vinster Posted November 11, 2011 Share #1 Posted November 11, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Looking at getting the best portrait lens i can afford, would like it to be Leica but open to suggestions ,maybe a Ziess. I have an M9 and have one lens only the 35mm f2 summicron .Only had my M9 a couple of weeks and hooked for ever. Also have a d-lux 5 .Which i also love. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 Hi vinster, Take a look here best portrait lens for M9 Suggestions. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lars_bergquist Posted November 11, 2011 Share #2 Posted November 11, 2011 Portraits can be made with any damn lens – but they will be different kinds of portraits, of course. A 35mm lens is excellent for across-the-table portraits, for instance – portraits with environment (and there's the group portraiit too, of course. That is one great tradition. Guess what focal length Rembrandt used for The Night Watch?) Now if you believe that 'portrait' means 'glorified passport mug shot' a 90mm lens is best of course. Unless the subject disapproves violently, in which case you need something longer. But a mug shot is not a portrait, only a registration of the geometry of the victim's facial features. A portrait tells us about a person's personality, his/her way of expressing him/herself. But yes, a 50mm lens is also great for portraiture. I understand that Doctor Tulp's Anatomy was shot with a 50mm Rigid Summicron ;-) The old man from the Age of Oil Paint and Gelatine 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2mini Posted November 11, 2011 Share #3 Posted November 11, 2011 What focal length are you looking for? Some like to be up close and personal for portraits, others like to shoot from farther back. I'm fond of my older Elmarit 90mm 2.8. I really like the way it renders. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted November 11, 2011 Share #4 Posted November 11, 2011 50 or 90 IMHO. One of my favourite portrait lenses ever was the Canon EF 85 1.2 L - but it was so heavy, and I now don't use the Canon for this kind of work. On M9 (for me) the 50 lux asph or 90 summicron asph are right. I never got on with 75 on Leica M. If you subscribe to the over-clinical school, you can get older iterations that are lovely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted November 11, 2011 Share #5 Posted November 11, 2011 I like the 75mm Summilux due to the ability to generate a nice creamy background and a slightly soft wide open image. Focus is tricky wide open however. For my preference, I find the 90mm a bit too long. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeleton212 Posted November 11, 2011 Share #6 Posted November 11, 2011 Yes, it depends on what are trying to achieve. I finished a portrait shoot with a Nikon 85mm f/2 that was manufactured just after the war (lens is stamped Made In Occupied Japan). It works well and costs 25% of a new Leica lens. Nice write up here: Nikon | Imaging Products | NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights / Tale 36 : Nikkor P.C 8.5 cm f/2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revdockj Posted November 11, 2011 Share #7 Posted November 11, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) For me, anyway: if the intent is to include context (surroundings--even if out of focus), then 35 or 50; if just head and shoulders, then 75 or 90. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalpowershot Posted November 11, 2011 Share #8 Posted November 11, 2011 Yes, it depends on what are trying to achieve. I finished a portrait shoot with a Nikon 85mm f/2 that was manufactured just after the war (lens is stamped Made In Occupied Japan). It works well and costs 25% of a new Leica lens. Nice write up here: Nikon | Imaging Products | NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights / Tale 36 : Nikkor P.C 8.5 cm f/2 What is Nikon? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
proy Posted November 11, 2011 Share #9 Posted November 11, 2011 Portraits can be made with any damn lens – but they will be different kinds of portraits, of course. A 35mm lens is excellent for across-the-table portraits, for instance – portraits with environment (and there's the group portraiit too, of course. That is one great tradition. Guess what focal length Rembrandt used for The Night Watch?) Now if you believe that 'portrait' means 'glorified passport mug shot' a 90mm lens is best of course. Unless the subject disapproves violently, in which case you need something longer. But a mug shot is not a portrait, only a registration of the geometry of the victim's facial features. A portrait tells us about a person's personality, his/her way of expressing him/herself. But yes, a 50mm lens is also great for portraiture. I understand that Doctor Tulp's Anatomy was shot with a 50mm Rigid Summicron ;-) The old man from the Age of Oil Paint and Gelatine Good advice and some subtle wit to boot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Printmaker Posted November 12, 2011 Share #10 Posted November 12, 2011 Head and shoulders - 90 Elmarit M Full body or close range - 50 Summicron Environmental - 35 Summicron in that order for 99% of my portraits. The other 1% are 135 Elmarit or 21 Biogon. