esophoria Posted September 9, 2013 Share #1  Posted September 9, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am wondering and at the same time asking for some advice-- having just upgraded my M9 for a M 240...and learning how to shoot with it....  I have recently furnished a home portrait studio...and wondering what others use at their Leica or other brand of portrait lens? Which lens seems to render best...I realize it is subjective  I am using Einstein studio lights (manually configured)....one with a umbrella and one with a beauty dish....and Pocketwizards to fire them.  Advice sought... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 9, 2013 Posted September 9, 2013 Hi esophoria, Take a look here Leica Portrait Shooters. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Photoskeptic Posted September 9, 2013 Share #2 Â Posted September 9, 2013 Having owned a 90 Summicron in the past I would have to say it is superb. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptZoom Posted September 9, 2013 Share #3 Â Posted September 9, 2013 Aren't those Einsteins just superb? The PCB parabolic umbrella is worth looking into (if you haven't already). Â For strict professional head shots (the extremely boring variety that clients seem to love), I use the 90mm Elmarit (the last version), but I think I've decided that it is really too sharp. I often find myself offsetting the focus just a tiny bit to get a softer image (especially so if I'm shooting elderly individuals or women who have some skin issues). I'm looking for a softer lens, and giving some serious consideration to the new CV 75mm f/1.8 Heliar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
esophoria Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share #4 Â Posted September 9, 2013 I have zeroed in finding a used Summicron 90/f 2.0. I currently own a Summarit 90 f/2.5; am not too happy with the rendering of that lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptZoom Posted September 9, 2013 Share #5 Â Posted September 9, 2013 I have zeroed in finding a used Summicron 90/f 2.0. I currently own a Summarit 90 f/2.5; am not too happy with the rendering of that lens. Â Good luck with your search. Quiet a few vendors have the latest version in stock (new). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndReini Posted September 9, 2013 Share #6 Â Posted September 9, 2013 75mm summilux for women, 75cron for coal miners. Both fantastic lenses that draw completely differently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 9, 2013 Share #7 Â Posted September 9, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Subjective matter indeed but FWIW my favorite lenses for portrait are the pre-apo/asph Summicron-R (11219) and Summicron-M (11136) 90/2. The asph 90/2 and 75/2 are superb lenses but too sharp for less than perfect skins to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reds Posted September 9, 2013 Share #8 Â Posted September 9, 2013 I've used my 90 cron AA a couple of times, but have to say it flares like a bitch with the slightest drop of backlight. Not sure if this is usual with this lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
120 Posted September 9, 2013 Share #9 Â Posted September 9, 2013 I have zeroed in finding a used Summicron 90/f 2.0. I currently own a Summarit 90 f/2.5; am not too happy with the rendering of that lens. Â What don't you like about the Summarit for portraits? Which beauty dish? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomasis7 Posted September 9, 2013 Share #10 Â Posted September 9, 2013 non asph lenses is good way to go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted September 9, 2013 Share #11 Â Posted September 9, 2013 There is no "perfect" lens. The most important issue is to match the face with the lens that will best render it in a positive way. I do think that most of the M or R Summicrons, shot wide open (f2.0) are among the best. Â You need to establish the kind of rapport with your subject/client so that they are able to freely disclose how they would like the portrait to "BE". Â Often with older persons, one needs to soften the focus to not accentuate the lines of age, but that is something to discuss with the client. Â I often use my 40 Summicron, as it is an amazing lens. Just sharp enough, without being too clinical. It is also very inexpensive. I own both the Minolta & Leica versions. In truth, the Minolta version has more advanced coatings & reduced flare. On Ebay, they are easy to find and a real bargain. Â Since there no frame lines for the 40 Summcron, you would need to make some test shots to master the framing. It's not difficult. You can also do a search on the Forum for "40 Summicrom" & you will find many examples of images rendered by this very fine lens. Â It is also very small &a pleasure to use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
esophoria Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share #12 Â Posted September 9, 2013 I'm glad I started this thread...the perspective of fellow Leica shooters is really informative as well as thought provoking. Â Someone asked about the Summarit....it's a fine lens...but doesn't do my subjects any justice. I find myself taking a Summarit 90mm image and having to bring it in to Portrait Professional and work on it. Â Middle age and older women always complain about their wrinkles and my wife says my lenses are too sharp...they seem to find all of the imperfections on people's faces. Â To me, the imperfections are what gives the Leica portrait shooter the assets in making a fine portrait. Â The lens I hope to buy will be my first Summicron. I have a 135mm Elmarit...which is too long for my studio work. I do like the rendering of the Elmarit's. Â I have the Paul Buff beauty dish...works so well with their Einstein lights. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted September 9, 2013 Share #13 Â Posted September 9, 2013 For tight shots of young models/young skin look into the APO Summicron 180/2.0 R lens. If R lenses are a consideration also the 80/1.4 is nice and renders similar to the 75/1.4, but costs less than half the price of the 75/1.4. Some have said that Leica used the same cell for both lenses. Â Sorry just noticed your 135 is too long for your work space. The R APO 70-180/2.8 is probably better than most and could come in handy for studio work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted September 9, 2013 Share #14 Â Posted September 9, 2013 Soft lens for an older face, or more "flattering" portraits is a fallacy, IMO. Â It's all about the lighting. A beauty dish is a relatively hard and small source; up close, in a small studio it's going to bring out everything. I would recommend something like an Elinchrom Octa, or the largest Photek Softlighter II with budget and a smaller space in mind. Also, one brolly is not nearly enough for fill, try some white polly boards (and some clever use of negative fill) and do't be shy with them (as many as you space will allow) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 9, 2013 Share #15 Â Posted September 9, 2013 Go explain this to my mother in law. It's pre-asph or divorce i'm afraid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satya Posted September 9, 2013 Share #16 Â Posted September 9, 2013 I have a vintage 1960 90 mm summicron that's perfect for faces. Course I'm using a Sony nex 7 with the crop so that comes out to around 135. Just ordered a M8 so will see how that works- smaller crop so I guess 120 or so. The old 50 is still my favorite too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MirekE Posted September 9, 2013 Share #17 Â Posted September 9, 2013 I've used my 90 cron AA a couple of times, but have to say it flares like a bitch with the slightest drop of backlight. Not sure if this is usual with this lens. Â What camera? I have seen this on M240 as well. Never noticed it before with M9, though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 9, 2013 Share #18 Â Posted September 9, 2013 Never noticed with my M240 either. At what aperture(s)? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomasis7 Posted September 9, 2013 Share #19 Â Posted September 9, 2013 Go explain this to my mother in law. It's pre-asph or divorce i'm afraid. Â and avoid monochrome body Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brusby Posted September 9, 2013 Share #20 Â Posted September 9, 2013 Middle age and older women always complain about their wrinkles and my wife says my lenses are too sharp...they seem to find all of the imperfections on people's faces. Â Facial imperfections usually appear sharper in photographs than they do to in person. Or maybe it's more accurate to say lines and wrinkles are just more apparent in photographs. And this seems to be true even when using softer lenses like the older summicrons shot wide open. Â In person, our brains seem to unconsciously filter out or suppress many of those details, particularly with people we have gotten to know well. It's really just another case of the lens/camera "seeing" differently than the eye/brain -- kinda like shadow detail and dynamic range. Â My experience is that softer lenses often don't solve the problem, particularly with middle aged and older subjects. Sure they help soften small wrinkles, but then you're left with the big, and now fuzzy looking, large wrinkles and other skin imperfections. Â The real solution is to learn to retouch so that the photo more closely matches your perception of the person in a flattering light . . . plus maybe a little fairy dust added for good measure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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