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

[Gabriel M.A.]

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. 🙂

I think most of us at RFF have some gear that is old and crummy, and couldn't be happier 😎

 

[Nachkebia]

gabrielma : specialy that lovely 20D you have there.... 😛

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Yeah, the dSLRs age more quickly than dogs. Mine's middle-aged.

There's dog years, and then there's dSLR years. A 20D year is how many M3 years? 20? 😉

 

[Nachkebia]

Its like cosmos! 😀

 

[x-ray]

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?

I shoot both the 90mm apo asph and the 75 usummilux. When I purchased my 90 apo I kept my 1st version 90 elmarit and I'm glad I did. I agree with Erwin that the 90 apo is soft close up but performs very well beyond fifteen feet or more. I heard so many rave reviews about this lens but when I purchased it i was so disappointed with my close work at wide apertures that i sent it in to be checked. I would also say it's no where near as good as my 85 1.2 canon close up and certainly not in the same class as my old 90 elmarit for head shots. No the 75 summilux is a different story. It's very sharp wide open and close and really shines at f2. My pick for portrait shots is the summilux 75 or the old 90 elmarit.

Sorry but I don't have any scans at the moment.


http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045

 

[peter_n]

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.

Daniel here are a few pictures taken with the 90/2 APO. I've tried to include those that show a bit of OOF background so you can make your own judgement. Its a very good lens.

 

[harmsr]

I'll through in an old shot from my 75 Cron. I like it as a portrait lens.

IMHO, sharp but not critical, fast change to OOF area and very pleasant, great textures, & good detail.

My wife in our front yard at F 2.0 and about 2-3 meters distance. I don't have any of the others on my laptop with me at the moment.

Best,

Ray

 

[Ronald M]

Both the 90 ASPH and 90 pre ASPH will go soft under 6 feet. That is why they went to floating elements for the 75. 90 2.8 goes soft too. This fact was published by Leica at the time the pre asph was sold.

You will need to go back to the first or second 90 Summicron with removeable head or a Canon or Nikon.

I am not saying they go really badly soft, but noticeable. I kept my pre asph because I like a bit of softness in a portrait.

90 2.8 elmarit from 1960 will also be ok up close as will the 100APO on an R body. The new 90 4.0 stays sharp under 6 feet too,