Suggestion for a portrait lens

[Giorgio Festa]

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Hi,

First of all I would like to introduce myself (this is my first thread...).

I have been reading the forum for months becuase it is a wonderful tool for who (like myself) is pretty new to the Leica world (I mainly used DSLR cameras and bought my M8 just a few days ago...I am actually using it with a voiglander 28 f1.9 lens which is pretty good for street photography..).

I am actually looking for a portrait lens (even if my budget is not huge..).

Can someone help me to move in the magic world of the Leica lenses?

Thank you very much for your attentio and help.

Regards

[WestMichigan]

Congrats on your First Post!

 

Before making a Lens Suggestion,

grant me leave to get up on a soapbox for a moment. :-)

 

The first rule of getting a good portrait lens is:

"Get a Good Portrait irregardless of Which Lens you use."

 

My suggestion regarding getting a lens which would come from a classic portrait-oriented focal length would be the Voigtlander 75mm f2.5 Screw-mount lens. It was recently superceded by the 75mm f1.9 M-mount lens, but the newer lens costs about 50% more than the older one. Cameraquest in USA says the f2.5 will run about $500 US including adapter, etc while the f1.9 will run about $750 or so. Not sure what price you'll find out of Brescia - that's in the E.U.?

 

I haven't used either, but the Focal Length/FOV/Crop Factor makes a 75mm like a 97mm on an M8.

If I recall correctly, the 90mm and 135mm Leica lenses aren't very expensive at all in the 2nd hand market (exotic ones excluded!). There are also 1 or 2 90mm lenses available which were intended for the Leica (& Minolta) C and CL Rangefinders which don't seem to command a very high second hand price. I DO know that the family of C-mount lenses have great reputations for their prices and image qualities when used on M-mount cameras. They'd be worth a look, I'd say.

 

Don't forget to share some images with us in the M8 Photography Thread.

(link at top of forum)

Sincerely

Richard in Michigan

[zombii]

I would suggest that you stay with 50mm if portraits are your interest. 50's are easier to focus, come in a large range of speeds and prices and are also versatile for other uses as well. The effective focal length of 67mm is not one you will have likely had any experience in SLR's and I like it a lot. It's a nice fit between traditional standard and portrait focal lengths so zooming with your feet is very easy with a 50. On top of that, you can really choose the type of look you want since there are so many different choices. Not sure what your budget is but the Planar 50 is a good choice for the price if you like the Zeiss look. Any of the Lux 50's give the Leica look except for the ASPH models which are more clinical. I'm not a big fan of the Voigtlander 50's but some people like them a lot. There are lots of older thread mount lenses that are good for more reasonable prices also. Just be sure that you ask plenty of questions about condition and preferably can return it if there's a problem.

[Giorgio Festa]

Thank you very much for both the suggestions..

I was actually thinking to a 50 mm. I read also some positive feedbacks about the voiglander 40 1.4.... But in this way it is effectively a 52mm and mayve too short for "classic portraits" (I am thinking to sme Steve McCurry shots, which I really love...).

However I fully agree with what Richard said....it does not matter which lens you use...the import thing is the final result...

Rgds

 

Ps x Richard...Brescia is in Italy (still in the EU...so far..)

[ishkra]

welcome Giorgio,

hope you'll get great satisfaction from your new RF camera.

I'm, just like you, new to the "Leica World" and from my short experience I can tell you there's a small, nice and cheap Leica lens you can use for portraits and not only for that.

This lens is called SUMMICRON-C 40mm and you can get it around 300 euro.

Well spent money

[epand56]

Hello Giorgio, welcome to the forum.

I find the 90mm a great portrait lens and you could chose between a wide range of lenses at very reasonable prices.

On eBay or even here on the Forum Buy and Sell section, you can find Elmarit 90/2.8 at less than 700 euros or even the Elmar-C 90/4 (a wonderful lens) at less than 400 euros. Even the small Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 is a great lens, light and compact and I think you can have it for less than 500 euros.

I like very much the 50 for portraits also and I saw Summicron 50/2 lenses selling for 600-800 euros or even new versions of the collapsible Elmar 50/2.8 for less than 500 euros.

I like CV lenses, but if you can have a Leitz, why not going for it.

[don_panko]

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More important than the lens is to always have two light sources. Main and fill where both are soft reflected light. The added dimension and depth due to a nose shadow to the corner of the mouth and catch lights in both eyes make a great classical portrait in my opinion.

 

The lens length will be determined more by whether the portrait is full length or head and shoulders only. I have used 35mm to 90mm for portraits and even a 21 mm for a group portrait with good results.

 

Finally, consider printing on canvas. It makes portraits look like they were oil painted and with new pigment printers these prints will last 100 years adding even more value for the recipient.

 

Technique and lighting is probably more important than the lens, in my opinion.

[Frank Black]

welcome Giorgio,

hope you'll get great satisfaction from your new RF camera.

I'm, just like you, new to the "Leica World" and from my short experience I can tell you there's a small, nice and cheap Leica lens you can use for portraits and not only for that.

This lens is called SUMMICRON-C 40mm and you can get it around 300 euro.

Well spent money

agree:D

[Guest tvleeskr]

welcome Giorgio,

hope you'll get great satisfaction from your new RF camera.

I'm, just like you, new to the "Leica World" and from my short experience I can tell you there's a small, nice and cheap Leica lens you can use for portraits and not only for that.

This lens is called SUMMICRON-C 40mm and you can get it around 300 euro.

Well spent money

 

Be prepared for some vignetting and focussing issues. This little lens is often on my M8 though!

