Portrait lens for Zeiss Ikon?

Alex Krasotkin

Alex Krasotkin

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Guys, what will be the best solution to buy a portrait lens for Zeiss Ikon? Original 85/2 is a real strip off (price announced is almost $3000). For example, used Summicron 90/2. In this case, what will be the frame shown in ZI viewfinder?

Appreciate your ideas.

P.S. For the time being I am planning to buy ZI+25/2.8+50/2. I will temporarily skip on buying 35/2, since I have Konica Hexar AF with very nice 35/2. Also what are the handicaps of using 25/2.8 without external viewfinder except not seeing the framelines?

Alex
 
You could always consider the Rollei f/2.8 80mm Planar. I would think it would bring up the 85mm framelines, but I don't have this lens, so I can't say that is a certainty. Cost is about $1,200 or so.

I have the same combo that you are considering. An excellent choice. I've been chronicling my experience with the camera and lenses on my site (http://elekm.net/zeiss_ikon).
 
Thank you very much, Mike. I follow your site news on a regular basis. Can your advise me on my quiestion re 25/2.8 (in my first message)?
 
Interesting question, Alex. I'm wrestling with the same thing.

First, to answer your question, the 90 Summicron will bring up the 85 frame.

Here are my candidates for the portrait lens:

Rollei 80/2.8 - It's a Zeiss design, so it keeps you in the family. It's a Planar, which is unusual to find in a Zeiss portrait length lens. I've spoken either in person or on the internet with several people who own this lens & no onwe has a single bad thing to say about it. In fact, just the opposite: they rave about it, some calling it the best lens they've ever used, including their Leicas. Its only drawbacks that I know of is the minimum focus distance (1.2 m), which is longer than most, so you need to know if this fits your shooting style, & the size 77mm & 470g. For me, this focal length is more likely to get used in every day shooting, but it's a little short for a true portrait lens. I don't know what frame it brings up, but since it's LTM, changing the adapter to a 90 will bring up the correct frame if the 80 adapter doesn't.

Leica 90/2 ASPH - Measured by Pop Photo at 88 mm, it's the best match for the 85 frame except for the Zeiss Sonnar. A superb lens from everything I've seen. The only criticism I've read is that it may be a little too sharp - a factor in portraiture. About the same size & weight (78mm, 500g) as the Rollei Planar despite its longer focal length.

Konica M-Hexanon 90/2.8 - Measured by Pop Photo at 92 mm, it's on the longish side as a match for the 85 frame on the ZI, so it will take some learning to use it properly. OTOH, it's more compact (69mm, 330g) than any of the other options. Although not designed by Zeiss, it is a Sonnar-type (Ernostar) design, so it is a Zeiss derivative & keeps you in their family more or less. It has received numerous excellent reviews by users. It can be purchased new at www.photostop.net for $900 USD if it can't be found used.

CV 75/2.5 - Measured by Pop Photo at 77 mm, it is a longish 75 or could be considered a short 80, which makes its use with the 85 frame a possibility - no different than trying to work with the longish 90 M-Hexanon, but coming at the 85 frame from the other direction. It is LTM, so a 90 adapter will bring up the correct frame even if the 75 doesn't. It is the most compact choice (230g & 64.5mm with hood), so it's a good walking around lens, but probably not the best for true portraiture. It has excellent optics & an economical price tag. I'll be working with this for a while since I already have it.

There are many other choices, of course, but these are the ones at the top of my list.

Cheers,
Huck
 
The world is your oyster

The world is your oyster

Hello:

You have an abundance of choices from Summarex to Summilux and all between. I might suggest you try a 90mm Elmar-in my hands it passes the girlfriend/spouse test at f4-5.6.

yours
Frank
 
There are several versions of 85mm LTM lenses made by Canon and Nikon as well.

John
 
Last edited:
all between

all between

Hello:

My apologies-I did not mean to imply only Leitz/Leica glass.

yours
Frank
 
jano said:
I was looking forward to that 85.. but $3k! :eek:
Click to expand...

The 85/2 Sonnar is an expensive lens, but it is not $3K. A lot of this talk is fueled by the over-the-top prices in America, where the MSRP is $2760. However, the price in England is $2436 USD, and grey market prices in America should be at least $200 less than that, bringing it closer to $2K that $3K.

Huck
 
The 85mm Sonnar uses a design (floating elements) that Cosina cannot handle. Hence, it's being produced in Germany at Zeiss's Oberkochen facility, I believe. Note that the price reflects 1) complex design and 2) cost of German labor.

I've given some though to buying a Contax to M adapter and using my old Contax RF lenses. Still would like to do that so I could do some side-by-side testing.
 
Huck Finn said:
bringing it closer to $2K that $3K.
Click to expand...

Okay, to repharse..

I was looking forward to that 85.. but $2k! :eek:

:D I guess I'm just not used to dropping that kind of cash/credit/dough/clams/debit yet. New car will have to wait. :p
 
jano said:
Okay, to repharse..

I was looking forward to that 85.. but $2k! :eek:

:D I guess I'm just not used to dropping that kind of cash/credit/dough/clams/debit yet. New car will have to wait. :p
Click to expand...

Jano, I'm with you. I'm not about to drop $2K on a lens any more than I am to drop $3K. :D

Huck
 
If you can avoid it never buy a camera product the moment its released. Prices always come down dramatically when they realize what the market is prepared to pay. Waiting also has a secondary benefit especially when buying Leica in that they always come out with glitches in the first batch. I remember when the Nokton 40mm came out as another example, I was so excited about a new 40mm lens I ordered one before they came out. It arrived and it was the first batch that had really stiff focus and loose front. It was replaced with one from the 2nd batch which was redesigned. It does pay in more ways than one to wait.
 
Joel. Leica's motto must be: "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later." You can pay early by suffering the glitches in the first batch, or you can pay later when they raise the prices as they now seem to be doing about every 6 months. ;)

Huck
 
A 90 Summicron would be ideal focal length simply because they are sharp, plentiful and cheap especially the E48 version. Don't worry about framing accuracy. In fact, the 85 frameline is a better match for a 90 because RF framelines normally show less than what the lens "sees" on film at all but the closest distances because framelines are callibrated for minimum focus where optically the lens has the narrowest field of view. Therefore the 85 framing will be better than 90 framing except at around 4 feet where the 90 mm lens will record a fraction less than the frame shows. At portrait distances of 5-7 feet framing will be just fine with a 90 using the 85 frame lines.
 
Don't overlook the current Leica 90/2.8. Used samples are priced reasonably, it's not too big and it's a good performer.

Scott
 
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