75mm Summicron APO or 90 Summicron APO

[lanetomlane]

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I have both the 75 and the 90, but somehow I much prefer the 75. As you already have a 35, I would go for the 75; in my opinion that would be a good combination.

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Regards, Tom

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[33 Avenue]

Thank you very much for all the reply. Your comments have been really helpful so I can learn about your experiences with the different focal lengths. Having just two lenses would really be enough for me. This way, I can concentrate on photographing (I'm learning with every shot I take) instead of being busy changing lenses. In addition, I'm petite (and, yes, a woman who often travels and take pictures with my two-year-old daughter) so carrying a lot of gear is not really for me. I've been using my M9-P and 35mm Summicron for seven months now and have been very satisfied. I also really like the compactness ... reminds me of my Nikon FM3A I used to shoot with years ago.

 

The 35mm is great if I'm photographing buildings and stationary objects because I have no problems moving with my feet to get the closeness I want. But for people, I'm quite shy at times so that's why I'm thinking of either 75 or 90 so I can get a closer shot without feeling intrusive. Not to mention, the stroller gets in the way lol!

 

In the next post, I'll show how I cropped my 35mm images so you have an idea on how close I'd like the photo to be. In the meantime, here are my responses to your comments.

 

Now, my most carried combination is 35 and 50 with either a 24 or a 90 if i add a third lens. If I were younger and could easy carry more I would probably go for 18, 24, 35, 50, with either 75 or 90 and 135. I own all these but could not possibly carry them all. When deciding what lenses to own cost is the main consideration: when deciding what to carry your back will decide for you.

 

Cost and my back are two major points. I would like to keep my gear to a minimum, especially since I also often travel with my two-year-old daughter. This means I also need to carry all her stuff and push the stroller. =)

 

I own both 75 and 90 and...mostly use 50 If you like more compressed images and concentrate on details 90 is the one and the 90 Elmarit would be my favorite. If you like to use it more like a "long" normal lens I find 75mm more flexible.

 

As lenses are difficult to find, don't rule out either the Summarit or Elmarit which are excellent for most everyday subjects.

 

Thanks for mentioning the Elmarits and Summarits. I've been reading about their reviews and they seem very good. I'm just debating that since I'm keen on just having two lenses, shouldn't I go with the Summicron APO?

 

Sounds like you need a 50 if your cropping 35

 

I thought about the 50 after looking at my crops. But then I think I'll try to use my feet more and more to get the 50 image. This way, I avoid the cost and the bulkiness of a third lens. =)

 

The 75mm will give less tunnel view in the viewfinder although many don't like the framelines. The difference may not be that critical, a 75mm + a few steps forward = 90mm + a few step back. Perspective should be very close with either lens. Camera movement should be slightly less magnified with the 75mm. Btw- The 75mm is the best of the Summarit lenses.

 

The framelines confused me at first when I was testing them on my viewfinder to see the various focal lengths. I think one really needs to get used to them. Thanks for the tip on using my feet to get a 90mm image and that the 75mm Summarit is the best of this range.

 

For portraits the 75/2.0 is better with the focusing distance ón 70 cm. and brigger magnication, beside the focusing distance on 100cm on the 90/2.0

 

Having the focusing distance of 70cm for the 75 might be very useful for me.

 

I have the APO 75. and use it much more than my 90 (Elmarit M). The 75 is smaller (and a bit lighter) than the APO 90. It hardly intrudes into the viewfinder at all. But be aware you can induce some less flattering perspective on faces at very close distances (eg filling the frame).

 

The longer (than 50) working distance can be better keeping your subjects more comfortable perhaps. I think that it is the perfect choice for say half length to head and shoulders.

 

The working distance of the 90 can be better where you are looking to fill the frame with a face, for example. The 90 gives you a bit more 'reach' for travel too.

 

Many thanks for the links to the pictures. They are extremely helpful for me! I don't think I'll be shooting just the face so perhaps the 75mm would work better for me. On the other hand, your comment about the 90mm giving more "reach" for travel is also something to consider.

 

For 90 I prefer the 90/4 which is a terrific little lens and has macro capability as a bonus.

 

That's great to know though about the macro capability of the 90.

