APO Summicron-M ASPH 90

[Rva]

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I have got the opportunity for a few day to try new Summicron-M APO 90mm before purchasing it. After some testing I've noticed front-focus approximately 2-3cm in distance 1-1.2 m for aperture 2.0. I am not able properly focus in longer distance as well. I'm really disappointed. Focus ring doesn't go as smoothly as on my Lux 50, but this is not really issue for me. I wanted this lens as portrait lens, as I like 90mm lenses, but this lens is unusable. I don't know if this is a copy of 90 APO doesn't match properly with my M9 and I should wait for another lens. I was thinking of buying this copy and sending to Solm to be adjusted but …does it make sense?

[mmradman]

In my experience with any lens, manual focus or not, more i practice my focus gets better. Getting 90mm AA in focus at max F stop and at close distance does require practice or plenty of luck.

 

There are exceptions of course but how long did you have lens in your hands?

[brusby]

'Just got this lens and love the results so far. It is a bit of a challenge to focus accurately and depth of field is extremely shallow at f2, but it is a very sharp lens which seems to work beautifully for portraits.

 

Here's one from last weekend. Colors are a bit strange because the interior light had a green-magenta tint to it. Focus was on her right eye. The shot probably would not have been sharp with an f2.8 or slower lens, because even at f2 the shutter speed hand held was 1/45s.

 

 

Outside, existing light, again wide open at f2, shooting quickly while trying to focus on the child's eyes -- close but a little behind.

 

[lct]

No problem with mine on the M240. I have no experience with the M9 though. I would make sure that your RF is well calibrated before deciding.

[Paul J]

I had results like these when I first started using my 75mm Summilux wide open. A year later and I don't really have those issues anymore. Buying a 1.4x Magnifier certainly helped too.

[brusby]

It may be your m9. Small errors in the rangefinder adjustment will be more apparent with longer lenses. One easy way to check would be to try the lens on an M240 with electronic viewfinder and see if it agrees with the rangefinder focus. That method is not foolproof cause the 240s rangefinder might be off. But it could provide useful info.

[algrove]

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Mine works superbly on my M9 and MM. Some of favorite shots were taken with my 90 AA. Try another copy and/or get your M9 adjusted, maybe the M9 is out of adjustment.

[Rva]

First of all, thanks for your comments. I've done a few tests today. First shot focused on 20, next one on 23. The distance from the camera was approximately 1 m. I can see front-focus cca 2 cm.

If I send the lens together with my M9 to Solms to be adjusted, will this adjustment have effect on my 50 Lux which focuses perfectly ?

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[lct]

I would just send the body to the closest Leica workshop to adjust it's RF if need be.

[jaapv]

No in theory it will not, as Leica will adjust both lens and camera to a fixed standard.

But! If your Summilux is misfocusing a bit as well and just happened to form a happy combo with the camera, the misfocus in the lens will show up afterwards.

So the best plan would be to send both lenses with the camera.

[Rva]

No in theory it will not, as Leica will adjust both lens and camera to a fixed standard.

But! If your Summilux is misfocusing a bit as well and just happened to form a happy combo with the camera, the misfocus in the lens will show up afterwards.

So the best plan would be to send both lenses with the camera.

 

You are right, this can happen. :-)

[01af]

This is not a good test target. It might be misleading. Before you send your lens in for an adjustment, just keep shooting a variety of real-world targets. Then see if it really mis-focuses.

[120]

This is not a good test target. It might be misleading. Before you send your lens in for an adjustment, just keep shooting a variety of real-world targets. Then see if it really mis-focuses.

 

why is this not a good test target?

[Dr.KOL]

What is the angle between the camera and the floor. So is the real distance just the right one?

 

Best, KOL

[Rva]

What is the angle between the camera and the floor. So is the real distance just the right one?

 

Best, KOL

 

The angle is 45 degree. I used this method all the time. it is not perfect method, but the results are quite correct. I bought the 35 Lux instead of the 90 APO. My test showed that the 35 lux works very well. Instead of The 90 Apo I am going to buy 90 elmarit-m.

[algrove]

The Elmarit-M 90/2.8 is a very good lens and just happens to use the same 46mm fiter as the 35 FLE. Good to know when you get a Monochrom and want to use filters.

[LocalHero1953]

I had exactly the same problem with my M9 and the APO-summilux 90mm, including poor infinity focus. I spent ages photographing tape measures, fencing panels and brick walls. I took both to Leica Mayfair, and both were sent off to Solms for recalibration (they loaned me a body as well). Fixed the problem. It is still a tricky lens to focus, but when it all comes together it is all worthwhile.

[LocalHero1953]

As an example of how well the APO-Summilux 90mm can get it together (photographer permitting) see this rather small crop from a portrait:

 

[01af]

The Elmarit-M 90/2.8 is a very good lens and just happens to use the same 46 mm fiter as the Summilux-M 35/1.4 Asph. Good to know when you get a Monochrom and want to use filters.

The Summarit-M 90/2.5 is an even better lens and also uses 46 mm filters.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[DirkR440]

It is still a tricky lens to focus, but when it all comes together it is all worthwhile.

 

I have the Summicron 90 as well since a few months and I can agree on this.

 

Also if you check the numbers of the DOFMaster for example, 1m distance with f2 gives you not much room for mistakes. The total DOF is just about 1 cm. If I compare this to my Summilux 50 with f2 you have 5 cm and even with the f1.4 you have 3 cm.

 

I made the same test with the tape rule and the results seems to be fine for my lens. But as mentioned before, when I make a short distance picture with f2 I always spend some extra time and concentration on the correct focus.