Got a suggestion for an 85mm lens (M-mount)?

[raid]

Which Tessar tele do you have on your mind?

 

[B-9]

Bump for the Nikon 8.5cm f2.0 in LTM.

One of my all time favorites, great for portraits, it has a very creamy "bokeh".

Go for the big old chrome version, should save you some cash.
I got mine for around 150$ here in the classifieds.

 

[jawarden]

Think what you need this lens for.
There are hardly any bad 85/90mm rf lenses around - it is much easier to make a good tele than a good wide angle. In RF shooting, I have found that I use apertures wider than f 4.0 seldom - the reason is, that when you shoot landscape you want sharpness and textures, and when you shoot a portrait, f4.0 gives you enough dof to cover minor focusing errors. Shooting close portraits wide open has the additional benefit of rouund OOF highlights and smoother shape contours, so an f 4.0 lens is more than appropriate. If you like it biting sharp, go with the Tessar, if you like it sharp but normal, there is an Elmar C 90/4 you can get on the cheap.

Thanks for the advice, and I'm definitely hearing you about the shallow DoF and focus errors. I used to use a Contax G2 kit with the 90/2.8 (a great lens) but between the autofocus errors and shallow DoF the 90 was hard to control for portrait use unless stopped down.

So I'm familiar with the limitations of wider aperture shooting with a 90 but given the light that I have to work with I'll be pushing my film 3 stops with an F4 lens and I would like to avoid that. F4 just won't work in those situations unless I use a flash of course, but I would also like to avoid that. I'll definitely be stopping the lens down when possible, but I guess sometimes you just have to have the speed.

 

[uhoh7]

Here's the nikkor 85/2 WO on A7.mod:

Menus by unoh7, on Flickr


Nikkor S 85/2 by unoh7, on Flickr

this one was less than 100USD 🙂

 

[uhoh7]

Here the Canon 85/1.8 that you will never find LOL:

Canon ltm by unoh7, on Flickr


L1023432 by unoh7, on Flickr

The 90 crons are great if calibration is good. Be sure to test that ASAP
.

 

[noimmunity]

Thanks for the advice, and I'm definitely hearing you about the shallow DoF and focus errors. I used to use a Contax G2 kit with the 90/2.8 (a great lens) but between the autofocus errors and shallow DoF the 90 was hard to control for portrait use unless stopped down.

So I'm familiar with the limitations of wider aperture shooting with a 90 but given the light that I have to work with I'll be pushing my film 3 stops with an F4 lens and I would like to avoid that. F4 just won't work in those situations unless I use a flash of course, but I would also like to avoid that. I'll definitely be stopping the lens down when possible, but I guess sometimes you just have to have the speed.

If you like the Contax G Sonnar 90/2.8, you might consider having one converted to M mount. I did, and I love it.

And I pair it with the black aluminum version of the 85/2 Nikkor (could this be the lightest, most compact legacy 85/90? Not to mention one of the most delicious!), but if I couldn't source one, I'd be perfectly happy with the beautiful chromed brass version.

Your decision might be based on other things, though. Neither of the two lenses I mention above have great ergonomics. One is a conversion, the other has a huge focus throw and a rotating aperture ring. If your need for speed goes beyond aperture to include focusing and ergonomics, I think that you have to look at a Summicron, but others here will know better than I.

The lower contrast of the Nikkor, BTW, works well with the higher contrast normally associated with pushed film. YMMV.

 

[sahe69]

Surprising that no one has mentioned the Konica M-Hexanon 90/2.8 yet.