Why do I need a 90mm lens on my RF?

[eric mac]

My standard travel kit is a 21mm on a Bessa L and a 35/40mm augmented with a 90mm tele elmarit on a Bessa R3 or Leica M2. Its great for portraits and sometimes you need a little tele photo action for situations where you can't get too close.

Eric

 

[Bingley]

I don't do many portraits, but I find a small tele very useful for landscapes and close-ups. In my case, the small tele is a Canon 100/3.5. The framelines for it on the Canon P are a joy to use, and the lens is small, light, and really really sharp. I borrowed an uncoated 90/4 pre-war Elmar last summer, and it was a joy to use as well. Beautiful color rendition and, again, great for close ups.

If you don't need speed, and are looking for a small, sharp lens for not a lot of $$$, you should check out the Canon 100/3.5:

 

[Doug]

You may or may not "need" a 90mm for your ZI; I have a ZI as well as an old 90mm Tele-Elmarit I got new decades ago. I seldom carry the lens, as it gets so little use. I agree with others it's mostly the small framelines. Somehow on an SLR 85mm is much more "normal" and comfortable to use. I just got a Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar in Pentax mount, so I'll need to make it prove me right!

 

[Ronald_H]

Well simple really, I want to be able to do portraits with my M2. Got myself a battered old Elmar 90mm f4 for all of 60 euros. Glass is, of course, flawless. I would have liked to have more speed, but 60 euros for a genuine Leica? You can't pass that up.

I realise it is one of the least popular M lenses, but it has a zillion diaphragm bladed 😀

 

[DGA]

spending the money is not the real case in my decision, that is why I prefer not to go for the cheep 90/85mm out there.
I really prefer having a good short tele glass and willing to spend on it.

Having a single kit (with all the necessary lenses) is a good point.
But so is the potential inaccuracy of the 90mm on the ZI due to the small frame lines. (although I sill have my unsold Bessa R3A and I can use it as a special body for the 90mm, but I really need to sell it).

Has anyone used the 90mm/85mm RF lens in studio?

 

[Krosya]

90mm is nothing, try using 105mm 😉 I love my Nikkor 105/2.5 wide open:

 

[italy74]

Hi DGA
I'm not sure if you will find anyone having used a RF in studio.. you can do that but it's quite cumbersome to work with compared to a SLR which has also a better view.
Personally I wouldn't use that much a 90mm on a RF but of course I understand the need to have a 2-3 lenses kit instead of only one (to me, the best lens on a RF would be a 35mm) so I can only wish you two things: 1) you can understand if you need it or no and 2) you can get it in the affirmative case.

 

[BillBingham2]

Me Too!!

Me Too!!

90mm is nothing, try using 105mm 😉 I love my Nikkor 105/2.5 wide open:

I even tried a 135/2.8 and loved it, I wonder if there's a book in here somewhere?

90-105 is where I go either way. I carry one in my RF kit when I only want to carry a single camera or single system. If I am going to carry a 180 I leave the 105 for the RF at home.

If size is an issue take a look at the new ZI 85/4, I'm betting she will be a razor. If money is an issue take a look a the old 90/4 from the wetzlar folks. I had one and while she was not a 'Cron she was good enough for the times I wanted to travel light and small. In between those are some great old lenses, IMHO, the best is the Black 85/2 Nikkor.

B2 (;->

 

[ferider]

spending the money is not the real case in my decision, that is why I prefer not to go for the cheep 90/85mm out there.
I really prefer having a good short tele glass and willing to spend on it.

Having a single kit (with all the necessary lenses) is a good point.
But so is the potential inaccuracy of the 90mm on the ZI due to the small frame lines. (although I sill have my unsold Bessa R3A and I can use it as a special body for the 90mm, but I really need to sell it).

Has anyone used the 90mm/85mm RF lens in studio?

Checkout charleschu's most recent gallery posts, DGA. Some very nice studio portraits using a 75mm on M8. 😀

 

[kxl]

The title of the thread is: "Why do I need a 90mm on my RF?"

And given that you already have an EOS kit, the short answer is that...

YOU DON'T... assuming your EOS glass gives you the same quality as the 90mm RF lens you plan to buy. Given the same IQ, the primary advantage of a 90mm RF lens v. your EOS 90mm is gear portability.

When I decided to a get a 90mm for my RF gear, I knew it would be one of my least used lenses, so I decided to go for value rather than going for broke. I got a 90/4 Elmar for less than $100, and it's sufficient for my needs.

 

[ali_baba]

i just aquired a 90APO, im selling my elmar.
contact me if interested.

thanks

 

[Al Kaplan]

Here's something nobody ever mentions: It's also great for moderate close-ups. A 90mm lens at its closest focus (1 meter) covers exactly the same area as the 50mm Dual-Range Summicron at its closest focussing distance, and you don't have to stop and put the "goggles" on it, just focus and shoot.

 

[CuS]

You will need it

You will need it

I bought a 1948 85mm f2 Serenar on a lark (its in wonderful shape) and I find I use it quite a bit along with my CV 50/f2 Heliar Classic

I shoot alot of architectural elements in relation to their surroundings (weird, I know) and the tight framing of the 85 really shines.