affordable portrait lens for Zeiss Ikon

[Overconfidence]

Hi all,

I'm looking for an affordable 85/90mm lens for my zeiss ikon in the f/2-2.8 range. I want something that will be quite sharp at f/2.8 (f/2 if possible) providing I focus correctly. Alternatively, I suppose a fast, close-focusing 50mm could work, but I think I would prefer a more telephoto lens. I currently only have the 35/2 biogon.

I was looking at used 90 'crons and elmarits but I'm not sure what versions are good. There are also LTM nikkors and canons but I am not sure which ones are better or viable.

Thanks!

 

[back alley]

a cv 75/2.5 would do nicely too.

the canon chrome 85/2 is heavy but sharp.

slower but very nice the 90/4 cle or elmar lenses.

 

[Overconfidence]

a cv 75/2.5 would do nicely too.

the canon chrome 85/2 is heavy but sharp.

slower but very nice the 90/4 cle or elmar lenses.

Anyone use the voigtlander lens on the ZI? Would it be better to get the 50/75 adapter or the 28/90 adapter? How annoying is framing?

 

[back alley]

i did, i used the 28/90 iirc, to bring up the 85 framelines.

 

[Overconfidence]

i did, i used the 28/90 iirc, to bring up the 85 framelines.

How were the 85 framelines compared to the pictures you got?

 

[back alley]

for rf cameras the framelines are more like guidelines, they are rarely truly accurate.

once you mentally adjust it's not hard.

 

[ferider]

What's your budget ?

(I love RF teles and have tried quite a few ....)

Roland.

 

[Overconfidence]

What's your budget ?

(I love RF teles and have tried quite a few ....)

Roland.

Aiming around/under $500 I think. I can go higher but that just means that I'll wait longer before I get the lens haha.

 

[ferider]

That's a decent target ...

- For US 250 + adapter you can get the Heliar 75/2.5, a very nice and portable lens as Joe pointed out.
- For US 300-350, you can get an Elmarit v1, or a Tele Elmarit 90/2.8 (the last E39 one with yellow 90 on the barrel). Both great. The TE has the best compromise of speed vs. size.
- If you want f2 and have US 300-350 (+ adapter), I recommend a Nikkor 85/2 chrome. Great, great lens. Some design elements of the 85/2 Zeiss "Ur-Sonnar".
- If you are willing to spend a bit more, that lens also comes in black. Same optics as the chrome one but lighter, easier to handle. I bought mine for less than US 500, but usually they run a bit higher. In fact, there is one in the classifieds right now.
- For around US 400-450, you can get the M-Hexanon 90/2.8, basically a copy of the 90/2.8 Contax lens. Very well built, nice signature.
- If you want a Summicron, get the 90/2 v3 (the last pre-asph) one. Nowadays, you should get a decent copy for US 600 or so. Earlier Summicrons are more affordable, but much heavier and bigger.

Hope this helps. Best,

Roland.

PS: if you check the flickr M-mount group (see my signature) you will find example pictures taken with all the above lenses.

 

[thomasw_]

save for a v.3 90/2 summicron...a great lens.

 

[Overconfidence]

save for a v.3 90/2 summicron...a great lens.

How do I tell which version 'cron it is? For example on KEH there are 90mm summicrons ranging from $500 to $1000 that look very similar to me (some have 48 filter, some have 55).

 

[Tom A]

