Summicron M 90 pre-ash E55 (Germany) Thoughts ?

[vk2109]

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Hello I am looking into a 90mm and i saw used Summicron M 90 pre-ash E55 (Germany)

and i was thinking about that but i have read reviews that are balanced.....I can't justify investing into the APO as i know it's not a lens i would be using as much as a 35 or 50

I know there is the elmarit m-90 but thinking more the cron as f/2 and can be helpful for

low light ( not worried much about focusing as can use electronic VF on m 240 if needed)

 

just wanted to see your thoughts about that lens ?

 

Thanks a lot

 

Vadim

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[tmldds]

I have been perfectly happy with mine.

[Ecar]

I was in the same situation a few years ago.

I tested the APO and the pre-ASPH side by side.

Wide open, the APO is razor-sharp clinical, while the pre-ASPH is gentler (not soft, just more "rounded").

The difference narrows quickly as you stop down and from f/4-F/5.6, I could not tell them apart.

Since I wanted to use it for portraits, I went for the pre-ASPH.

If absolute sharpness is what you are after, go for the APO - and check out the Summarit as well.

[philipus]

I have the wonderful Elmarit-M and from what I have read it surpasses the pre-Asph and is almost on par with the APO. There are a few good comparison threads in the forum.

 

Read pp 165 onwards here which helped me when I was considering 90mm options:

 

http://www.furnfeather.net/books/pdf/llcforweb.pdf

 

I came to the conclusion that if one is looking for a lens around 1000€ with qualities nearing the much more expensive APO then the Elmarit-M is a better buy than the pre-Asph.

 

f2 seems to me to be pretty unnecessary for a digital camera like the M240 given its ISO capabilities. As a film phtographer I am very pleased with the Elmarit-M even though it is "only" f2.8.

[Ecar]

I came to the conclusion that if one is looking for a lens around 1000€ with qualities nearing the much more expensive APO then the Elmarit-M is a better buy than the pre-Asph.

 

You are right overall (I have the Elmarit-M as well), but if the 1-stop difference is important for the OP, then the Summicron is the ony game in town...

That being said, whilst I agree that the Elmarit-M is a better all-rounder than the Summicron Pre-ASPH, the latter has (to my eyes) a slight edge for portraits.

[tobey bilek]

The pre asph lacks fine detail resolution detail at wide stops rendering skin with a kind of creamy texture. Any 90 with Tele in the name will be slightly soft under 6 feet.

 

If you want clinical sharp, macro elmar 4.0 or 90 28 elmar from 1970 or 80. All the 90`s with removable heads for viso are better in close range.

[pgk]

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Hello I am looking into a 90mm and i saw used Summicron M 90 pre-ash E55 (Germany) ..... just wanted to see your thoughts about that lens ?

I've owned several 90 'crons and all have been excellent performers, although wide open they have lacked the clinical excellence of more modern designs. In all honesty these are very good lenses and if you want the faster aperture then you are very unlikely to be disappointed, unless you are highly critical and demand near perfection at full aperture. I now have the Elmarit-M which suits me better for a variety of reasons but I am still more than happy to recommend the 90 Summicron pre-aspheric.

[vk2109]

Thanks Everyone for your feedback. I think i will go with the cron pre-asph. I mostly want to use for portrait or if needed for concert. having an extra stop can't harm !

At the end all those are leica lenses and doubt they would be crappy one :-) !!!

 

I am definitely not looking for the clinical sharp as with 85L II that canon has

and i already have a 50 lux Asph so a mixed of both can be nice !

 

Thanks all

 

Vadim

[lct]

I have both 90/2 apo and latest pre-apo. The apo is significantly sharper at f/2 and, to a smaller extent, at f/2.8. From f/4 to f/16 both lenses are very close with a slight advantage contrast wise for the apo. Bokeh is never harsh with both. All in all the apo is my favorite for landscape and the pre-apo for portrait. Beware of CA with the pre-apo though.

[algrove]

I can echo lct's comments nearly one for one.

[pgk]

Beware of CA with the pre-apo though.

Even the superb Elmarit-M suffers some CA in the very corners at times. CA is probably an area where aspheric lenses show significant improvement but this doesn't mean that pre-asph lenses are bad - and some CA can be 'cleaned up' in software these days......