90mm To Complement C-Sonnar

[lonemantis]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to get a 90mm lens to shoot portraits on my M3. I don't tend to use 90s too often, so I was hoping to spend less than $400, but I could stretch above that a bit for something really good.

I'm looking for something that matches the look I get from my ZM C-Sonnar, which is my favourite 50mm lens by far but I can't always use it for tight headshots. It's not excessively sharp wide open, but has great contrast, bokeh, flare resistance, and a certain "look" that's hard to characterize - Something like that in a 90 would be great.

Any recommendations?

 

[kbg32]

The Leitz 90 Elmar-C is a wonderful little lens.

 

[ferider]

Best existing complement to your C-Sonnar is the v3 pre-asph Summicron 90/2, IMO. Happens to be an Ernostar, a design closely related to the Sonnar. Very nice rendering wide open, and very sharp f2.8 and up.

If you want just a little smaller, the M-Hexanon 90/2.8 is a copy of the Contax G 90/2.8 Sonnar, and also an Ernostar, sharp and similar contrast/rendering when compared to your C-Sonnar.

As a true Sonnar, the Nikkor 105/2.5 is nice, too, but - due to age - is weaker than your C-Sonnar in terms of contrast.

Interestingly, the ZM 85/2 "Sonnar" (besides being expensive and made of "Unobtainium"), is actually a double Gauss design. And it's _big_.

Roland.

 

[Classique]

How about another sonnar? I use Nikkor 10.5cm 2.5 and have been getting great results.

 

[kxl]

1) ZM 85/2.0 Sonnar, if you can find one

2) Nikon 105/2.5 LTM

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Another vote for the 10.5cm f/2.5 Nikkor or an 8.5cm f/2 Nikkor. Both Sonnars and both fantastic. Not too pricey either.

Phil Forrest

 

[Vics]

The Leitz 90 Elmar-C is a wonderful little lens.

Beat me to it! I shoot the Elmar-C on my M3 and love it. Cost me $254 in EX condition at KEH.com.

 

[Godfrey]

The Leitz 90 Elmar-C is a wonderful little lens.

I don't know how it matched the C Sonnar, but I love this lens. Here are two examples shooting with it on the M9, just cropped square.

​

G

 

[paradoxbox]

looks like some camera shake or missed focus in the above shots

you might consider a jupiter-9 85/f2 - if you shim it it's a fantastic lens and cheaper than all the other alternatives. i'm currently looking for one.

 

[icebear]

Another vote for the pre asph 'cron :
All shots on MM.

 

[mfogiel]

The "best" lens, as has been pointed out, would be the 90/2 pre asph Summicron, it simply has a charm of its own, although I prefer to shoot it on a Leica R4s for portraiture. (This makes the lens actually much cheaper) However, if you are looking for a more distinctive sonnar blur, and are willing to sacrifice other aspects, then probably the 85/2 Nikkor, and particularly the Jupiter 85/2 would be the choice.
You should look for images from these on flickr before deciding.
As a side note, there are some collector lenses like the Thambar or Summarex that are interesting for portraiture, but I believe you were looking for something more mainstream and cheaper.

Summicron 90/2 R


20128112 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[zwarte_kat]

The "best" lens, as has been pointed out, would be the 90/2 pre asph Summicron, it simply has a charm of its own, although I prefer to shoot it on a Leica R4s for portraiture. (This makes the lens actually much cheaper) However, if you are looking for a more distinctive sonnar blur, and are willing to sacrifice other aspects, then probably the 85/2 Nikkor, and particularly the Jupiter 85/2 would be the choice.
You should look for images from these on flickr before deciding.
As a side note, there are some collector lenses like the Thambar or Summarex that are interesting for portraiture, but I believe you were looking for something more mainstream and cheaper.

Summicron 90/2 R


20128112 by mfogiel, on Flickr

Beautiful photo!

I'm in the same boat, might be looking for a 90mm later this year to supplement the sonnar with head shots.