 

You'll always know when you are carrying around a 90/2 but you'll be surprised at how little the 75/2 weighs in comparison. I've owned both but I sold the 90 because it was too bulky and heavy. The heaviness was more of a problem because getting a sharp shot in low light was always difficult.

 

I started with a 35/2, and then added the AA 75/2. It is a great combination, and I really like the 75/2 - size, weight, heft.

 

The weight factor is important for me as I'm petite and often travel with my kid.

 

I own and use the 75/2 APO and the 90/2 pre-Apo. I would not be without either, but find the 75mm on my camera more than any other lens.

 

I've been browsing the pictures in your books! Very inspiring for me to take more pictures and it's great to know that you often use the 75mm.

 

I love the Voigtlander. It is an incredible lens. Don't know if it is better or not than the 75mm Summicron, but at USD 759 vs USD 3,759, I'll take the cash and 90-95% of the quality and go on a nice vacation to use the lens. Good luck. And, remember, the benefit is that even if you don't like what you choose you can always sell it at little or no loss.

 

Thanks for the tip on the Voigtlander ... mmm ... more shopping money for me, tempting!

 

Yes, often a few steps can create a 90 or 75, but I find not being able to take those steps in many situations is what drives me to use the 90 a lot.

 

Very good point!

 

Please don't start wasteing your time with buying and exchangeing lenses, instead of photographing.

 

PS: Oh, a lady with a Leica . Welcome!

I'm afraid, the small Leica bag is not the most chic choice.

There are endless threads about this topic, but this was not your question, nor my idea, compactness AND M9 quality being your wise criteria.

 

Thank you for the warm welcome. =) I guess most thought I was male ... must be a first reaction anyway as this forum has more male members than women (I assume so). I also don't want to get into buying and exchanging lenses; hence, why I'm trying to learn more about the focal lengths and, hopefully, be able to test them in real life to compare. Although I'm starting to doubt that considering all four stores I've been to didn't have them. I guess at the moment I'll wait and see.

 

I have both the 75 and the 90, but somehow I much prefer the 75. As you already have a 35, I would go for the 75; in my opinion that would be a good combination.

 

Reading more and more about everyone's experience, I'm leaning a bit more towards the 75 at this point as a good fit for my 35. I'll just need to wait until I can actually test this focal length to decide. Hopefully, soon!

[33 Avenue]

As I mentioned in my previous post, here are some of my images using my 35mm so you can see where I'm coming from. Sometimes I do get lucky photographing people at close distance. I'm also including the cropped ones in comparison to the originals.

 

35mm:

 

 

 

 

[33 Avenue]

Cropped and original 35mm:

 

 

 

 

[33 Avenue]

As you can see, my pictures are not really extreme close ups. I like to have a bit of "environment" around. But as I'm sometimes shy to approach people, I need a 75 or 90 focal length.

 

35mm originals:

 

[01af]

Cropped and original 35 mm: [...]

In these crop-and-original pairs, the first crop approximately corresponds to a 75 mm lens; the second to a 50 mm lens (umm, or 70 mm and 54 mm, to be scrupulous).

 

I guess you'll be most happy with a Summarit-M 75 mm 1:2.5 lens. It is sharper at the frame's center, less prone to flare, lighter, and easier to focus than the Apo-Summicron-M 75 mm 1:2 Asph. On the other hand, the latter has more even performance across the frame and can focus a little closer. At 1:2, it's slightly faster, too. And twice as expensive.

[MarkP]

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I agree with the others that from what you have posted you would probably prefer the 75mm focal length but in the end only you know what will really suit your photography. You may buy a 75 and wish you had a bit more reach, or buy a 90 and find the opposite.

 

I have the 2.0/75 Summicron ASPH (but certainly wouldn't lose any sleep if I had the Summarit - they are not at all inferior lenses). Personally I find 75mm suits me as a focal length in that is 'intimate' without feeling cramped or compressed, but still very versatile. Particularly as I tend to use lenses in the range of 21 to 50mm, I find that 75mm pretty much gives me all the reach that I need.

