Reportage R lenses

[Annibale G.]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi,

as I was saying on the other discussion in addition to my m7 with 35 f/2 mm and the 50 f/2 that I don't use so much I'm planning to buy an R body. My work its based mainly on black and white reportage. I don't know so much about R lenses and I'm looking for a tele one.

What do you think would be better for reportage? the 60 macro, the 80 f/1,4 or some 90?

I've seen also a lot of Leitz Leica lenses used on the web; Can you tell me something about them?

Thanks awfully. I appreciate a lot.

Bye, Hannibal

[adan]

Not sure how YOU define "reportage" - but:

 

Ex-Magnum photographer Sebastiao Salgado has worked quite a lot with R6.2 bodies and 28 Elmarit and 35 Summicron lenses, and either a 50 or the 60 Macro (I'm not sure which).

 

Masters of Photography: Sebastiao Salgado

 

Sebastiao Salgado

 

Amazonas Images

 

 

The 80 f/1.4 R lens is a cousin to the 75mm f/1.4 M lens, which is loved by many for its combination of resolution and contrast - the 90 APO f/2 is sort of at the other end of the spectrum - knifelike in contrast and resolution.

 

The older non-APO 90 f/2 lenses are more like the 80 in "feel" - smooth contrast, a little bit soft wide-open - just not as much as the 80.

 

There are, of course, R lenses all the way up to 800mm - but it sounds like you want to stay under 100mm, which is probably appropriate for reportage.

 

Ernst Leitz GMBH was the original company that became Leica (LEI.tz CA.mera). For 60 years, LEICA meant only the camera itself. Lenses made before 1986 bear the name LEITZ, lenses made after 1986 bear the name LEICA.

Edited March 23, 2009 by adan

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Annibale G.]

about leica and leitz could you tell me something more about quality? Mainly because I'm looking for the Leica R elmarit 90mm f/2,8 and I've found only the Leitz version. What do you think? what are the differences in quality?

Thanks awfully

Edited March 23, 2009 by Annibale G.

[masjah]

The 35/1.4 R is a classic choice for reportage photography, though any R camera plus 35/1.4 won't be anywhere near as discreet as an M.

[Annibale G.]

please , could anyone reply from what i'm asking between leica and leitz mainly on the 90 f/2,8 lenses?

[earleygallery]

As already explained, Leitz and Leica are one and the same. They just changed their branding from Leitz to Leica at some point, the name doesn't affect the quality of the lens.

Edited March 23, 2009 by earleygallery

[Annibale G.]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

fine. thanks

so the Leitz R 90 mm f/2,8 Elmarit is as good as the Leica R Elmarit 90mm f/2,8 . Right?

[adan]

It's a bit more complex than that:

 

Leitz built a 90 f/2.8 R lens from 1964 to 1983

then Leitz redesigned it optically (major change) and built the new lens 1984-1986

then the name changed to Leica and Leica continued building the new lens Leitz redesigned.

 

Both versions are good - the newer version is contrastier, and physically smaller. Erwin Puts describes them as (older design) "an excellent performer..medium-to-high contrast...very even edge-to-edge definition of very fine detail" (Newer design) "best 2.8/90 ever in Leica history...overall contrast is high...at f/2.8 equal to the previous version at f/4"

 

A LEICA 90 f/2.8 will definitely be the newer design. A LEITZ 90 f/2.8 could be either design, with the odds greater that it is the older.

 

The NEW lens looks like this - 4 pieces of glass in the design - lens shade slides UNDER focusing ring for compactness:

 

http://www.photodo.com/imgs/lenses/full/1151505381.jpg

 

The OLD lens looks like this - longer, 5 pieces of glass used, lens shade slides back TO the focusing ring, not under it:

 

Leica R7 with 90mm 2.8 Elmarit-R lens on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Edited March 23, 2009 by adan

[Overgaard]

I would say the 80mm f/1.4 is perfect as it balances the camera well, always provide interesting shots, high image quality even at f/1.4 and light strong enough for use under almost any type of light conditions. And personally I prerfer working from a distance of the scene for which the 80mm is very well suited (contrary to a 35mm)

 

As for comparison of technical quality,etc. read this document by Erwin Puts. He goes over the older 90mm leneses than the current and you can usaully read between the lines what is best for you.

 

I'm not updated on "the 90mm scene" for R but what to look for, I believe, would be what type of image you want. As in the discussion of the 50mm/1.4 M lens, some think the ASPH is too sharp and find the older more pleasant. So that is one thing I would consider in looking at the 90/2 and 90/2.8

 

http://www.overgaard.dk/pdf/Puts_Column_80-100_mm_Leica_R_Lenses_en.pdf

 

You can see sample photos from the 90/2 and 80/1.4 at my website here as well:

leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Pages - Leitz Summilux-R 80mm f1.4 test photos and samples

leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Sites - Leica 90mm Summicron-R f2.0 lens test sample photos

[Overgaard]

fine. thanks

so the Leitz R 90 mm f/2,8 Elmarit is as good as the Leica R Elmarit 90mm f/2,8 . Right?

 

To answer this, if the design was unchanged; YES. If the design was changed, there would be some difference, and look at Erwin Putts article for that. You can also look up serial numbers on the net so as to determine which design a lens is of.

 

You can refer to my list of Leica/Leitz lenses for reference:

leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Pages - Leitz and Leica Lens Compendium