Portrait/Macro lens

[Torgian]

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Good evening from osaka, Japan

 

So I've been using a Zeiss 50mm 1.5 and a Zeiss 35mm 2.0 lens for my street, concert, and model photography. However, I feel that the time has come to add a third lens, and I want a portrait lens.

 

But, I'm not quite sure what to get. I'm looking at older Leica lenses as well as Zeiss lenses. I don't want to go over 1000 US dollars, so used Leica lenses would be good as well. I'm thinking of looking at Voitlander as well, but I have a bit of a bias against them since I keep reading about how they aren't the best lenses out there. Perhaps someone can prove me wrong in that regard. Still, I'd probably opt for an older Leica lens than a newer Voitlander lens.

 

However, I would like the option of using a lens for macro photography. I understand that I would have to get a macro adaptor, and that this may limit my choices as far as what lens I can get. I want to be able to get close. Let's go crazy and assume I want to take a photo of a snowflake and see all of its crystalline glory. XD haha

 

So, suggestions? What are my options? Being in Japan, I can probably find whatever is out there that you can suggest.

 

Thanks for your help everyone

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Torgian,

 

You might consider Version 1 or Version 2 of the 135mm, F4, Tele-Elmar.

 

There are actually 3 Versions. All of them are OPTICALLY the same. The only differences in the 3 Versions are related to their focussing mounts. Versions 1 & 2 are separable into 2 pieces: 1. the optics. 2. the focussing mount.

 

There are adapters such as the 16464 that allow you to use the optics from Infinity to macro photography. With the addition of other adapters.

 

The 3d version does NOT disassemble for use as a close focussing or macro lens even though it contains the same optical unit.

 

Some people consider a 90 mm lens as preferable for portraits. It is what some people traditionally call a "portrait lens". Other people look at a 135mm lens for portraits as more or less the same as a 90mm lens but requiring a little more thought & consideration in its use.

 

. Both lenses crop out unwanted foreground & surrounding unrelated matter. The 135mm lens does this with a little more selectivity. 135mm is just the begining of flattening of perspective vaguely. While a 90mm lens more tends to leave perspective pretty much the way you think of it with a 50mm lens.

 

For macro photography there is not much of a significant difference between the 2 focal lengths. A 135mm lens gives you a little more space between the lens hood (Lens hoods are important in macro photography) & the subject than a 90mm lens would.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited October 30, 2014 by Michael Geschlecht

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[dugby]

As you have set price as criteria, this can be bought this off ebay for under $500

 

It is the older Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm f/2.5 which is LTM screw mount and requires a M-mount adapter (Rayqual makes a high quality) and can be 6-bit coded.

 

It has very good reviews for very high sharpness, very low weight, and compares very favorable to Summicron / Summarit.

 

Some reviews rationalise it as even a better buy than the f/1.8 newer version from VC.

 

 

(Yes I also bought one recently to be my light weight travel companion to my 35 FLE)

[luigi bertolotti]

Take a choice on focal, first of all : 90 or 135, and given that you search also for macro usage, you (probably) have to factor into the cost also the device(s) to turn your lens into a decent macro setup.

With the Tele Elmar 135 f4, excellent lens for both your goals (in the version with removable lens unit ; btw, the last version is rare and costly), the 1000US$ tag is about the limit : you can find a good Tele Elmar just around or something less that price (see here an example for what looks to be a good item, at a no cheap dealer : Leica Tele-Elmar 11851 4/135mm - Tele-Elmar 4/135mm 11851 - Leica M Objektive - LEICA )

You can spare money with the older Elmar 135 f4 in BM, less "modern" in look (and longer) , almost as good as the Tele (which is sharper wide open)

 

Staying on 90s a good and no costly choice can be the "old" Elmarit 90 2,8, which also has unscrewable lens unit for macro setup : is easy to find, but is important to look for a GOOD item... many are rather worn... an item in A/B conditions will be anyway not too costly (example at the same shop : Leica Elmarit 2,8/90mm chrome - Elmarit 2,8/90mm Chrom - Leica M Objektive - LEICA)

 

for Macro usage... of course it depends all on which CAMERA you have : if you have an M240, LV & EVF allow to find many solutions (including the Novoflex set of extension rings and the chinese M bayonet rings) : with other Leica cameras, you must approach the "Visoflex world" ..very familiar to oldtime Leica passionates... with lot of possible combinations (bellows, extension rings, focusing rings...) but a system that, for a, let me say, "normal" photographer can be perceived as a complex oddity....

[Doc Henry]

Hi Torgian,

I agree with Luigi 90 or 135 especially the 90 for portraits without facial deformity,

preferably Leica lens

Best

Henry

[R6M6]

Hi Torgian

I just bought an Elmarit 90 (latest version) and use it with my

M9 and M6 and I Love it! It is not for Makro therefore not meeting your spec fully but worth to think about it for Portrait. Also mechanically impressiv.

[sblutter]

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A Visoflex set-up?

 

As for Voightlander

 

75mm & 35mm, both 2.5 are excellent performs - espec for the price!

[farnz]

With Leica lenses I think you have 3 basic options for portrait and macro in a single lens (I'm assuming that you're not using a M240 that as Luigi points out considerably increases the options that are available to you).

 

1. 75/2 APO-Summicron-M asph. An excellent portrait lens and allows close focus to roughly macro but expensive. I doubt that you'd find one to fit your $1,000 limit.

 

2. 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M and macro adaptor (first version). A very good portrait lens and excellent macro lens but, again, unlikely to be found within your price limit.

 

3. 135/4 Elmar 1st version (silver). The front cell is designed to be unscrewed from the body of the lens and can be used with a 16464/OTZFO Focussing Mount, 16472/OTSRO Extension Mount and a Visoflex to provide excellent macro shots. The 16471/OTRPO Close Focus Extension, or the Bellows-M can be used to provide even closer focus. With the lens cell attached to the lens body will provide very good portraits as well. I expect that you would be able to find a 135/4 v1 plus 16464, 16472, and Visoflex II or III to meet your $1,000.

 

Using a Visoflex is undoubtedly slightly awkward compared to shooting with a lens attached directly to a camera but once you're used to it, it becomes a pleasant and sedate means of working. There are a number of other lenses that could be used with a Visoflex and a variety of adaptors but my recommendation for your needs is the 135/4 Elmar (don't mistake it for one of the Tele-Elmar lenses, which are quite different).

 

Pete.

[tobey bilek]

90 mm 2.8 elmarit is the best without question. The head comes off for use on visoflex with bellows, tubes, etc is a bonus.

 

The Tele Elmarit in any variant is not the same is not the same lens.

 

The next best choice is 90 4.0 macro elmar. As perfect a lens as you will find 4 to 16, near and far. This is a current lens

[bideford]

As you have set price as criteria, this can be bought this off ebay for under $500

 

It is the older Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm f/2.5 which is LTM screw mount and requires a M-mount adapter (Rayqual makes a high quality) and can be 6-bit coded.

 

It has very good reviews for very high sharpness, very low weight, and compares very favorable to Summicron / Summarit.

 

Some reviews rationalise it as even a better buy than the f/1.8 newer version from VC.

 

 

(Yes I also bought one recently to be my light weight travel companion to my 35 FLE)

 

I'll vouch for the CV 75mm 2.5. Astounding lens given the price they go for - if I recall correctly Reid has review it favorably.

 

One of my favorite and best used lenses.

 

James

[fsprow]

I won't comment on lens choice but rather focal length. Having done a fair number of portraits, full frame lenses over 100mm or so tend to flatten the facial features excessively. Less than 90mm, the nose becomes too predominant in an unflattering way.