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here is why i am keeping 50/1.4 pre-asph and selling 75/2 as my m8 portrait lens


misha

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misha

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISHA FRIEDMAN

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Fantastic image. Lovely model, beautiful light, perfect focus.

 

I had a massive hankering for this lens until I purchased a 75 Lux. Since then, I have found few lenses that draw bokeh so beautifully. I must admit, though, since carrying this 'baby' around my arms look like I've been working out down the gym.

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Fantastic image. Lovely model, beautiful light, perfect focus.

 

I had a massive hankering for this lens until I purchased a 75 Lux. Since then, I have found few lenses that draw bokeh so beautifully. I must admit, though, since carrying this 'baby' around my arms look like I've been working out down the gym.

 

I would also never part with my 75lux, and for a long time (until I needed the funds the purchase my M8, 4 years ago) I kept both my 28Elm IV along with my 28 cron asph. I think it is interesting that many of us, who own both post-asph and older version lenses, while appreciating the newer lenses for their top technical qualities, would never give up some of these older lenses. I also feel (but maybe I am wrong) that not owning any of these lenses and using only recent lenses is missing something quite unique of the Leica experience.

 

I agree with you- I don't carry the 75lux often due to its weight and I hardly travel with it out of the country. But it is an amazing 'home-portrait' lens...

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I would also never part with my 75lux, and for a long time (until I needed the funds the purchase my M8, 4 years ago) I kept both my 28Elm IV along with my 28 cron asph. I think it is interesting that many of us, who own both post-asph and older version lenses, while appreciating the newer lenses for their top technical qualities, would never give up some of these older lenses. I also feel (but maybe I am wrong) that not owning any of these lenses and using only recent lenses is missing something quite unique of the Leica experience.

 

I agree with you- I don't carry the 75lux often due to its weight and I hardly travel with it out of the country. But it is an amazing 'home-portrait' lens...

 

actually, because of lack of 'character' i am selling most of my modern (asph) lenses.

 

misha

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISHA FRIEDMAN

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Misha, I have owned one of the 50 Lux pre asph since 1973. In fact, is was the first lens I ever purchased for my first Leica, a "new" M3. I have owned 3 different versions & each one has taught me valuable lessons. A most beautiful woman & image. Much enjoyed.

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i think its the photographer...

its a great shot. love both lenses. just put my 75 on my camera yesterday due to seeing so many

great shots here. but it is heavy, especially since my lens of choice is my 28.

i would have like to see what you did with the 75!

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i think its the photographer...

its a great shot. love both lenses. just put my 75 on my camera yesterday due to seeing so many

great shots here. but it is heavy, especially since my lens of choice is my 28.

i would have like to see what you did with the 75!

 

thanks.

 

here are a few wedding shots with 75/2

 

http://images52.fotki.com/v1551/photos/4/112904/7787319/alya_dad-vi.jpg

 

http://images50.fotki.com/v1572/photos/4/112904/7787319/field-vi.jpg

 

http://images52.fotki.com/v1553/photos/4/112904/7787319/royzen-vi.jpg

 

http://images49.fotki.com/v1555/photos/4/112904/7787319/max_venok-vi.jpg

 

etc..

 

 

they are fine but the bokeh is just not the same.

 

cheers

misha

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISHA FRIEDMAN

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Misha, I have owned one of the 50 Lux pre asph since 1973. In fact, is was the first lens I ever purchased for my first Leica, a "new" M3. I have owned 3 different versions & each one has taught me valuable lessons. A most beautiful woman & image. Much enjoyed.

 

thanks

did your different versions vary much?

 

i had understood that at least optically the lens stayed same from early 1960s to 2002 or so

 

thanks

misha

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISHA FRIEDMAN

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Technically Misha's 50mm has "bad" bokeh (bright edges to the out-of-focus circles top left).

 

But in this image they, and the sort of swirlly, Noctiluxy background other places, play off the silvery swirls on the staircase and the dark swirls of hair. Which works very nicely (as does the whole picture - subject matter, color pallette, etc.)

 

Which is why I always take discussions of bokeh with a grain of salt. Yes, bokeh can make or break a picture. But not always in the way one expects. Sometimes "bad" can be "good."

 

I grew to like 50's on the M8, and DO use a 75 'cron on the M9 for that reason.

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Technically Misha's 50mm has "bad" bokeh (bright edges to the out-of-focus circles top left).

 

But in this image they, and the sort of swirlly, Noctiluxy background other places, play off the silvery swirls on the staircase and the dark swirls of hair. Which works very nicely (as does the whole picture - subject matter, color pallette, etc.)

 

Which is why I always take discussions of bokeh with a grain of salt. Yes, bokeh can make or break a picture. But not always in the way one expects. Sometimes "bad" can be "good."

 

I grew to like 50's on the M8, and DO use a 75 'cron on the M9 for that reason.

 

thanks. interesting. do you find the 75's f2 bokeh to be as pleasant or interesting as the 50's 1.4?

 

thanks

misha

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISHA FRIEDMAN

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75 'cron - rather different. More subdued and smoother - technically "better" by the definition (no bright rings), but not as sparkly and interesting if used the way you used your 50 f/1.4.

 

IMHO

 

The 75 Summilux (on an M9 or film body to keep the generally short tele framing and subject/background relationship the same) is probably the closest match to what you captured in your shot. Not surprising, since the 75 Summilux optics are based on the 50 Summilux pre-ASPH design (at least according to Leica lens designer Peter Karbe, Erwin Puts, and LFI).

 

Two samples below with both 75's at full aperture (labelled) and as close to your subject/background distances as I can find in my M9 files. If the background in the 'cron shot had been busier, it might have closed the gap a little, but I think the 'lux would still be the closer match.

 

I'm coming to find that in some ways I prefer "bad" bokeh - at least the way Leica did it 20 years ago. It adds an edginess and vibrancy and a little extra background separation in the right kind of light.

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Edited by adan
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