Is the 90mm f/2 APO the best Leica portrait lens..

[snaggs]

I really love the 135L on my Canon 5D, and, if I take the deal I've been offered to swap for a new Leica system.. then I want something special.. something which can really give creamy backgrounds.

Daniel.

PS. How tightly can you compose with the 90mm?

 

[Nachkebia]

Don`t forget 75 cron too, I think it is smaller in size...

 

[jaapv]

If you ever decide to get the m8 you'll be back to approx. the FOV of your 135 😉 seriously: this is about the best lens Leica ever built. Just move in 2 feet for the same subject size.

 

[snaggs]

Just read Erwin puts test report.. and he says its a bit soft at close range since it doesn't have floating elements?

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/zeiss/test85/t004.html

How does the 75mm f/1.4 compare.. Anyone have some portrait samples they'd like to share?

 

[jaapv]

Don't believe everything Erwin says. He has pretty well discredited himself a few days back. This lens redefines the phrase razor-sharp.Superb for city and architecture shots and in high-contrast landscapes. If it is slightly less clinical at shorter range you will only be thankful for it when you shoot portraits. The 1.4 'lux, which I have is a totally different beast altogether. (nearly) as sharp and contrasty as a Summicron from 4.0 upwards, at wider apertures it is slightly less harsh, but for that it has superb colour differentiation and micro contrast and is coma and flare free wide open. Night-scenes, theatre, contre-jour landscapes and shallow DOF-portraits are its field.

 

[Nachkebia]

jaapv : Nice information! So 75 lux is more of a plot lens, while 75 cron is more of a portrait lens right? how about 90 cron ?

 

[jaapv]

About the 90 cron I know nothing of personal experience, but it is reported to be exactly of the same super-sharp and clinical character as the 75 or the 135 3.4 apo, which I used to have. Another great lens which would be an excellent addition for Daniel (mine (mint) is for sale at ffordes btw) which would keep his focal length, albeit at a lower speed.

 

[Nachkebia]

When you say 75 you mean cron right?

 

[jaapv]

When you say 75 you mean cron right?

Yes. Sloppy typing. Thank you. If pushed to compare I would say the Summilux is closer to Canon's 135 2.0 in character than the Summicrons are. When photographing a miner in sidelight I would prefer one of the Summicrons.

 

[Magus]

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[jaapv]

You are right that the 75 summicron is not as incisive as the 90, Magus but for me even that one is a bit too much, which is why I find it clinical. We will have to wait and see how the sensor on the M8 will react to the various characters, but I feel it may well enhance the sharp and contrasty last generation lenses, as well as emphasizing the steep bokeh.

 

[snaggs]

I definately need the f/2, I'm even wondering if the 90 f/2 will be able to give me blurred backgrounds like I'm used to on the 135 f/2

Thankyou for your findings.. how do you rate the 75mm lux?

Here are a couple of examples, of what I like to achieve..

though this one needs another stop so I can have the centre teeth in focus.. something you can have too much of a good thing.. however, I love the smooth soft backgrounds.

Daniel.

 

[Magus]

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[Magus]

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[jaapv]

I love these shots... Great! I think a Summilux would give even smoother bokeh, maybe not that resolution, but it would be compensated by better microcontrast and colour differentiation. But in the end, looking at this you would have gotten it right with any of the lenses discussed. A case of it is not the equipment but the photographer, I feel

 

[Magus]

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[J. Borger]

There is no Leica lens that has the same look as the 135 Canon on a Cmos sensor.
If you want to have that look .. why not keep the Canon?
Besides the Leica 75 Lux is hard to focus wide-open... so if you shoot (informal) kids portraits with it like you show ... you might be better of with Autofocus anyway.

 

[snaggs]

The Canon is nice, I'm just exploring.. a shop offered to trade my Canon gear in for exactly (actually, maybe a tad more) than I paid for it! Ontop of that, they'll sell me the Leica stuff at a reduced price..

All new MP + 35 cron + 90 f/2 for the equiv of US$6800, its just very tempting, and prepratory for a future M8/M9 or whatever. Now Australian prices are usually another 25% above US prices.

Everytime I take the Canon out to shoot, the ergonomics and size irritate me a bit, everytime I get back and upload the pictures.. I think.. but dagnamit theyre nice files..

I was hoping maybe in Leica I would find something that would satisfy me in both ways.

Daniel.

PS. I'd really love it if someone could post me some Leica tele-portraits so I can get a feel for the look.

 

[Magus]

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[SteveM(PA)]

Well, until others chime in, here's a recent thread about a Summar, but near the bottom, there's a great portrait done with the 90 cron, I think it's the APO version.http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27054&highlight=summar

My gallery has some tele shots, and although my gear is very old and crummy, you can get an idea of what you can expect at the very least. 🙂