What's the best "worst" lens for portraits in LTM or M mount?

S

StuartR

Guest
I know that that makes no sense, but what lens do you guys think is great for portaits, but miserable for anything else? I am thinking about something poorly corrected for spherical aberration or coma, uncoated, scratched to oblivion or perhaps super-speed in an era of slow lenses and so on. If anyone has something in mind, particularly with examples, I would be interested.

Perhaps I should tone it down, it doesn't need to be a miserable lens, just something that is soft, and very "glowy" (flare?). Is the best route some of the FSU lenses, or are the older summars and so on good candidates?
 
My vote goes to an old Summar, as I have one and it gives wide open a nice softness, also reasonable price. Another favourite of mine is the Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75/1.5 but I only have a M 42 version and have never seen a coupled M 39 version.
Also pretty soft, but usally due to fog are 50/1.5 Summarit.
Do not exspect a FSU 85/2 to be soft, mine are rather harsh with high contrast.

Regards,

Wolfram
 
I heard that the Jupiter 9 is a very nice and soft lens. I have a jupiter 3, and though it is what you describle, I use it for everything, heh.
 
I once owned a Leica Hektor 73mm, f/1.9 lens that had the characteristics you describe. I traded it years ago and now find the collectors have run the price up to unreasonable levels.
 
einolu said:
I heard that the Jupiter 9 is a very nice and soft lens. I have a jupiter 3, and though it is what you describle, I use it for everything, heh.
Click to expand...

Well, judging from my 3 samples (one each in LTM, M42 and Kiev mount), no, the J-9 is not a soft lens - maybe wide open, but stopped down to around f/4, it gets VERY sharp; and it has that great smooth Sonnar bokeh.
It is rather low contrast when used at big apertures, and it flares like hell with any bright light sources in the frame.
The rumors about the J-9s softness might be due to many miscalibrated LTM versions (due to their complicated construction).

Roman
 
I am with Frank and Brian I have both for portrait uncoated prewar Summar 50mm.
90mm elmar uncoated prewar... The best thing is that are not expensive at all... I love them.. but it is a good Idea to buy the filters to protect your lens so you dont have to clean them and ad damage.. they are very soft as far as the glass is concerned..

Great Bokeh
 
I will add the Summarit as a great portrait lens. It is softer wide-open and close-up, and gets sharp closed down to F4 where it is hard to tell from the Summicron. It is coated, and is well controlled for flare. I like the Summarit a lot, have one in LTM and M-Mount, total cost for each with a CLA was under $250.
 
StuartR said:
I know that that makes no sense, but what lens do you guys think is great for portaits, but miserable for anything else?
Click to expand...

I got a 70yo Triotar on a Cord, a really nice portrait combo. It is not soft, but it's not indiscrete either. Adding the 6X6 makes the thing perfect for portraits.
B.
 
These are all great suggestions guys. I will definitely think about the 9cm elmar and the summar. But how about any samples? Don't be shy!
 
 
The Canon 50/1.2 is a great portrait lens that otherwise rarely finds itself on a camera. Sample shot taken wide open with an Epson R-D1.
 
examples

examples

I thought this wet thru last night but they did not post 90mm uncoated elmar
 
This has taken a strange turn. I have the J-9 in 42mm mount and can't remember shooting it stopped down. I've only taken wonderful portraits. I might have to take it out again and try different settings.
 
It is indeed a strange request- a "worst of the (arguably) best."

All my 85mm-135mm lenses are just... Wonderful. I've never found a dog, with certain old Tamron zoom exceptions. Slightly long focal lengths are just easier to make, it seems, and the "portrait lenses" all are sharp.

I've had the Elmar 90mm, and found it sharp, though somewhat prone to flare. The J-9 is similar and even at f/2, is like a cutting razor, but the veil and other flare can be frustrating- that doesn't sound like for what you are looking.

There is a lens that the manufacturer itself remarked about it's "soft portrait" look- and that's the 100mm f/4.5 on the Voigtlander Prominent. The camera is about 100-150, the lens another 80-100, and the instruction manual reminds one to stop down past f/5.6 for sharp pictures- wide open it's got a look of the "Vintage Heliar" as it says in the lens instructions, meaning it's soft. Then again, it's a complicated telephoto design, something rather unusual considering the age in which it was built, I think. That might suit you. I've samples shot wide open, and they are indeed soft, but pleasing.

Have fun- exploring optics in this way is indeed a blast!

JD
 
Jeez! No one's mentioned the Leitz Thambar 90 f2. - made for portraits and designed as a soft-focus lens. Unfortunately it's become one of the Holy Grails of Leica collecting so the price is astronomical. From what I've seen of skillfully used Summars, I'd say that would be a definite 2nd choice and mere mortals can afford them.
 
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