75 or 90 telephoto

[atlfoto]

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Hi,

 

I would like to complete my leica set of lens (35 and 50 crons) with a telephoto and I would like to know your opinion on the 75mm and 90mm telephoto options available in the second hand market. I have a 0,72 M6 classic and I don't really know if it is easy to focus a 90mm with it.

Thank you.

Regards,

 

Alejandro

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[biglouis]

I've actually been pondering a similar issue since moving to a M7 from a M8 about a month ago.

 

I did own both the 75cron and 90cron. I sold the 75cron because on the M8 it was too close to my 50mm lens and instead I purchased a 90cron. This is one of the most beautiful lenses in the Leica arsenal for certain subjects, imho. But I sold it because it was incredibly heavy and I spent most of my time leaving it at home. I purchased a Elmar 90/4 which is another very lovely lens in the way it draws lights and is terrific to take with you anywhere due to its small dimensions and weight.

 

Now that I am using a full frame camera and getting the benefit of a real 50mm lens, I am beginning to see the need for a 75. I am actually thinking of selling the 90/4 and getting a 75cron instead. It is a superb lens, small and with wonderful light drawing power.

 

Bottom line, beware that the 90cron, a superb lens, is also very heavy and therefore needs shutter speeds higher than 1/125 to create sharp pictures (whereas with the Elmar 90 I can shoot at 1/30 and get results) in my experience.

 

LouisB

[UliWer]

If you are looking on the second hand market,

the 75mm-lenses may be rare. You may find more opportunities if you look for a 90mm-Elmarit last version. Excellent lens, not too big and priced under its value.

[smb]

I wear glasses and have no problems with either lens. The 90's are common on the second hand market while the 75s are not. You could look for a 75mm Summarit. That focal length matches well with the 35mm. Overall you need to look into the optics of all the lenses as they have definite signatures and their size varies.

[luigi bertolotti]

I would prefer 90 for a M6... focusing isn't an issue... and Uliwer is right about 2nd hand... I JUST bought an excellent Elmarit-M 90 for 550 Euros: you won't find a 75 at that price... Summicron and Summilux are "prestige" lenses and Summarit (which I have, too) is too "new" to be found as a bargain 2nd hand.

[SteveYork]

35-50-90 is a classic pairing. The 50 and 75 are too close together. Take a look at the frame lines. One step forward is all that's needed to get the field of view of a 75 w/ your 50, although the 75mm Summicron is a very special lens.

[noah_addis]

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I prefer a 90mm on film or the M9, but I guess like all things it really is a matter of taste.

 

I got a 75/2 for use with the M8 but rarely used it with that camera, and I have never used it on film. Honestly the main reason is I dislike the 75mm framelines and to some extent I feel like it's too close to 50mm. I don't use longer lenses much but when I do I guess I prefer the extra reach of the 90mm.

 

I use my 90/2 AA much more, even though it's the even heavier black paint version. It's still compact compared to an SLR lens.

 

I'm leaning towards selling my 75/2. It's a beautiful lens but I rarely use long lenses and I don't need both it and the 90mm.

[atlfoto]

Thank you for your comments.

It seems like they are viased to the 90 instead of the 75, confirming that 75 is too close to 50 to be the best option.

I will search the different options in the second hand market and we will see if I find something interesting. One thing that I have quite clear is that the lens should not be too heavy, I would like to use it, not to leave it at home....

[gyoung]

Thank you for your comments.

It seems like they are viased to the 90 instead of the 75, confirming that 75 is too close to 50 to be the best option.

I will search the different options in the second hand market and we will see if I find something interesting. One thing that I have quite clear is that the lens should not be too heavy, I would like to use it, not to leave it at home....

 

Another one here for the 90 option, I have had a 90 since I bought the M3 a LONG time ago, I bought a 75 Voigtlander mainly to get a good modern fast longish lens to use on the Leica III I also have (the voigtlander is screw mount of course), but also to see if I liked the focal length. I have tried it out occasionally on the M6ttl etc and prefer the 90, it gives a good bit extra magnification over the 50.

 

As far as which lens, I have the original 90/2.8 Elmarit, its obviously bulkier than the other f/2.8 lenses, but actually lighter than most, and I can use the lens head on a Visoflex. Its a very good lens.

 

Gerry

[luigi bertolotti]

Thank you for your comments.

It seems like they are viased to the 90 instead of the 75, confirming that 75 is too close to 50 to be the best option.

I will search the different options in the second hand market and we will see if I find something interesting. One thing that I have quite clear is that the lens should not be too heavy, I would like to use it, not to leave it at home....

 

If you don't care about top aperture, keep in mind that the Elmar 90 f4 3 elements version is an excellent lens... I have one, and its lens head (unscrewable) has became my preferred for macro use on Visoflex... and it's a very light and pocketable lens: not difficult to find... a good italian dealer (Newoldcamera - Home page) has 3 at the moment.

