best portrait lens

[espressogeek]

I am looking for suggestions for the best portrait lens for the bessas or leica m mount cameras. What do you fine fellas and ladies suggest? The nikon 135mm ? The 90/3.5 APO Lanthar ? Im considering switching from my xpan to a bessa since I rarely use the xpan's pano funtions.

 

[simonankor]

My favourite portrait lens so far is the CV 35mm f/2.5 Color Skopar. I love the way this lens works on people, and 35mm is a great length for portraits - I like to show their surroundings as well though. 😉

 

[wlewisiii]

Personally, my favorite portrait lens is my pre-war uncoated 90/4 Elmar. It has a very distinctive look, especially in color, that is just what my eyes like to see in a portrait. They can still be found silly cheap with a bit of looking.

William

 

[back alley]

for a traditional look portrait?

anything between a 75 to a 135, with maybe a 85 to 105 being the most popular.
for an easier time the 75, maybe the 90 fl.

 

[kshapero]

The Heliar CV 75mm f2.5. Absolutely great portrait lens.

 

[raid]

The original Summicron 90mm lens. Heavy and beautiful, and it gives you creamy colors or B&W portraits.

Raid

 

[Harry Lime]

I am looking for suggestions for the best portrait lens for the bessas or leica m mount cameras. What do you fine fellas and ladies suggest? The nikon 135mm ? The 90/3.5 APO Lanthar ? Im considering switching from my xpan to a bessa since I rarely use the xpan's pano funtions.

1.4/50mm Summilux-M (pre-ASPH, focus to .7 meters)
2/50 Summicron DR or Rigid

1.4/75mm Summilux-M (amazing piece of glass)

 

[blakley]

My favorite is the 75/2 ASPH Summicron; I used it to take this picture and some others in my gallery:

50mm is also a good portrait length, and there are a lot of great 50s that will fit a Leica. I've just posted a bunch of portraits taken with various 50mm M-mount and LTM lenses here:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00HHZ5&tag=

 

[espressogeek]

Wow that 75/2 is just stunning!

 

[blakley]

There's on on the 'bay HERE right now.

 

[blakley]

Here's another 75 Summicron photo from my gallery.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I haven't scanned the slides yet, but I've been really mistified by the Canon 85 f/2 LTM shots I've taken with it, and it does a wonderful job with people shots. Lovely Sonnar dissolve wide-open. That is certainly a cheap alternative to either the Leica 75 Summilux, or the 50 Summilux (which I own and prefer to the 85 f/2).

You're going to get a lot of biased choices here (portraits can mean different things to different people), so may as well do some sample research. The gallery may have some many shots tagged with the gear equipment properly, so you can compare shots taken with the different lenses mentioned here.

 

[espressogeek]

Wow those 75/2 shots are amazing. I would love to see some shots from other portrait lenses. I know you can search for them and I have but having them all in one thread would be awesome. Gabrielma please post the 85mm canon shots when you have time. BTW I had no idea that 75/2 was so $$$. How does it compare to the 90/2 and 70/1.4 ?

 

[santino]

I know that it isn't the best but I pretty like my Jupiter 9 shots. I sometimes use it on my M6 and it's fine, soft wide open but ok. you could give the Jupiter a try, it's cheap compared to "good" lenses.

 

[espressogeek]

Is there someone in the states that can take a jupiter and give it a " tune up " ? Those lenses havev always fascinated me.

 

[espressogeek]

BTW, while I do appreciate the info on the 50mm lenses I was looking for something with a little working distance like a 75-135mm. But all info is welcome as there are many 50mm's that can take a smokin portrait.

 

[dadsm3]

My vote is for the M mount 90mm Elmar F4. Mine's rigid, but I understand the more expensive collapsibles are just as good....around $200 for a minty one, smaller and lighter than the 'cron....great performer.

 

[payasam]

Our friendly moderator has set out the focal length range, though I'd call 135 too long and 75 and 105 relative rarities: which leaves 85, 90, 100, all of which can be had in Leica screw mount. I'd go with William on the Elmar 90. It is softish wide open. The examples taken with the Summicron 75, never mind their objective quality, might be too sharp to appeal to all sitters. There are "non-traditional" (more than head and shoulders) portraits too, as Simonankor says, for which a 50 or a 35 could be excellent.

 

[rich815]

90/4 Elmar-M

 

[BillBingham2]

The best is a very subjective rating. I have several moderate teles and would use any of them at one time or another for a particular look or quality.

The old 90/4 is great for a softer look when compared to the 90/2 (1985ish ‘cron). You can get them for a reasonable price and they are very small and easy to carry. Ok over all lens too when you stop down. I used one for several years as a carry everywhere kit, that and an old 35/3.5, both M mount. The 90/2 ‘cron is a great lens, built in shade, smaller than the Nikkor 85/2 and sharp. I love it, but it’s been replace by a Nikkor.

Of late, the Nikkor 105/2.5 is what I carry and use most. I love it and the price is reasonable these days. It’s much lighter than my chrome Nikkor 85/2 and about the same physical size. Takes 52mm filters, what could be better. The Nikkor 85/2 is a fine lens, but the 105 is GREAT. It is very hard to get a black 85, where as the 105 only came in black. Finders are a pain to find for either.

I’ve purchased a CV 75/2.5 to complete my son’s kit (a 35/1.7 is his main lens) and was very impressed with it. In hind sight, should have gotten one for me years ago, it’s a great size and very sharp.

I have to admit, I lust for the new 75/2. It is a GREAT lens, I wish Pres. K, would come out with a faster 75, perhaps a 1.8, but it does not look like it’s in the cards.

I have heard great things about the Steinheil Munchen 85/2.8, but never had one. Got one once, but it turned out to be in the wrong mount. I have never been a big Canon fan, so

If I were you I would look at the CV 75/2.5, it works well on any Bessa. If you go faster, you might run into focusing issues close up with their short effective rangefinder base length (http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/technics/rfaccuracy.html ). While good LTM 105/2.5 do not grow on trees, there is one on xbay almost every month. They cost about $75 more than you pay for the new CV. Something you might want to think about is the fact that the f-stops go the opposite direction of CV lenses. Not a big deal for me, but I did not start my son with my 85/2 for that reason.

B2 (;->