 

Might I suggest another option if you are unsure. Track down a second-hand 2.5/75mm Color-Heliar Cosina Voigtlander (CV) to try out the focal length (or for that matter a 3.5/90 Apo-Lanthar CV).

1. Cheap to buy 2nd hand so little or nothing lost if/when you sell it. The 2.5/75 CV were discontinued a few years ago when the larger and more expensive 1.8/75 CVwas introduced but the 2.5/75 is a very nice lens. The 3.5/90 is similarly very cheap 2nd hand.

2. If the 75mm suits you can then confidently buy a 75 Summicron or Summarit.

3. If you want a Summicron there will almost certainly be a long wait after you order so you have something to use in the meantime.

4. Small, light, compact, and significantly underrated the 2.5/75 can probably be bought for a few hundred dollars in reasonable condition.

5. Sean Reid has an excellent comparison of 75mm lenses on his website and demonstrates that this little lens performs very well. His site is well worth the modest joining fee.

 

I also bought the 2.5/75 CV whilst waiting for my 75 Summicron and once the Leica arrived I went to sell it on consignment through my dealer. When I came back just a short time later and it hadn't sold I took it back to play with again. No, it isn't a Summicron but I liked it so much that I've decided to keep it regardless.

 

Good luck,

Mark

[dickgrafixstop]

A 75mm combined with your 35mm is an excellent "travelling" pair, but that opinion is

severely tempered by the fact that that's what I use extensively. If you already owned

a 50mm, I'd suggest the 90mm which is what I started with. My migration will be

"complete" when I add the 24 (or maybe the 21) but then I really like carrying just one

additional lens. The good news is, there isn't a "bad" choice and any choice you make

doesn't need to be permanent.

[algrove]

Just keep in mind, as you already must know, but I'll say it anyway, that getting well focused 75 or 90 shots will not be as easy as a 35. It's just a focal length think. Also, while focusing perhaps longer with a 75 or 90 lens you might miss "the" moment. For me, I only get real sharp 75 or 90 shots with a tripod.

 

Having said all of the above, for me I seem to get better candid or "street" shots with wider rather than tele lenses. That type of photography seems to be your strength. With a wider lens you can pre-focus and get your shot ready so that you bring it up to your eye for just a split second instead of struggling to focus with the camera up to your eye.

 

If you can take a Leica class near you, they let you try about all the M lenses they offer. In this way you could walk away from the class KNOWING the lens you want instead of laying out hard earned money and perhaps getting it wrong in hind sight. Are you confused yet? By the way nice shots.

[Sailronin]

I try to carry as close to double focal lengths as possible; 24, 50 and 90 in my case. Working the same theory the 35 and 75 would be very good.

 

Good luck,

Dave

[33 Avenue]

Thank you everyone for all your help. At the moment, I'm leaning towards the 75. I just need to find one to try as I don't one to buy one (if available) from abroad without having tested the focal length.

 

Leica here doesn't have an M course until June and I'm not even sure if they'll have most lenses there to try. In the meantime, I have to just regularly check the boutiques and maybe one day a 75mm will pop up.

 

[philipus]

The crops of the construction worker and the people outside the cafe are equivalent to approx. 75.

 

With a 35 you should get a 75; 90 would result in more cropping on pix with the 35 or missed shots. If you want to use a 75 as a 90, then crop or take a few steps forward.

 

The Summarit is an excellent suggestion. Very small and light (6cm at 345g vs almost 7cm at 430g for the Summicron - the 90 is another animal all together, almost 8cm long and a whopping 660g).

[33 Avenue]

The Summarit is an excellent suggestion. Very small and light (6cm at 345g vs almost 7cm at 430g for the Summicron - the 90 is another animal all together, almost 8cm long and a whopping 660g).

 

Great point about the weight and length. Thanks! I was reading the reviews and comparison pics of the Summarit and Summicron and am leaning more towards the color/effects of the Cron. But that's also because I saw them side by side in the review, probably I wouldn't notice a great difference if I were to test them separately. I've also read the Cron has focusing issues ... mmm.

 

I will mostly use the lens during daytime and perhaps sometimes in the evening (sights/landmarks) with a tripod. Having that in mind, maybe the Summarit is the way to go. Thinking ...

