Summicron 90mm (second version with built-in lens hood) and Leica M10

[raid]

I used this morning my old Summicron 90/2 on the M10. It is a heavy lens, but it is built very well. It may be very useful for portraits since it is not a sharp as a modern APO tele.

Link: https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize...ron-90-OCT2021
I like this lens.

 

[raid]

The OOF rendering with this lens is excellent. Not everyone will like the donuts shaped bokeh in some of the images. It works well with people.

with some PS

without any PS

 

[raid]

"Fall Colors" outside an Irish Pub in Pensacola.

 

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The camera and the lens

 

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Walk against breast cancer

 

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Windows shooting

 

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My moustache has turned grey. A selfie.

 

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Joe Patti's Seafood Market

 

[Erik van Straten]

Very nice shots, Raid! Lovely colors. Optically and mechanically this 90mm is one of the best Leica lenses ever made. However, it is a bit heavy for hand held shooting. I use this lens always for making pictures of my paintings, but then on a tripod. There is no distortion whatsoever.

Erik.

 

[raid]

Thank you for your feedback, Erik. It is an undervalued lens, in my opinion. How many new lenses can compare in the quality of built like this lens?I hold the lens with my left hand towards the end of the barrel and use the right hand to hold the camera.

 

[Erik van Straten]

It is super nice to use this lens on the M3. The M3 has a large 90mm frame in the viewfinder: the image in the viewfinder is 0,9X (not 0,7X as all the other M Leicas have).

Erik.

 

[raid]

It is super nice to use this lens on the M3. The M3 has a large 90mm frame in the viewfinder: the image in the viewfinder is 0,9X (not 0,7X as all the other M Leicas have).

Erik.

My 90mm lens came to me with a like new condition M3, Erik. I even got the paperwork for the M3 and the old wrapping paper for the viewfinder and lenses and accessories.

 

[raid]

The newer APO lenses by Leica must be amazingly sharp and excellent overall for 75mm and 90mm focal length. My old Summicron 90 must be like vastly inferior to them in most applications. However, these older Leica lenses still have their uses, such as in taking portraits or used for scenic images for a dreamy look. It is not a Thambar, but it can have some advantages.

 

[rfaspen]

My v2 90 summicron seems a tad sharper..... maybe because it's black? I can hardly believe the quality of this lens for what I paid for it. It's true that I don't use it often, but I often remember it when the proper situation is at hand (yes, portraits). Pennsicola looks nice and peaceful these days...

 

[raid]

Sometimes the black versions are more modern than their chrome counterparts. The black Canon 85/1.8 ltm comes to mind. It is much lighter than the chrome Canon 85/1.9, say. Perceived sharpness can be affected by handheld photography when not everything is steady. Using a tripod, as Erik does, will give you sharper results with such a long and heavy lens.

 

[teddy]

I have the 35/50/90 set for the Leica M3. The 90/2 Summicron (v2) is better in my opinion specially for black and white. The R 90/2 is a great balance if used for colour. I combine the M for black and white and R for colour. The latest most current Leica offerings are too clinical - even though they are technical master pieces. They lack "soul". But of course, it is a personal opinion. Give me anything Leica from this period and I love it. The lenses are "timeless".

 

[mapgraphs]

Wolf Den
A lack of sharpness is not something I've encountered. The need for a more consistent technique, yes... ; - ) The 1.25 magnifier helps.

 

[raid]

Thank you guys for the posting here. I need to get a 1.25 magnifier. Guessing the exact focus is not easy with each image. It often works, but sometimes the light is tricky, and focusing becomes also tricky when the lens is used wide open. Most of my images here were taken handheld wide open.

 

[Erik van Straten]

A book could be written about all the versions of this lens. From 1980 there was a new 90mm f2 Summicron. But the first one could also be used with the Visoflex via an adapter. There are also black paint versions. The lens was relatively cheap because it was made in Canada.

Erik.

 

[raid]

I agree with you, Erik. Someone should write up a report on all versions of the Summicron 90mm. Having the old version lenses still allows us to get some more modern lenses for other applications. I have the original Summilux 75mm 1.4, which is a fantastic lens.