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100mm Summicron vs 120mm Macro Summarit


Csacwp

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I don't have 120APO S, but I was facing the same dilemma before. The question is really down to if your preference: macro capability or low light shallow DOF portraits. 100cron is a sharp lens at f2 cross frame. It is a very sharp lens at WO if not as sharp as 120APO at f2.5, At f2.8, I can't imagine there is a sharper lens than 100cron IMO. 

 

It does't have APO correction so you will see fringing at difficult condition until f4. It dose not bother me for portrait. I appreciate its form factor and faster AF. If you choose 35 and 70 as starter lens, I'd say 120 make more sense as it give you a little more space between focal. I often wish I have more reach before with 35/70/100, now that I acquire 120APO Zeiss and 180APO S, that desire is not as strong. contax120 APO is a stun lens, it can reach 1:1 and not only it is my favorite Zeiss lenses optically(I have/had many top Zeiss lenses include OTUS and 135APO), it also happen have the best focus feel of all manual lenses I have include Leica R and Zeiss ZF. and the color/APO performance of this Contax is at different league compare to M APO labelled lens. 

 

Having said that, I feel 35/70/120 S are perfect 3 lens setup for lots of thing. and these three are usually cheaper make them a steal at current price. 

Edited by ZHNL
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100 Is optimised for portraits, is is light since it does not come in a CS version, and can be used as a walk-around

 

120 is extremely sharp, a lot heavier, also macro, and may therefore hunt a bit if you don't manually set it to approximate distance.

 

Very different in my opinion, so different that I have both ;-)

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I went with the 100 -- light, compact, fast, and a comfy focal length for me, not "too long" for walk-around. Very happy with it. I'm fortunate in having been able to try various focal lengths to see what I liked best, as I have a passel of Pentax 67 gear. So I walked around with 90, 100 Macro, 105 f/2.4, 135 macro... and I liked the 100mm area so much I got the Summicron. The Pentax lenses are less convenient due to no aperture auto-stop-down when adapted to the S2... The lenses have a manual stop-down switch though, so the effect in use is rather like a "pre-set" lens of old.

I also got the 35 Summarit, after using the Pentax 45 and 55 (both very useful), as there is no Pentax rectilinear 35. Happy with the Leica 70 as well. Going longer, there's my Pentax 165 f/2.8, 200 f/4, and 300 f/4... these are not as often needed but serve to keep Leica GAS in check. :)

Edited by Dougg
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I have both lenses and use the 100mm for portraits and street photography where stealth (relatively speaking when compared to an M!!) and a little less weight are valuable.

The macro is outstanding and is the son or daughter of the famed R lens 100mm MACRO: It is heavier and I use it less frequently as the optics of both lenses are outstanding..

Albert  :)  :)  :)

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