[WestMichigan]

Ola Giorgio,

judging by the news on the BBC WorldService your 'joke' re: "still in the E.U. so far" has a wisp of reality hanging behind it. Least they're not 'storming' Parliament like the going ons up in London. Not Yet? Anyway!

On the photographic side, before expanding your lens kit to broadly, please take a tip from someone who's been around photography a bit. Get well acquianted with your camera, how to physically operate it as a mechanical instrument, how to choose appropriate apertures & shutter speed values to go with your subjects, and how to see the 'images' before you in the world - compositionally and aesthetically.

The fewer Lenses and Gizmos to cope with as you come up to speed as 'A Photographer' the easier it usually is to ramp up as one.

If Histograms, f-stops, and ISO's are old-hat for you already - please disregard previous statement. Although, Leica Gear is expensive and being able to avoid getting on a 'Gear Treadmill' Unneccessarily can save a marriage, a bank account, and your solvency. :-)

 

Richard in Michigan

Thank you very much for both the suggestions..

I was actually thinking to a 50 mm. I read also some positive feedbacks about the voiglander 40 1.4.... But in this way it is effectively a 52mm and mayve too short for "classic portraits" (I am thinking to sme Steve McCurry shots, which I really love...).

However I fully agree with what Richard said....it does not matter which lens you use...the import thing is the final result...

Rgds

 

Ps x Richard...Brescia is in Italy (still in the EU...so far..)

[efix]

The Ultron 28/1.9 is wonderful, isn't it? I've paired it with a 50/1.5 Nokton for my M8, which makes for a nice portrait lens. It's VERY good optically, and very affordable on the used market.

 

If you want to take headshots, though, 75 or 90mm might be better. The 50 is more for head-and-shoulders portraits. But it's brilliant at f/1.5!

[epand56]

This lens is called SUMMICRON-C 40mm and you can get it around 300 euro.

 

One in the Forum Buy and Sell section right now...

[tbarker13]

The vast majority of my shooting is portrait in nature.

I find myself using a 50 and 75. I tried 90 for a while, but found them to be just a bit tough to focus reliably.

My current favorites are the 50 planar and CV 75/1.8. I highly recommend both lenses.

 

 

shots with the 75:

Flickr: tbarker13's stuff tagged with voigtlanderheliar75mmf18

 

One example:

 

 

Shots with the 50 planar:

Flickr: tbarker13's stuff tagged with zeissplanar50mmf20

 

One example:

[ArtZ]

...a 50/1.5 Nokton for my M8, which makes for a nice portrait lens. It's VERY good optically, and very affordable on the used market.

 

...The 50 is more for head-and-shoulders portraits. But it's brilliant at f/1.5!

 

+1

 

I second that. The CV Nokton 50/1.5 Aspherical is a wonderful portrait lens on a M8. Unfortunately, it has been replaced by the CV Nokton 50/1.1 (Cameraquest still have some on stock).

 

Cheers

[Jamie Roberts]

I'm with Tim

 

The slight tele magnification makes for very flattering compression, so for me it's 70 to 100mm ideally, though a good 50 is also hard to beat.

 

So 75mm (the 75 lux) on the Ms; 80R Lux on the Rs--or Canon, or Nikon

 

They're both fabulous portrait lenses.

 

I haven't tried the crons, but people also swear by them. FWIW, I'm sure CV also makes something in the 'bit longer' range for portraits too.

 

With a 28 1.9, which is a very nice lens, I would go 75mm for portraits, personally.

[Giorgio Festa]

Be prepared for some vignetting and focussing issues. This little lens is often on my M8 though!

 

 

Is vignetting really very bad with this lens ?

[ishkra]

Is vignetting really very bad with this lens ?

 

Absolutely not!...this lens doesn't vignetting at all on M8.

[WestMichigan]

Hello Giorgio,

I found a link to someone who reviewed the Voigtlander 75mm f1.8 and I recalled your inquiry about 'Portrait' lenses and wanted to pass it along. Maybe the review and the images he shares will be of use to you. The link is:

Review: Voigtlander 75mm F/1.8 Heliar | Band Photography > Music Photographer > Tony Ventouris > MD DC VA > Panoramic > Portraits

 

Richard in Michigan

(The Mitten Shaped State - USA)

[Giorgio Festa]

Ola Giorgio,

judging by the news on the BBC WorldService your 'joke' re: "still in the E.U. so far" has a wisp of reality hanging behind it. Least they're not 'storming' Parliament like the going ons up in London. Not Yet? Anyway!

On the photographic side, before expanding your lens kit to broadly, please take a tip from someone who's been around photography a bit. Get well acquianted with your camera, how to physically operate it as a mechanical instrument, how to choose appropriate apertures & shutter speed values to go with your subjects, and how to see the 'images' before you in the world - compositionally and aesthetically.

The fewer Lenses and Gizmos to cope with as you come up to speed as 'A Photographer' the easier it usually is to ramp up as one.

If Histograms, f-stops, and ISO's are old-hat for you already - please disregard previous statement. Although, Leica Gear is expensive and being able to avoid getting on a 'Gear Treadmill' Unneccessarily can save a marriage, a bank account, and your solvency. :-)

 

Richard in Michigan

 

Hi Richard,

 

I wouldn't be surprised if, suddenly, EC throws Italy out....

Anyway, let's speak about Leica....at least something positive..

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[WestMichigan]

Yes, Giorgio,

let's speak about Leica and the topics and companies in it's glorious orbit. Though, one must admit that New 'News' comes from the trials and tribulations in the EU much more frequently than it comes from "The Mothership" in Solms. Hee Hee

Richard in Michigan

ps:Did you get my link from above post?

 

 

Hi Richard,

 

I wouldn't be surprised if, suddenly, EC throws Italy out....

Anyway, let's speak about Leica....at least something positive..