Is a 75 or 90mm lens easier to focus using M7 .72?

[parasko]

Hi all,

I am seeking either a 75mm or 90mm lens for my M7 (.72 version) for fast street shooting. I currently use a 35mm 'Cron (latest) which I love so I'm looking for a similar signature.

Issues:
90mm has clearer framelines for easier composing but which FL is easier to focus?

A 75mm has the benefit of being more compact, and thus discreet on the street. Does anyone have any pics of either a 75mm or 90mm 'Cron mounted on an M7 so I have an idea of size and handling (assuming both these lenses have a similar signature to my 35 'Cron)?

Any advice on which FL is more suited for my intended purpose of quick focus street shooting?

Thanks.

 

[tbm]

I have the APO/ASPH 90mm Summicron which is a joy to use for fast street shooting simply by setting the hyperfocal distance in advance. If I want everything all the way out to infinity to be sharp, I move the focusing ring until the f-stop I've chosen sits atop the infinity mark; thus, if my f-stop is f/8, everything between the feet mark on the left and the infinity mark on the right will be in focus and I can shoot rapidly that way. If I want to blur the background by choosing a wider aperture on the 90mm lens, I simply focus the area of interest, note the feet measurement on the focusing ring, and set it to correspond to the range of focus I'm interested in capturing. The 70mm lens can be used in the same fashion. It's simple!

 

[pfoto]

The 75mm forms an excellent pair with the 35mm. I would pair the 90 with a 50mm lens. Having said that I don't have any photos but I've used Leica's 75/2 AA and 90/2 AA on both the M7 and MP and I would recommend the 75. The size of the 75 makes a big difference and the perspective of the lens is a bit like a 50mm but gives you the effect of being two steps nearer your subject. The 90 OTOH is a big lens and fairly hefty, you need a grip like Tom A's to comfortably handle it. I sold mine because I thought it wasn't so hot for close-ups, the 75 with it's floating element does a much better job IMO. I use the 35 ASPH and the 75 ASPH together for street shooting and can cover just about everything with those two lenses. A perfect combination.

 

[ferider]

I have only used the 75/2.5 Heliar and the 75/1.4 (which is a keeper). Have lots of 85 and 90 mm lenses, among others the last pre-asph 90/2.

Generally, at the same aperture and distance, the 75 is much easier to focus than a 90. And a great fit with 35, kind of a slightly longer 50.

The Lux of course is challenging to control wide open and close up ....

Roland.

 

[parasko]

The size of the 75 makes a big difference....I use the 35 ASPH and the 75 ASPH together for street shooting and can cover just about everything with those two lenses. A perfect combination.

Generally, at the same aperture and distance, the 75 is much easier to focus than a 90. And a great fit with 35...

Cheers guys!

This is what I assumed...I was leaning towards the 75 FL but just wasn't sure about those badly defined framelines.

Just one more question...in practice, does the latest 75 'Cron feel well proportioned with the M body or is it difficult to hold steady due to weight and size?

I know it doesn't need an additional grip but does it have that 'top heavy' feel, the way I imagine the 90mm lens to be?

 

[RichardB]

Since you are using a rangefinder, all lenses focus the same regardless of the focul length. If you are referring to the actual focus observed on you film after you take the picture, the greater depth of field of the 75mm versas the 90mm at the same aperature, generally yields more in focus shots especially with portraits where all I use now is the 75mm Summicron over the my 90mm Summicron AA.
But asking all these questions about weight & balance are only going to be settled by actually having your partilcuar M and the lenses attached. Only then can you make an informed decision.
Frankly all these dicussions over weight, size really leave me cold as I use whatever lens I need for the circumstances and never bother with any of those types of questions.-Dick

 

[JNewell]

Since you are using a rangefinder, all lenses focus the same regardless of the focul length. If you are referring to the actual focus observed on you film after you take the picture, the greater depth of field of the 75mm versas the 90mm at the same aperature, generally yields more in focus shots especially with portraits where all I use now is the 75mm Summicron over the my 90mm Summicron AA.

Hand that man a hammer so he can hit another nail on the head.

 

[Jonni]

The accuracy of focusing depends upon the rangefinder base and the focal length of the lens used. This is why you don't see any RF supertelephotos.

 

[pfoto]

Just one more question...in practice, does the latest 75 'Cron feel well proportioned with the M body or is it difficult to hold steady due to weight and size?

To me it works well with an M. It isn't big, it weighs 430 g but balances exceedingly well on the camera. When I got it first it was used on an M7 and now it is used with a 0.85x MP, a terrific combination. One thing that I really like about the lens is the slide-out hood - it locks unlike all the others.

 

[parasko]

Thanks all...

...last question (promise!)..

To what extent does the 75mm 'Cron (latest version) obstruct the view in the .72 viewfinder? Does it protrude into the view of the 75mm framelines?

 

[parasko]

Excellent!

Cheers Z.

 

[Rob-F]

75/1.4 and 90/2 have equally shallow DOF and are about equally challenging to focus. 75/2 is easier to focus accurately than 90/2. 75/2.5 will be easier to focus than a 90/2.8.

Edit: The basic idea is that DOF disappears fast as focal length increases. The difference between 75 and 90mm is already enough to reduce DOF as much as opening a full stop.

 

[StuartR]

The 75/1.4 is big, but beautiful. The 75/2 balances better and is smaller, but it is not a small and light lens. The 75/1.4 looks like this: