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SillyBun

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CV 75/2.5, tiny, light, cheap, and sharp as any Leica, according to Sean Reid. I do love the 90/2.5 Summarit though:

15668286078_ce35a626ce_b.jpg

L1024978 by unoh7, WO

 

It really rips at f/2.5 and that is a lot more light and subject isolation than f/4.

 

15668455040_2f888b56dd_b.jpg

Last Seat by unoh7, on Flickr

 

You see them for 1200 often now. :)

Edited by uhoh7
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My latest Leica 90/2, 90/2.8 and 90/4 are superb but for a two lens kit i would recommend a 75 to complement your 35. My Summicron 75/2 is a great lens although its focus ring could be somewhat smoother. The Summarit 75/2.5 has an excellent reputation but i have no experience with it.

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I like to stick close to the old recommendations on primes. Either double the focal length or double the field of view. For the same shooting position doubling focal length will double the size of the subject in the frame.

 

So in a classic set you'd end up with 35, 75, 135 lenses (or 24, 50, 90(100)).

 

Some people like to have a stretched kit (28, 75, 135 or 35, 90, 200 or 21, 50, 135) or compressed kits (28, 50, 90). Some people just get one of everything.

 

If you're not sure the I'd look at the CV 75mm 2.5. Great lens. Cheap(ish). If 75 suits you can move to a 'cron. If not move to a 90.

 

Gordon

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Another vote for the 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar-M. Spectacular image quality which can't be beaten in this focal length, very compact and light, 39mm filter size, and will pair very nicely with a 35 Summicron if you want a longer lens.

 

Some of the disadvantage of the maximum aperture of 4.0 is offset by this lens' small size and ease of handling at lower shutter speeds.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/228593-praise-4-0-90-macro-elmar.html

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Another vote for the 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar-M. Spectacular image quality which can't be beaten in this focal length, very compact and light, 39mm filter size, and will pair very nicely with a 35 Summicron if you want a longer lens.

 

Some of the disadvantage of the maximum aperture of 4.0 is offset by this lens' small size and ease of handling at lower shutter speeds.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/228593-praise-4-0-90-macro-elmar.html

 

I looked pretty hard at the Macro-Elmar M. I would love to have one, but cannot justify the cost myself, all thing considered. But I shoot M9, so macro is a goggle affair, which obviates the nice small size of the lens. Still I would like to have one. LOL

 

No question it is a very sharp lens, but also no evidence I have found suggests it is sharper than 90 elmarit, 90 summarit or the CV 90/3.5 APO, which is also very small and light, and only costs 350USD:

15174842469_498b628a56_b.jpg

L1021183 by unoh7, on Flickr

 

12645984464_338c097c22_b.jpg

DSC08579 by unoh7, on Flickr

 

This is considered the sharpest of all the voigtlander M and LTM glass, and it does seem pretty crisp to me. But the Summarit is right there, faster and maybe better color. So I keep them both.

12628537374_493acd8ef2_z.jpg

DSC08424 by unoh7, on Flickr

I wish the macro-elmar was a but cheaper, it's fantastic I have no doubt, and of course the CF is unique.

 

Maybe someday, but I think I'd spend the money on a 50 Lux asph first LOL

 

The nice thing about both CV 75/2.5 and CV 90/3.5 is they are cheap to buy and easy to sell so one could experiment with FLs without sacrificing image quality. For 650 USD you could have both!

 

Anyway you 90ME lovers should post up some shots :)

Edited by uhoh7
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My preference had always been for lenses 50mm and wider. So for my initial foray into longer lenses for my M9 and then Monochrom was also with the CV 2.5/75 and 3.4/90. They are very good lenses (as are are most of the Voigtlanders). You are right that they are a bargain for their level of performance and are very light and compact. Sean Reid has excellent reviews of both of these lenses. They are indeed easy to sell for no financial loss (as was my experience).

 

I decided I liked both focal lengths so purchased the 75 APO-Summicron and 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar (see my post above). I still kept the CVs for a while, however in my experience neither CV lens was a patch on the equivalent Leica lens (except the 2.5/75 was very nice for portraits) and so were sold off.

 

Regarding macro, I rarely use it on the lens so the bulk is irrelevant in most situations.

 

The other lens worth considering in this range of focal lengths is the ZM 4.0/85 Tele-Tessar. I have also owned it and it offers outstanding quality for the price.

Edited by MarkP
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If you are not sure, buy something either cheap or used so as not to lose too much money. Trade up after you decide.

 

There is a nice preview lever on the camera. See what works.

 

90 macro starts out perfect and never changes. Good close & far.

 

90 APO works best at 2 meters or further. Great if you are into the fad of skinny focus.

 

75 APO is nice average length. Good close & far. 75 Summarit is good for half the money.

 

The problem is there is no magic focal length just like there is no magic film & developer. Buy what works for you. Extreme lenses are harder to use. Stay away until you have 10M pics under your belt and you have favorite subjects and style.

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Interesting to hear about the performance of the 90 AA. I have used an R 90 AA and noticed that it wasn't at its finest for near distances and has a close focus that isn't that close. In the case of the R90, I suspect the 100 Makro was intended for that purposes, which it excels in.

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I agree with Bill that a 75 alongside a 35 is ideal. But then what. The Color Heliar from Voigtlander is a beauty and a way to discover whether this is true for you too.

I agree that the Macro Elmar 90 is a terrific lens but that is not so difficult for F4.0 and thus really overpriced for me. At its introduction it was €1665 including adapter. However without adapter it is not at all handicapped. I sold mine in favour of the SAA 90, because I just as well can crop for my Macro games. A 90 stands on its own with his own purposes, whereas the 75 and the 35 are on travel/street together

Edited by otto.f
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I started with the 35 and 90 crons then later added the 50 lux and find that I use it at least 90% of the time. If I could only own one lens that would be it.

 

I also have the 21 super elmar and now I wish I had all the money I spent on those and gone crazy and bought the nontoxic and I'd want for nothing else.

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