StephenPatterson Posted November 15, 2011 Share #41  Posted November 15, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've decided the 50 Summilux ASPH is my favorite portrait lens, although the 90/2.8 Elmarit-M is very close. In the end I like working a little closer with the subject, and, well, there's magic in the 50 Summilux ASPH. Just no other way to describe it.  Stephen  Here's one from my "Tattoo Guys" series from the Leica Akademie workshop at Venice Beach last month. M9 + 50 Summilux ASPH wide open...  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! 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=1844055'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 Hi StephenPatterson, Take a look here best portrait lens for M9 Suggestions. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Shade Posted November 15, 2011 Share #42  Posted November 15, 2011 Here's mine. My wife. on our wedding day. 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! 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=1844107'>More sharing options...
cccp1971 Posted November 15, 2011 Share #43  Posted November 15, 2011 I'll second the Summilux 50mm, it also works great in low light.  Distance wise it will bring you closer to your subject, so if you're not that close with the person you shoot 90mm might be a better choice to start with. 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! 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=1844914'>More sharing options...
nelly Posted November 16, 2011 Share #44 Â Posted November 16, 2011 I have found I have grown to love my tele-elmarit 90mm 2.8 for portraits (very late edition made in germany) It is so compact compared to other 90mm's that I can always have it with me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonK Posted November 16, 2011 Share #45  Posted November 16, 2011 ...even 16mm 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! 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=1845065'>More sharing options...
JonK Posted November 16, 2011 Share #46  Posted November 16, 2011 Of course I'm not suggesting these are traditional portraits but just showing you don't need to be welded to the idea of 75 or 90 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! 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=1845073'>More sharing options...
inzite Posted November 16, 2011 Share #47  Posted November 16, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) 50lux is a great all rounder.  one from our wedding.  L1004001 by inzite, on Flickr   75 summarit is also great in decent light and outdoors.  L1004382 by inzite, on Flickr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anguish Posted November 16, 2011 Share #48  Posted November 16, 2011 At the B&W Ak©ada(e)mie(y) in Salt Lake City, Utard, Linda Leica slapped a 24 Summilux on my M9 and we went out to document Occupy Pioneer Square. I told the class the 24 was not really a portrait lens, to which guest instructor Roger Tuttle said "except for photojournalism." I was able to stand a comfortable talking distance from the drummer boy and Isis Rose for these two environmental portraits. Neither was shot wide open - both about 2.4, so I left some bokeh on the table, but did get them in focus. In the case of the extroverted Isis, when she insisted on showing off her tattoo there was a bit of a scrum among classmates and news photographers and the 24 put me in the front of the pack. Drummer Boy was a hail Mary. These might amplify some of the comments previously posted regarding distance from subject, etc. Beware the Ak©ada(e)mie(y). It will make you want to buy a $7,000 lens, not that there's anything wrong with that. 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! 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=1845561'>More sharing options...
wda Posted November 16, 2011 Share #49  Posted November 16, 2011 ...I don't know if the picture below is a portrait in the proper sense – I do not know the subject, he just couldn't get away! – but it was done with the Apo-Telyt.  The old man from the Age of the 9cm Elmar  Well apart from the unfortunate conflict between bayonet blade and face, I would regard this as a portrait and a good portrait too.  While many think of a portrait only in terms of showing some aspect of the human head, I believe many successful portraits include some environmental clues which add great value to a picture. Lars' picture lies in this genre. If one accepts the wider definition of a portrait, then almost any Leica lens could be used. It is a personal choice and the OP will have his own favourite.  As he already has just a 35mm lens, I would strongly suggest he considers adding a 75mm lens which works exceptionally well with a 35mm. If he favours 'bigger' heads in frame, choose a 90mm lens instead. Either of those two short/medium lenses is very versatile, both for portraits and other detailed subjects. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelly Posted November 16, 2011 Share #50 Â Posted November 16, 2011 A fantastic B&W portrait of the young boy at 16mm JonK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted November 16, 2011 Share #51  Posted November 16, 2011 I've decided the 50 Summilux ASPH is my favorite portrait lens, although the 90/2.8 Elmarit-M is very close. In the end I like working a little closer with the subject, and, well, there's magic in the 50 Summilux ASPH. Just no other way to describe it. Stephen  Here's one from my "Tattoo Guys" series from the Leica Akademie workshop at Venice Beach last month. M9 + 50 Summilux ASPH wide open...  [ATTACH]287941[/ATTACH]  I like that one. So I can get a feel of the scene, about how far away were you? Did you try one with the ratio in focus and not the face? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonK Posted November 17, 2011 Share #52  Posted November 17, 2011 A fantastic B&W portrait of the young boy at 16mm JonK  Thank you! I took the shot below first, but the clattering of the M9 made him turn to look at me. 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! 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=1846055'>More sharing options...
