Konica 90mm f2.8 VS Leica 90mm f2.8 Elmarit

[scorpius73]

I have looked around and did not find this particular question. I am looking to get a 90mm. My choices because money is an issue are the before mentioned lenses. I will be using this lens for portraits and maybe a concert or two. I have done it with my Contax G1 with 90mm lens. Which lens has the better build quality, sharpness, and bokeh?

 

[meven]

You can't beat the Elmarit when it comes to sharpness. For bokeh the Hexanon is better in my opinion. And for build quality I think they are very similar.

BTW, I own the Hexanon and love it!

 

[meven]

Here are two shots with the Hexanon on the M8

 

[scorpius73]

Here are two shots with the Hexanon on the M8

Actually I just saw that first shot on flickr. Great image.

 

[lewis44]

M8, 90mm Hexanon

 

[awilder]

I've owned both and tested them and concur with the previous poster. Similar build quality, the Elmarit has a slight edge in sharpness but the KM has slghtly better bokeh. Both are outstanding optics and the differences are so subtle you couldn't tell them apart except in a test lab. I also use to own the 90 G Sonnar and performance was of the same order but I could never consistently get optimal sharpness due to the focusing accuracy limitations of the G1, something that was easy for my Leica body.

 

[scorpius73]

i guess i cant go wrong with either? thanks for you help. it will all depend of the money i raise from selling some other gear.
on the contax g 90mm. i have missed very few shots with that lens. maybe im just lucky.

 

[amateriat]

Never shot with the Elmarit, so I can't directly compare. But I've been using the M-Hex for the last seven years, and I haven't been left wanting.

Galveston Beach, 2003

(Technical: Hexar RF, 90mm f/2.8 M-Hexanon, Ilford XP-2 Super @ EI 320)


- Barrett

 

[Krosya]

Hexanon is a great lens (and I'm selling one in classifieds right now, btw):

 

[35mmdelux]

Also consider the 90 Summicron pre-asp. All these three lenses cost about the same.

 

[WoolenMammoth]

the konica and tele elmarit are grossly different looking lenses, the elmarit is sooooo completely a tessar looking lens and the hex is soooo completely not. If you are shooting things, this might not make much a difference to most, but shooting people is another story. One is much much more favorable to women than the other.

 

[amateriat]

the konica and tele elmarit are grossly different looking lenses, the elmarit is sooooo completely a tessar looking lens and the hex is soooo completely not. If you are shooting things, this might not make much a difference to most, but shooting people is another story. One is much much more favorable to women than the other.

Since you're a bit cagey on which is "best" for which, I thought I'd bring this in for perusal.

(For portraiture, the M-Hex seems to work for me, too.)


- Barrett