90mm. macro-elmar f/4 & quasi-macro photography

[kcnarf]

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:)I'm seeking info on how to best use the Leica 90mm. f/4 lens for hand-held close-up photography of small subjects. I presume it's necessary to use flash. All suggestions will be most welcome and gratefully accepted.

 

(My Nikon DSLR, of course, is more appropriate macro work, but I wish to avoid lugging around its size & weight.)

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[wstotler]

I think this depends on a few things. Moderate sunlight with f/4, ISO 640, and 1/60th (minimum) should be OK, provided you don't mind the shallow DOF, are willing to bump a few stops in post, and have a steady hand/breathing technique. If you want f/5.6 or f/8 you'll need more light. For f/11 up I think you're into very bright light, a tripod, or flash.

 

Cheers!

Will

[hoppyman]

If at possible, try to steady your camera for the best results. A good tripod is ideal, but leaning on something and good technique will help naturally. Certainly take several frames to choose from as one is likely to have better focus than the others. Any on camera flash is unlikely to be ideal. You can use some flash units with an off camera lead such as the old Nikon SC-17 I would suggest the steady support instead if you are prepared to take a little time to set up your shot (as you would have to if you plan to use flash)

The angle finder, if you have it can make life easier too.

(This one posted previously in another thread)

Hedge Grasshopper in my garden photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com

[jacarape]

Hoppy, that's a really nice photo. For the past 3 weeks I've wanted to try the lens. I'm starting to wonder if I could pull it off if I got rid of a 135 Elmar, 135 E-M (I love things Mandler, that I'd miss) and 90 E-M.

 

Nice photo, you have me itching further...oh wait, fleas dammit!

[hoppyman]

I'm glad that sample was useful. I'm not sure where I've discussed this before so bear with me if it is a repeat. The macro Elmar in my experience has a dual personality. It can make modern, sharp detailed photos like that close up but you it will also act like an older, softer lens if you like. Mine will flare easily if provoked too, if the unwanted light angle is inside the excellent, supplied hood. In any event if you enjoy the rendering of your older 90 you will find that this one can deliver the same. Here's a portrait (no skin softening in Post)

Make up test photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com

The trick is to let just enough 'glow' in!

 

It is certainly not cheap though, even by Leica standards. However that is partly due to it being sold new now just as a kit with the close up attachment and the angle finder too. I ended up shopping until I found a used (mine was NOS, actually) lens on its own (got it coded later and then ended up tracking down a closeup attachment etc)

 

I should add, keep your favourite 135 from the pair, that's what I did (mine mainly goes on my Visoflex) and I sold off two other 90's too.

[wda]

Depth of field at the closest range is minimal at f/4, not increasing by much as you stop down. With an older copy of the lens, do watch out for back-focus. Tolerances didn't improve until after the digital M's were introduced. Therefore I suggest that an uncoded copy should be tested carefully before purchase.

 

My advice would be to consider any stability aid as essential if you want consistent top quality results at close ranges. That could be as simple as using a bean-bag or a Leica table tripod for low-growing alpine flowers. However, don't just consider it as a close-up lens. It is an extremely fine and useful travel lens.

[budrichard]

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My advice is to stick with your Nikon dSLR.

I don't have the 90mm but have had a DR Summicron for decades. Only used it once in close mode and promptly brought out my Nikon SLR to complete the work.

These Leica lenses and attachments are engineering marvels but the reality is that an SLR is much better suited to the application and you will save a few $KUSD!-Dick

[wda]

I think the OP accepts the argument that a DSLR is more suitable for macro work. He is seeking to find out if the Leica macro lens is capable of giving satisfactory results when he does not wish to use his Nikon camera. Those members who own a copy of the 90mm macro presumably are happy with their results. Certainly I wish that I had owned mine earlier this year when I encountered carpets of alpine flowers in Switzerland. I am certain that it would have acquitted itself and justified its place in my kit.

 

Remember also, that the 90mm Macro lens serves as an excellent portrait or short telephoto lens, both very useful in travel scenarios. Think of it as dual purpose.

[budrichard]

My 90mm Summicron's, an ASPH and Chrome Made In Canad(a beautiful lens) sit unused, as I have switched to the 75mm Summicron for portraits when it was announced. The 75 ASPH is much better suited to the task and even does decent closeup work.-Dick

[geaibleu]

I find it very cumbersome to use as a macro lens, with the M8, owing to the shift inthe viewfinder. When using the macro adapter, the range is so limited that you do need tripod and very careful focus, which is hard to set since there is no "live-view" available.

However, as a small tele it outperforms many a lens, so that as a street or general purpose, it is just great.

Like every single Leica lens the 90 M-E is aimed at a very specific job (in terms of objects of a given size for a macro lens) thus requiring a specific setup which may not prove convenient unless you are within familiar territory.

It does not compare with the R macros (60 an 100) and should never have been called a "macro" lens.

[40mm f/2]

The Macro-Elmar is one of my most used lenses (>40%) but close focusing is difficult with a RF. So I don't use the close up attachment but a Visoflex. With the lens collapsed I get 1:4 to a max (extended) 1:1.6. It focuses at working aperture (stoping down after focusing works only on a tripod) but it is still less weight than a SLR. May be the Visoflex can be replaced by a (Leica) Evil camera. Photokina 2010? I would be happy with APS-C sensor for macro (factor 1.5x).

I do not like the reversible hood supplied with the lens as it makes using, changing and storing the lens very slow. I use a short E39 metal hood form Heliopan (no problems with flare).

[hoppyman]

I started to post a couple more samples if anyone would like to look.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/nature-wildlife/139889-rainy-day-garden-m9.html