[peter_n]

I've used the 35 ASPH and 75 ASPH extensively for travel and think they're a highly workable combo as do many above. I also had a 90 ASPH and while it's a great lens I thought the close-up performance wasn't as stellar as its mid and long-range. I ultimately sold the lens after getting the pre-ASPH version immediately prior to it. Anyway one usability difference between the two is that the focus throw on the 75 is shorter than that on the 90. So if you have good vision and you're shooting street that can be an advantage; the 75 is quicker.

 

I take two bodies so I don't swap lenses in and out too much. I do take a 24 for those rare occasions where the 35 isn't quite wide enough. I've found that focal length very useful in Europe where those higgledy piggledy streets can be quite narrow.

 

However to just stick with two I'd get the 75 Summicron, it's a stupendous lens and close-ups are unreal. It's worth waiting for, presumably you're on waiting lists at a number of dealers?

[swiss leica fan]

Before purchasing one of the 75mm or 90mm lenses be sure that the focus fits with your particular camera body. 75 and 90 lenses are very sensitive to the correct adjustment of the range finder calibration especially when you shoot wide open.

 

I have a 75 Summicron and a 90 Summarit. Both are spot on on my camera body. However, I tend to use the 75 more often because it focuses more close and it appears to be a good combination with either a 28 or a 35.

 

I bring the 90 with me only when I carry a three lens combo or when I shoot film as the filter size of of the 90 Summarit with its E46 is compatible with many other lenses unlike the 75 Cron which has E49 filter size.

 

Regards

Andreas

[algrove]

Hey 33 Avenue,

 

I just reread Steve Huff's review on the 75 Cron 2.0. It sure sounds like a nice one and his example photos are proof. If you still feel a 75 could be for you, suggest you give that article a close look.

 

Now that you brought all this up, my wife has decided she wants a 75 for her M9 since, to her, my 90 Cron is just too bulky and heavy. That is her reasoning and who can argue with that?

 

Back to a post I made back earlier on this thread, my wife loves the MATE, not only for what it offers (3 lenses in one), but also the nice balance it offers on the M9. To her balance is very critical since she has small hands, but still wants some lens weight which she feels helps her steady the entire setup with her M9. She also likes the length of that lens.

 

She also very much likes your photos and hopes one day to take nice shots like yours.

[33 Avenue]

However to just stick with two I'd get the 75 Summicron, it's a stupendous lens and close-ups are unreal. It's worth waiting for, presumably you're on waiting lists at a number of dealers?

 

I'm not in any waiting list yet but, most likely, I'll ask my local dealer to contact me when a 75 Cron arrives. That seems to be the only way to try out the lens.

 

Before purchasing one of the 75mm or 90mm lenses be sure that the focus fits with your particular camera body. 75 and 90 lenses are very sensitive to the correct adjustment of the range finder calibration especially when you shoot wide open.

 

Thanks for the recommendation on proper adjustment. I have an M9-P so if I get to try out the 75 and like it, I'll make sure to get it adjusted properly then.

 

Hey 33 Avenue,

 

I just reread Steve Huff's review on the 75 Cron 2.0. It sure sounds like a nice one and his example photos are proof. If you still feel a 75 could be for you, suggest you give that article a close look.

 

Now that you brought all this up, my wife has decided she wants a 75 for her M9 since, to her, my 90 Cron is just too bulky and heavy. That is her reasoning and who can argue with that?

 

Back to a post I made back earlier on this thread, my wife loves the MATE, not only for what it offers (3 lenses in one), but also the nice balance it offers on the M9. To her balance is very critical since she has small hands, but still wants some lens weight which she feels helps her steady the entire setup with her M9. She also likes the length of that lens.

 

She also very much likes your photos and hopes one day to take nice shots like yours.

 

Send my regards and thanks to your wife for complimenting my photos. I'm still learning how to use the rangefinder and focus properly ... almost 8 months into using it LOL! I know, I'm slow.

 

I also have very small hands and am quite petite so I really like how my M9-P works for me. It's compact and takes great pictures!

 

I read Steve Huff's review and some others on the Internet comparing the 75 Cron with the Lux and Elmarit. It looks as if the Cron is a great lens.