algrove Posted November 17, 2011 Share #53 Â Posted November 17, 2011 JonK- Â I think I like that one better than the other you showed. I assume 16mm is a WATE? Did you use the WATE finder? To me it has a very nice rendering. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_lir Posted November 17, 2011 Share #54 Â Posted November 17, 2011 Not sure why I can't host images from my Tumblr - but I promise you these are worth checking out - if somebody wants to rehost them they're even worth that time;) Not that I'm biased or anything;) I haven't posted images up on here in quite some time, I think you guys will enjoy. After all who doesn't like photos of models from fashion week shot with Noctilux's on M9's & M7's? sometimes I like the 35... 35 'lux ASPH (George Lewis Jr. of Twin Shadow) Â Â 35,1.2 CV (Alan Palomo of Neon Indian) Â Â Most of the time I like the Noctilux : Â Fashion Week NYC Â Â Â Â Â Â The Blonds show September 2011 NYC Â Â The Blonds show September 2011 NYC Â Â Bam Margera @ The Blonds show: Â Sometimes I like the 90 Pre-ASPH Â The Blonds - NYC (it was a colaboration with playboy this year) Â A beautiful Photographer on the street after a show in NYC : Â Â Sometimes I like the 90 Pre-ASPH Hayden Panittiere @ Lollapalooza 2010 Â Â & sometimes I use my Leica Summicron-R APO on my D3: Nigumi of Little Dragon: Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonK Posted November 17, 2011 Share #55 Â Posted November 17, 2011 JonK-Â I think I like that one better than the other you showed. I assume 16mm is a WATE? Did you use the WATE finder? To me it has a very nice rendering. Â I prefer it too. If only the M9 was as quiet as my M3 I could have got another frame or two. Yes I used the WATE with finder; I'm nowhere near comfortable with it yet but it's early days Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 17, 2011 Share #56  Posted November 17, 2011 Speaking of "portrait" in the traditional sense (trivially said : "a face and little or no more"), my idea is that 75 and over are anyway the focals to consider : personally, I like a lot some of the "old" Leitz 90mm wxpecially when think of making a BW print : hereunder an example taken with an Elmar 90mm f4... one of the cheapest Leitz lenses one can find : 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!  Summarit 75 is imho also a great performer : Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  Summarit 75 is imho also a great performer : ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/166133-best-portrait-lens-for-m9-suggestions/?do=findComment&comment=1846171'>More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 17, 2011 Share #57 Â Posted November 17, 2011 The lens choice really just depends on what you wish to frame. +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted November 17, 2011 Share #58 Â Posted November 17, 2011 I like that one. So I can get a feel of the scene, about how far away were you? Did you try one with the ratio in focus and not the face? Â I don't remember exactly how far I was, but it was a small tattoo shop, and the guys were busy so I had to hurry. I believe I was about 4ft. away from the subject. I cropped a little (less than 10%) to remove some distracting background elements. Â Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted November 17, 2011 Share #59 Â Posted November 17, 2011 Thank you! I took the shot below first, but the clattering of the M9 made him turn to look at me. Â I also like this second shot much more than the first. The geometry here is fantastic. The triangle roof in the background, the triangle formed by the little boy's chin and neck, another triangle formed by his arm. Even the distorted perspective of his foot ads to the composition. A wonderful shot. Â As for the noise of the M9, well yes it's louder than an MP or any film Leica, which is why I shoot in continuous so I can capture several images when the proper moment unfolds. Â Great job!!! Â Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonK Posted November 18, 2011 Share #60 Â Posted November 18, 2011 How nice to have so many differing views and opinions, some lovely pictures, useful advice for the OP and not a single sarcastic remark! Â So unusual in an internet forum, sometimes even in this one! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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