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidbaddley Posted November 12, 2011 Share #11 Posted November 12, 2011 As you move in closer to your subject, the distance between yourself and something close (like the tip of a nose) decreases at a greater rate than the distance between yourself and something farther away (like an ear). Since a shorter lens, like a 35mm, requires you to move in closer, the features of your subjects face will be exaggerated. A longer lens, like a 90mm, will "flatten out" these features because you will be farther away. When photographing people I prefer a 50mm, but most of them prefer the way they look with the 90, finding this rendering of perspective more flattering. - David 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 12, 2011 Share #12 Posted November 12, 2011 A 35mm lens does not 'require' you to move in closer. That is, unless you try to do a head shot with it. I have state above that head shots are not portraits. For that matter, even a wide angle lens proper (to me, 35mm is a short standard lens) does not require a shorter distance. It requires that you consider the subject's environment. You should not get closer than 2 – 1.5 meters (6' 6" – 5' to you troglodytes) with adults, or maybe 3 – 4 feet with a child) because this closeness does distort the face perspectivally. But similarly, a longer lens than 135mm or so will flatten a face in a way that we feel is unnatural – we are not used to being face to face with people at such long distances! The portrait below was made with a 35mm Summilux ASPH. Try to think the surroundings away – not least the candle. The wide-angular old man 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! 4 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/166133-best-portrait-lens-for-m9-suggestions/?do=findComment&comment=1841675'>More sharing options...
asmith Posted November 12, 2011 Share #13 Posted November 12, 2011 I think that is rather a beautiful portrait. Alwyn Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Reds Posted November 12, 2011 Popular Post Share #14 Posted November 12, 2011 and just to prove everyone's point about what is and what isn't a portrait lens. Just for the crack - here's one with a 21mm Lux. See - the real question is "what is a portrait" ;-) from the middle aged man of the days when 2 megapickles was astounding. ;-) 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! 20 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/166133-best-portrait-lens-for-m9-suggestions/?do=findComment&comment=1841761'>More sharing options...
Studio58 Posted November 12, 2011 Share #15 Posted November 12, 2011 yo yo dude...I am with Reds and others on this one. How does one define "portrait". It certainly is not the icon on the modern SLR selector dial and it is not necessarily the pre conceived idea in your head... cos the guy standing next to you has a different image in his. No, clearly the notion of portrait is a concept which has neither rule or boundary. Choose lens or brush or whatever medium you feel appropriate to communicate the message. Your concept asks for boundaries to be applied.... With such constraints, mediocrity beckons like a siren. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted November 12, 2011 Share #16 Posted November 12, 2011 If you are looking for a traditional portrait lens look at the 75mm Summarit, equal to the Summicron 75mm Apo at 1/2 price. Limiting factor is f2.5 and minimum focus is .9m. If you don't want the sharpness simply add gausian blur in photoshop for a beautiful soft look. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidbaddley Posted November 12, 2011 Share #17 Posted November 12, 2011 A 35mm lens does not 'require' you to move in closer. True. I meant to say that a shorter lens requires that you move in closer for your subject to be the same size in the frame, in comparison to a longer lens. I agree that no lens should be considered the right portrait lens, and every way of working has creative potential. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulN Posted November 12, 2011 Share #18 Posted November 12, 2011 I've been using my 50mm summilux ASPH for portraits: Natural light - Great Meadows by Paul.N, on Flickr Studio Lights (single beauty dish) - Simon by Paul.N, on Flickr That being said I have my eye on a 75mm summilux. Not sure that I'll get the approval after buying my M9p though... 13 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted November 12, 2011 Share #19 Posted November 12, 2011 These are two phantastic potraits ! Thx for sharing. With these shots proving your capacity, you will easily get the approval. Best GEORG Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinster Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share #20 Posted November 12, 2011 Beautiful shoots 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.