90 for portraits?

[x-ray]

I know you're asking about RF lenses but if you really want speed then forget about RF. I have owned and shot both the v2 and current apo asph summicrons. The v2 isn't particularly sharp wide open at any distance and the apo is not sharp in the closer range where you would dhoot head shots. I really dislike minf for that use otherwide at distances greater then 8-10 feet it's very good. I also own and shoot the v1 elmarit and the v2 thin tele-elmarit. The v1 elmarit is very good at all apertures and all distances. The Tele flares like crazy even with the proper hood and isn't super sharp untill you get to 5.6. The Nikkor 105 is exceptional by any standard. My 75 1.4 summilux is very fine but even on a .85x MP at close distance it's tough to focus accurately. RF's aren't great portrait tools IMO. they excell for normal to wide lenses and are marginal for longer.

If you really want a fast lens for shallow dof then forget RF's. The Nikkor 85 1.8 AF, 85 1.4 and the canon 85 1.2 are the winning ticket for speed and super sharpness. I have the 85 1.2 and it's one of the sharpest lenses I've ever owned and the OOF in a head shot at 1.2 is fantastic. The canon 135 f2 is in the same class and even a little sharper.

 

[Dektol Dan]

Favorite Portrait Lens Isn't

Favorite Portrait Lens Isn't

a 90, rather the f4 135 Elmar. Second choice is the 90 f4 Elmar.
There just aren't any lenses ever made more flattering than these two.
They are magically sharp where they have to be, and soft where they should be soft.

 

[Santafecino]

You owe it to yourself to buy an early 85mm f:2 Jupiter, since it is very inexpensive and can teach you a lot about managing a fast 85mm. Count on the cost of having it cleaned and collimated--the result is well worth it. If you try it and still want something sharper you can go to a pre-aspheric Summicron, but that moves into another economic order of magnitude.

Lindsay

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

I own the summilux 75 and summicron 90 pre-asph 55mm filter size. Altough the summilux is all it's said to be and exotic, I usually reach out for the summicron for such shots. It's just that good. Really is.

I vote for the Summicron 90 too. It's pretty affordable too (as far as Leica glass goes.)

 

[Monz]

Monz, those are great images. I really like 'New Earrings.'

Thanks charjohncarter, glad you liked them 🙂

--
Monz

 

[Marc-A.]

Thambar, followed by 85/2 Jupiter, followed by 1st generation Summicron. Unless you want sharpness, in which case late Summicron. (I've used all four)

Interesting list: a 2000€ lens, then a 80€ one ...
Btw, you're very lucky to have the lengendary Thambar ... could you post a picture taken with it?

I've had the Jupiter 9, good lens, not too sharp not too soft either. but if I had to buy another 85/90 lens, it would be the Elmarit (any version of it), I find it gorgeous... and 2.8 for a 90 lens, it's wwide enough.

Best,
Marc

 

[dpetrzelka]

Monz-- beautiful work, thank you for posting photos. Is that a version 1 or 2 Elmarit?

Is there a significant performance difference between a v1 and v2 90/2.8 Elmarit?

I may have to pick up a Jupiter 9 to hold me over until I can get an Elmarit.

 

[RichardB]

I have a 90mm Canadian Summicron and the current 90mm Summicron, I use neither for portraits. The problem being that the depth of field at the apertures i use is very shallow. I use the 75mm Summicron which not only has better depth of field but is extrordinarily sharp.
If you haven't had experience shooting portraits (head shots) with the 90mm, first try one before purchasing one.-Dick

 

[Monz]

Monz-- beautiful work, thank you for posting photos. Is that a version 1 or 2 Elmarit?

Is there a significant performance difference between a v1 and v2 90/2.8 Elmarit?

I may have to pick up a Jupiter 9 to hold me over until I can get an Elmarit.

Hi,
Thanks. I am not sure if my 90mm Elmarit M is a version 1 or 2. It was a built in retractable hood and the serial no is 3622... which makes the year of production 1993 according to 'The Leica Lens Compendium' by E. Puts.

I forgot to mention that although the max aperture is "only" 2.8, the lens is very usable at this aperture and with films of ISO 400 and faster, there should not be a problem even in-doors.

I hope you find something you like. All the best.

Edit: I have just looked at Puts' book again - he seems to rate the 1990 Elmarit M very highly (ie the lens I used in the pictures listed earlier.)
--
Monz

 

[Photon42]

I second the Elmarit-M 90/2.8. For me it's the perfect mix of speed and size. I only have it for a couple of weeks now, but I'm very happy. It is also a lens which appears to be easy to find used here.
Regards
Ivo

 

[peter_n]

Well I only have experience with three 90mm lenses. The first is the current Leica 90/2 APO ASPH which is both fast and sharp. It is big and heavy and I had to get a TA Rapidgrip on my M7 to handle it comfortably. It can be tough to focus at f2 and is less impressive with close-ups than with middle/long distance shots.

Leica 90/2 APO ASPH

Leica 90/2 APO ASPH​

My travel lens is a Leica 90/2.8 (thin) Tele-Elmarit. It is very small and light but can be susceptible to flare. It absolutely needs a deep hood. A bit soft wide open which can be an advantage in a portrait lens. I like this lens a lot.

Leica 90/2.8 (thin) Tele-Elmarit​

Lastly I've very recently found a new Konica 90/2.8 M-Hexanon which I think is the perfect 90. I had one about three years ago and very stupidly sold it. The lens is small(ish), light and like all Konica lenses has tremendous build quality. It doesn't flare and is adequately sharp for a portrait lens; it's an Ernostar design (Sonnar predecessor) with beautiful rendering, at least to my eyes. Unfortunately the two examples here don't show it at it's best but they are scanned already so they get posted. This lens is replacing my Leica 90/2 AA which I will sell.

Konica 90/2.8 M-Hexanon

Konica 90/2.8 M-Hexanon​

 

[8877molly]

Thanx for the pix

Thanx for the pix

These examples are wonderful---the girl w/violin is exquisite.

 

[Krosya]

Hex 90! Superb lens! Here is one from mine:

 

[Benjamin Marks]

75 Summicron wide open. Ilford XP2 in a recently new-to-me M5. Scanned on a Nikon Super Coolscan 4000. Some detail is lost in the conversion to jpg. In the original, you can count the eyelashes. Will try to post an image from a 90 tele-elmarit later today (oddly, the only 90 that focuses perfectly on my M8, when wide open).

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Here are two from a Tele-Elmarit. One is wide open at 2.8, the other is at 5.6. Made using an M8 at ISO 160.