For compactness, there is nothing like the old Elmar retractable... but is a bit less appreciable as for sharpness.

[peter_n]

Although I use the 75/2 a lot, in your case with the 35 & 50 I'd get the 90 too. My experience is with the f2.8 "thin" Tele-Elmarit, which I use for travel and recommend. A little flare-prone, but a tremendous performer. I used to use the 90 f2 AA, but sold it in favor of the immediately preceding pre-ASPH with the 55mm filter - much better. I thought the AA was not great with close-ups, medium & long distance - stunning.

[SteveYork]

In terms of optics, price and weight, the last 90mm Elmarit is a good choice. It's discontinued, but there're plenty of affordable mint ones on the used market. The tele-elmarit is very light, but very soft wide open. The f/4 is too slow, and the f/2 is too narrow depth of field to use it wide open. And optically the 90/2.8 is great, even by today's standards. To get a good Leica optic at a good price is very unusual in Leica land.

[underground]

28 Elmarit 50 Cron 90 Cron are my top three and the 90 Cron IMO

is wonderful.My Biggest Complaint is the drag in the focusing. They could have freed it up

a little more.

 

The 75 Cron I read IS special and I would really like to snap one on

my M7 regardless of how close it is to 50 mm. The 75 Cron is on my list

to purchase next to 35 Lux.

[robert_parker]

As Luigi hints, you should not should overlook the 75mm Summarit 2.5, which draws very nicely and offers smooth non-aspheric performance. It's also very light and compact compared to the other lenses, focusses easily and without the hood, would pass for a standard lens at first glance, if you were planning candid shots.

[jhild]

I use both the 75 and the 90cron for landscape photting and I can tell you it´s not just a step forward or

backward to compensate for the other length. This might be a different story for portrait photting or close-

up. The 75 is a class of it´s own, one of the best lenses on the market, a real "must have". The 90AA is

not heavy at all, I really wonder about this argument. I can easily carry it around for a week and there is

a winder attached to the body as well. Heavy for me means my old trusty Pentax LX plus winder plus

the 1.8/135mm, that is heavy. I think the difference between 75 and 90 is what you want or not want in

the shot if you can´t move and have to stick to a certain spot because of several reasons. Usually I

carry three m bodies in my Peli, one with the 50Lux, one with the 75cron and the third one with the

90cron. Then there are three more lenses in that box plus a lightmeter plus 6 spare rolls of film. That

is very convenient to me compared to what I used to carry around in pre Leica days. I go hiking with that.

If you only take your camera for a walk in the sun it could all be a different story of course. However,

even if I would use the 75 or 90 very seldom I would never ever sell them again, they are just to good.

 

Just my two pence...

 

Jo

[RITskellar]

The 75mm wouldn't be different enough from the 50 to make it worth while in my opinion. The Summicron 90mm lens is the one you want, especially the version just prior to the APO/ASPH, which can be found at reasonable prices between $600-900. This lens is far better in tone and smoothness than the latest 90mm Elmarit, which I have also owned in the past. If I could shoot with a 90mm focal length all the time, I would, as the rendering of my Summicron 90 is even better than the revered Summilux 50 v3 pre-asph and Summicron 35 v4 pre-asph. Good luck!

[atlfoto]

Thank you gents.

Reading your comments I have reached a solution, expensive, but very good indeed.

All depends on how many lens do you want to take with you.

Case a.- Only one lens, in this case it should be, in my opinion, a 50mm.

Case b.- Two lens, in this case, I would prefer a 35 and 75.

Case c.- Three lens, that's the classic 35, 50, 90 approach.

Conclusion: Most probably I will buy both, but not at the same time (too much for my empty pockets). I will check the market and I will buy a 75 or a 90 depending on waht I find. I will check the summarits also, but I think I am more a cron-man, you know?

[robh]

You have probably made your decision, but, as no-one else has specifically recommended it, I would like to suggest the 75 summilux. I agree with The Online Photographer that the bokeh of this lens, on film or digital (M8), is superb, it is very sharp from f/2, and my copy focusses perfectly at f/1.4 on M2 and M8. I am looking forward to trying it on an M9 when funds permit.

 

Rob

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[luigi bertolotti]

Thank you gents....

....I will check the summarits also, but I think I am more a cron-man, you know?[/quote]

 

"Any photographer who deserves this name, deserves a Summicron"...

[Photoskeptic]

While I haven't used a 75, I did have a 90 Cron, pre-ASPH. I used it on an M4 & M6 TTL. It was a awesome lens, great bokeh. It is also heavy and large and I could not recommend for street shooting. Depending on what you are looking for, I personally think a 75 Summarit would be a good addition - lighter than a 90 and giving just that little bit more reach than a 50. The attributes of this lens over a 90 seem to indicate it could be used for street shooting. Just my 2 cents.