Comments on CV 90/3.5 Apo Lanthar

[c.poulton]

I shall be photographing a wedding for a friend in a couple of months and am considering buying the 90/3.5 Apo Lanthar to use with the R3a to get a little closer to the bride and groom during the marriage ceremony.

A couple of issues that I am worried about:

1. Shooting indoors - will the 90/3.5 be fast enouth? (I guess that I could go for a fast film such as Neopan 1600?)

2. Will the base line of the R3a be up to the job with the 90mm - am I better off going for the 75/2.5 Color Heliar instead?

Any comments or suggestions........?

 

[Nearsighted]

I can't comment much on the 90. I love my 75 though. My R has frame lines that support the 75. And for indoor and no flash I think you may be getting a little long for that slow of lens. With my 75/2.5 I can shoot at 1/60th with no worries. I don't know if the same would be true with the 90. Good luck.

 

[c.poulton]

Thanks Nearsighted, I was thinking along the same lines myself.

The R3a supports both the 90 & 75 so no worries there...

 

[back alley]

if i could butt in here with a question...does anyone know what the physical size difference is between the cv 90 and the leica elmar c or minolta 90/4 is?

joe

 

[RayPA]

if i could butt in here with a question...does anyone know what the physical size difference is between the cv 90 and the leica elmar c or minolta 90/4 is?

joe

I have the CV 90 and the Minolta 90. They are practically identical in size.


🙂

 

[back alley]

I have the CV 90 and the Minolta 90. They are practically identical in size.


🙂

thanks ray.

do you have a preference between the 2?

interested in a trade involving my canon 135/3.5?

joe

 

[RayPA]

thanks ray.

do you have a preference between the 2?

interested in a trade involving my canon 135/3.5?

joe

I haven't shot enough with the Minolta to have a preference. I like the CV a lot. The CV feels more solid. My first impression of the Minolta was that the f-stops 'clicks' sounded plastic-y. Most of my 90 efforts, lately, have been indoors, at my kids' karate schools, so I've been using my 90/2 'cron for that.

I have a 135/3.5. Thanks though. 🙂


🙂

 

[back alley]

thanks ray.

from the pics i have seen i would have guessed the minolta was much smaller.
i'll be looking for a 90 eventually and i think the cv is a contender but it may end up being which is around and at what price when i decide to move on it.

joe

 

[markinlondon]

The CV 90mm Apo-Lanthar is excellent wide open. In fact stopping it down doesn't seen to make much difference to the resolution and sharpness.

Here's one shot wide open, maybe @ f4.

Link

Mark

 

[c.poulton]

Thanks Mark

The 90 is certainly a sharp lens - did you have any problems using it indoors?

I like your gallery, particularily nice selection of shots of London - it just proves that I should get out more!

 

[pab]

the CV 90mm is an outstanding lens, but a bit slow to use indoors. The CV 75mm f2.5 is faster and also an excellent lens.

 

[sunsworth]

The CV 90 is a cracking lens. Sharper than an old Elmar. The focus throw of the Elmar is very long which makes the CV much faster to focus.

I sold my Elmar and bought a CV90. Haven't regretted the decision.

Steve

 

[BrianPhotog]

The 90 is great. I don't get to make much use of it, but it never lets me down.

That being said, you may want to bring some faster film with you for shooting indoors. I've found typical indoor lighting (the flat, uniform, track lighting) to be 1/60 @ f2 shooting at EI400. What this means is wide open with that lens, you'll be shooting at ~1/30s...okay for a 50mm but too slow to avoid camrea shake at 90mm.

 

[pvdhaar]

I did once have the CV90/3.5, and it was a sharp lens. Particularly at f5.6-f8, it was at its best. At f3.5-f4, the edges were a tad less pronounced than the center, but for portraits that's excactly what you need. The form factor is good, and allows to hold the lens quite well. But you should be aware that despite its size, it's actually a very light lens, so if you've got shaky hands it's prone to camera shake. The reason that I didn't keep it was that I'm essentially a fifty mm person..

 

[RogerinVegas]

Get the 75mm easier, faster, and excellent images 5.6 is the ideal Fstop for amazing images. (just adjust shutter speed to compensate) The 90mm requires a bit more skill to get focused images, amazing lens, sharp, but takes work and getting used to focusing it right so indoor pictures will be a challenge. Film?----Try Fuji 160 S or C I love this film! Next choice especially for indoors is Fuji 400 PRO H another excellent film, third choice is to use Kodak Portra 400 NC.
Good Luck, hopefully you will share a few images.
Roger

 

[c.poulton]

Thanks for you advice Roger.

I had a quick look at your gallery - nice images. The CV 90mm is certainly sharp as a pin. I will have to check out the lighting in the registry office - I may be able to get away with it?

The CV 75mm is probably the better lens for indoor work. Now, if only I could afford the two.....