I have the Canon 85f1.9 - heavy beast, but very pleasant rendition. I remember the 85f2.0 Canon being very similar.
The 75f2.5 Voigtlander is a sweet little lens. Just enough "softness" at 2.5 to be useful as a portrait lens and it does sharpen up at f4.0. Ue it with the 28/90 adapter and you will be OK. Another alternative, which is a bit slower is the VC 90f3.5 Apo Lanthar. Tack sharp at f3.5, but just enough DOF to work as a portrait lens. With the same adapter,28/90, you can use it with the 85 frames on the ZI (the lens is actually more of a 86-87mm lens than a 90 anyway).
For the almost perfect portrait lens - the Nikkor 105f2.5. You can find them in LTM mount and either use a external finder or "shoot inside the box" with the 85 frame. I have both the Nikkor 85f2 and the 105/2.5 and even though the 85f2 is a stellar lens, there is something about the 105 that makes it a stand-out. Big bugger though, but if you are going portraits, you are not going to be running around too much with it anyway (i assume).
The Leica's are good, particularly the 1970's Summicron 90 - the Big Bertha. It has a nice sharp center at f2/0 and an attractive corner softening. It does tighten up at f4 and onward. Again, a bit big, but I never found that a problem as you basically hold on to the lens and let the camera hang there. It (as does the 105f2.5) has its own tripod socket which can help (monopod it or a straight grip).
I found that the later Summicron 90's where a bit dissapointing. The V3 varied considerably in quality. The Elmarit's and Tele Elmarit's are probably better choices , but really not much of an improvement over the Voigtlander 90f3.5. I haven't shot enough with the Konica 90f2.8 to have an opinion about it - but those who have it seem to like it.
As per usual, always check on Flickr's M-mount forum for sample shots with various lenses. Best reference system for optics around.

 

[ferider]

How do I tell which version 'cron it is? For example on KEH there are 90mm summicrons ranging from $500 to $1000 that look very similar to me (some have 48 filter, some have 55).

The v3 comes (rarely) in E49 (starting at serial# 2,800,000) but mostly in E55 (serial# 3,177,211 - 3,750,000). I recommend to call them and make sure what serial nr. you will get. Here is a picture of it (in the middle. The Nikkor 85/2 is on the left):

Best,

Roland.

 

[Tom A]

The early V3 Summicron 90f2.0 (# 2800 000 and up) has one stupid thing in the design. The hood slides over the aperture ring!!! When you think that you are turning the ring, you are just turning the hood. If is the same optical version as the later E55, but it will drive you nuts. In the end I drilled and tapped a hole in the hood so that it could be locked in extended position with a set-screw. The early 90 V3's had a hood that was very easy to shift, even gravity could make it slide backward! Later they tightened up the hood construction and it was better. I found that version OK, not great though.

 

[Rico]

90mm is about perfect for head&shoulders, but I don't understand these wide apertures. DOF @ f/4 is quite shallow enough for portraits, so consider a cheap and cheerful Elmar: I have two of them, while my v1 Elmarit gets no face time. I feel the same way about my SLR rig (Sonnar 100/3.5 for portraits rather than a Planar 100/2). One eye in focus doesn't work for me. In C/V-land the Apo-Lanthar 90 is well regarded.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Any word on the Zeiss ZM Tele Tessar 85/4?

 

[noimmunity]

well, my black nikkor is up for sale or trade. pm me if interested. i think it makes a highly desirable portrait lens for the ZI given the framelines, the rendition, the size, and the weight.

 

[Overconfidence]

90mm is about perfect for head&shoulders, but I don't understand these wide apertures. DOF @ f/4 is quite shallow enough for portraits, so consider a cheap and cheerful Elmar: I have two of them, while my v1 Elmarit gets no face time. I feel the same way about my SLR rig (Sonnar 100/3.5 for portraits rather than a Planar 100/2). One eye in focus doesn't work for me. In C/V-land the Apo-Lanthar 90 is well regarded.

I like to stop down my lenses when focusing close, but i like to have the large aperture option for shots that are further out to make the DoF fairly shallow when doing full-length portraits.

 

[back alley]

there is a 90/4 in the classifieds right now, for 100 bucks.

 

[payasam]

As Roland says, the Nikkor 85/2 is an excellent option. Tom A speaks of the CV 90/3.5, a relatively inexpensive lens I can vouch for -- though it is slower than what you want. Among the lenses I considered was the Jupiter 9 (85/2, screw mount), but I could not find one whose seller guaranteed correct focus at near distances.