2.0 and $600 worth of film
75mm 2.5 and $600 worth of film and $2200 worth of bodies
all for the same $$$
Hektor
Leicapile
Ha, - Good points Traut
Rico
Well-known
You presume that everyone is using a 50mm. The .72x VF strongly encourages the 35mm FL. I think a 24-35-75 progression is nice for such an M body. On a135 SLR, I choose 28-50-100.Graybeard said:
Toby
On the alert
I've got three CV lenses 25/4 35/1.7 75/2.5 and I'd say the 75 is the sharpest of the group a really excellent lens and not just because it's cheap
Hektor
Leicapile
Try a VC nocton 50f1.5 Toby,
So fast,
So sharp,
So useful,
So affordable.
So fast,
So sharp,
So useful,
So affordable.
Toby
On the alert
Hektor said:
Don't say things like that I'm on an economy drive
Toby
On the alert
Manolo Gozales said:Hey
Toby I've got a 50/1.5 Nokton. Great lens. Fancy trying it out? You're welcome to borrow it if you like.
Mmm...GAS
ManGo
ebay emailed me to say one came up for auction today... destiny could be calling
FPjohn
Well-known
Hello:
Hektor - Thanks for the critique and the rationale for a 75mm.
Traut - Exactly! The question is what are the differences, in practice, that might justify the purchase - I'm interested in knowing if the f2, Leica's "affordable" alternative, makes the cut if I choose to go beyond the "limits" of a 90mm Tele-Elmarit.
ShutterBug has an article on the 75mm f2 by Roger Hicks in the current issue. 'Any f2 or Cv f2.5 users with input to add?
yours
Frank
Hektor - Thanks for the critique and the rationale for a 75mm.
Traut - Exactly! The question is what are the differences, in practice, that might justify the purchase - I'm interested in knowing if the f2, Leica's "affordable" alternative, makes the cut if I choose to go beyond the "limits" of a 90mm Tele-Elmarit.
ShutterBug has an article on the 75mm f2 by Roger Hicks in the current issue. 'Any f2 or Cv f2.5 users with input to add?
yours
Frank
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