Mahesh Posted October 10, 2016 Share #1 Posted October 10, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) This topic of 90mm lenses have been discussed many times I know. But I thought I should contribute too, with my own post and some findings. With my quest to get a Leica mount portrait lens for my Sony A7ii camera, I visited red dot cameras in London. I tried various lenses as below 1) 80 Lux-R (similar to 75 lux it is said) 2) 100/2.8 APO-R 3) 90 elmarit-m 4) 90 Summicron-m (non APO) 5) 90/4 macro elmar m I attach a collage of pictures (raw, unprocessed) made with maximum aperture of each lens, except number 2. Unfortunately, I did not like elmarit, you can see why from the attached picture. It feels too warm to me (bottom left). For me, I think the top left (80-lux) and top right (90 cron, non APO) have the best rendition; Lux for its dreamy magical look and the non APO for being very pleasant with good skin tones. macro elmar m (bottom right) is good too, but it won't achieve much separation with f4 over cron. I know this is a very limited set-up and these lenses will work differently outdoors. What do people think based on my attachment? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 10, 2016 Posted October 10, 2016 Hi Mahesh, Take a look here Portrait / 90mm lenses. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Westend_jon Posted October 10, 2016 Share #2 Posted October 10, 2016 Hi - can't see the attachment? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted October 10, 2016 Share #3 Posted October 10, 2016 This might possibly be helpful: How do I upload photos to the forum? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahesh Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted October 10, 2016 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! doh! it wasn't easy the first time! I selected the file but did not then click on attach this file and add to the post. Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! doh! it wasn't easy the first time! I selected the file but did not then click on attach this file and add to the post. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265414-portrait-90mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3126697'>More sharing options...
Westend_jon Posted October 10, 2016 Share #5 Posted October 10, 2016 Top right looks the best but's subjective. I have a 90mm Summicron which is a lovely lens but very heavy so you want to take the weight / size into account. PS Just reread your post and realised that I picked out the shot taken with the 90mm Summicron! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted October 10, 2016 Share #6 Posted October 10, 2016 Different apertures, different DoFs, different FoVs, too many variables to compare IMHO. For sharp portraits i would chose M or R 90/2 apo, R 100/2.8 apo or M 90/4 macro. For softer results, M 75/1.4, R 80/1.4, M or R 90/2 pre-apo. Better compromise to me is the R 90/2 pre-apo. YMMV. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpm Posted October 11, 2016 Share #7 Posted October 11, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Damn, I was going to sell my 90 summicron pre-asph, agreeing with Westend_jon about the weight, but now? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted October 11, 2016 Share #8 Posted October 11, 2016 100 apo picks up skin texture on a two year old. Nice for character portraits 90 pre ASPH I keep because of the slightly soft portrait rendering. 90 2.8 elmar V2 for tradition portrait rendering. Not Tele versions 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted October 11, 2016 Share #9 Posted October 11, 2016 The test shots appear taken at different distances and exposure, so it's really hard to ascribe what I'm seeing to the lenses. I have owned all the mentioned lenses except the 90 and 100 Macro, however II did own the 75 Lux. The 90 Cron pre-ASPH (e55 version) is my hands-down favorite Leica 90, and is one lens I would never sell. I prefer the "thin" T-E as a travel lens because of the weight, and it works ok for portraiture too. But the 90 Cron is special. If you only use it on a Sony, the R lens is pretty much identical in performance characteristics and size, and probably costs less. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahesh Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted October 11, 2016 Thanks for your responses. All very helpful. Looking at the pictures I posted, I think I like all of them. But I can only buy one until I win a lottery. I might go with 90 cron pre-asph or 80 lux-r. My brain says 90 cron and heart says 80 lux-r. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted October 11, 2016 Share #11 Posted October 11, 2016 I have no experience with R 80/1.4 but i'm using an M 75/1.4 with pleasure on my A7s mod. It is less heavy that the R (490 vs 625g) and is quite soft at f/1.4 but it is its charm. At f/2 it is still softer than my 90/2 v2 & v3 (let alone apo) but at f/2.8 and on, 75/1.4 and 90/2 pre-apo are more or less on par. Beware that 75/1.4 may have some focus shift around f/4 though but it is not a problem when focussing at real aperture on TTL cameras. Great lens anyway but i would not rule out R 90/2 pre-apo v1 (# 11219) or v2 (# 11254). I have no experience with v2 but v1 (pic) is one of my favorite 90s ever and can be had for little money compared to M Lenses. One of the best Leica bargains with the R 60/2.8 IMHO. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265414-portrait-90mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3126959'>More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted October 11, 2016 Share #12 Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) Different apertures, different DoFs, different FoVs, too many variables to compare IMHO. For sharp portraits i would chose M or R 90/2 apo, R 100/2.8 apo or M 90/4 macro. For softer results, M 75/1.4, R 80/1.4, M or R 90/2 pre-apo. Better compromise to me is the R 90/2 pre-apo. YMMV. +1 How did you set WB: fixed or Auto? In any case, the warmth of one over another is way down my list of criteria, as it is easy to correct in post. As a better judge of colour rendering I would reset WB in LR/PS using a neutral element in the image, or a ColorChecker Passport, or even manually. If it is impossible to achieve an acceptable colour, then I would worry, not before. Are you sure of your focus? These images are OK for skin colour, but I would use a fixed target and a tripod for sharpness. In general, if I can achieve an acceptable image (colour, sharpness, bokeh, edge-to-edge behaviour) from a lens after minimal post processing, then other criteria come to the fore: weight, balance, mount, close focus, do I want macro - even price, believe it or not! Best of luck to you with a 90 shot manually wide open for portraits. I can do it, but spending that extra little bit of time to achieve exact focus can lose you the momentary expression you'd rather capture. I have the 90mm Apo-Summicron-M which I am likely to trade in for the 90mm Summicron-SL when it comes. I have the 75 Apo-Summicron-M, which is a bit more tolerant of focus. If I had my time again, I would have gone for the Macro-Elmar: more than good enough IQ, no buttock-clenching depth of field (but still good enough to isolate the subject), small and light, and macro option as well. Edit: I also have the Hektor 7.3cm f/1.9, which I keep for granny portraits. Beautifully soft (aka massive dispersion and flare). Edited October 11, 2016 by LocalHero1953 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahesh Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted October 11, 2016 +1 How did you set WB: fixed or Auto? In any case, the warmth of one over another is way down my list of criteria, as it is easy to correct in post. As a better judge of colour rendering I would reset WB in LR/PS using a neutral element in the image, or a ColorChecker Passport, or even manually....Are you sure of your focus? These images are OK for skin colour, but I would use a fixed target and a tripod for sharpness. .....Edit: I also have the Hektor 7.3cm f/1.9, which I keep for granny portraits. Beautifully soft (aka massive dispersion and flare). Hi Paul, thanks for your comments. The WB was auto and this was really a 20 minutes quick test run between these lenses that I had narrowed down. I wanted to get a feel of difference in rendering between these lenses. One could argue that with a good amount of processing all of these could be made to look similar, except prabably 80lux-r as that is in its class of its own. I am not sure of the focus on 80-lux in this picture. However, post-processing, it looks good. I found that there are mysterious lights in many of the lux pictures I took, which look very filmic. That almost mirrors what overgaard says in his post "Also, when shot against light sources, the light will flow over the image. " http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/144385-leica-r-8014-summilux-dmr/ I will post a couple tonight when I go home. I don't use tripod as I like to carry minimum gear together and have no professional interests. My photography is purely oriented to take portraits of my partner (featured :-) and family and also trying and reading about lenses, etc. The other lens I have is zm 50 sonnar which I adore. I have been itching to get a long lens for some time. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted October 11, 2016 Share #14 Posted October 11, 2016 If you're just planning to use the lens on your Sony and size/weight/portability is important, A good lens for portraits is the old Elmar 90 f/4. Although I have others, that is the one I keep in my bag...works on old Barnacks, M bodies, and m3/4. It does flare when shooting into the sun, so I also keep a hood handy, although not often used. Soft wide open, sharpens up around 5.6-8 and contrast improves as well. Available for a pittance. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted October 11, 2016 Share #15 Posted October 11, 2016 I have no experience with the Elmar-C but the M-Rokkor 90/4 for Minolta CLE is another bargain to think about. Here on the right with a Tele-Elmarit "thin" 90/2.8 which is more flare prone than the Rokkor. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265414-portrait-90mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3127005'>More sharing options...
haljaberi Posted October 11, 2016 Share #16 Posted October 11, 2016 Different apertures, different DoFs, different FoVs, too many variables to compare IMHO. For sharp portraits i would chose M or R 90/2 apo, R 100/2.8 apo or M 90/4 macro. For softer results, M 75/1.4, R 80/1.4, M or R 90/2 pre-apo. Better compromise to me is the R 90/2 pre-apo. YMMV. Sorry to jump in, but I could not find good comparison for both M 90/2 Summicron Pre-ASPH and APO. Is there any reliable user reviews available? Because I am considering adding 90 mm to my collection, and I feel Pre-ASPH photos are more appealing to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahesh Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted October 11, 2016 Hi again... I processed the 'warm' 90 elmarit-m as well and make it look similar to cron. Here are the pictures, first 80 Lux-r, the king or queen of the lenses :-) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265414-portrait-90mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3127286'>More sharing options...
Mahesh Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share #18 Posted October 11, 2016 The next is 90 cron, king of the series.. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265414-portrait-90mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3127287'>More sharing options...
Mahesh Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share #19 Posted October 11, 2016 and now the widely applauded... 90 elmarit m Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265414-portrait-90mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3127289'>More sharing options...
Mahesh Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted October 11, 2016 The tiny macro elmar .. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/265414-portrait-90mm-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=3127290'>More sharing options...
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