rirakuma Posted July 15, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted July 15, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi guys just wanted to get some advice on the differences between the APO and pre AA version of this lens. I currently own the pre version and have really love the lens and its rendering. I've looked at lots of samples around and there doesn't seem to be a huge difference between the character of the two. Is there something I'm missing? I'm guessing the APO would have better sharpness but the difference doesn't seem to be as big as say the pre and asph 50 lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 15, 2014 Posted July 15, 2014 Hi rirakuma, Take a look here 90mm Summicron pre vs APO. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lct Posted July 16, 2014 Share #2 Â Posted July 16, 2014 The latest pre-apo (# 11136) is softer at f/2. The apo is sharper there, especially in the center, and has much less CA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 16, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted July 16, 2014 I had both lenses, sold the APO. It was hell sharp and contrasty, but I like the rendering of the PRE- at f/2 for portraiture. From f/2.8 down it's very close to the last-version Elmarit I also owned. Truth told I had 21, 35, 90 and 135 APO lenses at one time and sold all of them in favor of the PRE-versions. Something I really love about the Mandler-era lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rirakuma Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share #4 Â Posted July 16, 2014 Thanks for the responses, I just bought the 11136 version to replace the pre asph R that I currently use. If they are equal in performance I can live without the extra sharpness and better CA from the APO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted July 17, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted July 17, 2014 In the concurrent thread on the 90 Elmarit-M for street photography I posted a link to these comments by Puts comparing the two Summicrons with the Elmarit-M and also other lenses (just below the list of links). It's an interesting read. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rirakuma Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share #6 Â Posted July 17, 2014 In the concurrent thread on the 90 Elmarit-M for street photography I posted a link to these comments by Puts comparing the two Summicrons with the Elmarit-M and also other lenses (just below the list of links). It's an interesting read. Â Thanks for the link. I completely forgot that Leica had an elmarit in their 90mm range but I think I'll be happier with the cron rendering. I couldn't find his thoughts on the pre version though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted July 17, 2014 Share #7 Â Posted July 17, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) The Pre-ASPH Summicron is two lenses in one: gentle wide open up to f/4-5.6 (lovely for close-up portraits) and bitingly sharp thereafter. The APO is very sharp across the whole aperture range and a tad better in the corners (upon close inspection). I never found CA to be objectionable with the pre-ASPH, but perhaps I did not look hard enough. I once tested both lenses side-by-side and liked the pre-ASPH rendering and "dual personality" better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al_OOF Posted July 17, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted July 17, 2014 I have the 59-80 Canadian version and also at 2.0 it has a very good sharpness and contrast. It's only too heavy... I think you will be very satisfied with your new arrival ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted July 17, 2014 Share #9 Â Posted July 17, 2014 Thanks for the link. I completely forgot that Leica had an elmarit in their 90mm range but I think I'll be happier with the cron rendering. I couldn't find his thoughts on the pre version though. Â Â In his Compendium, Puts says that the final pre-ASPH lens is basically the same design as the Elmarit, but with an extra stop squeezed out of it to give f/2. He suggests that the design offers 'smooth sharpness' wide open, and delivers the same optical standard as the Elmarit once stopped down a little bit. When I was looking for a 90mm I compared the Elmarit with the Pre-ASPH as the seller had both, and decided that, price wise, the Elmarit gave better value and was more compact. I wasn't so keen on the results of usage wide open and figured if I was going to stop down anyway, I might as well go for the Elmarit. Of course, this may have been down to sample variation, as I had to try a number of 90mms before I found one that worked well with my body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted July 17, 2014 Share #10  Posted July 17, 2014 I have the 59-80 Canadian version and also at 2.0 it has a very good sharpness and contrast. It's only too heavy... I think you will be very satisfied with your new arrival !   I also have the Canadian version from 1973 and it is also offers good sharpness wide open. But as you say, very heavy and bulky. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rirakuma Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share #11 Â Posted July 18, 2014 Thanks guys, I think I'll be quite happy with the pre AA then. I already have a few lens with modern rendering so this should compliment them nicely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted August 6, 2014 Share #12  Posted August 6, 2014 The decisive moment is not the day before recycling bags are collected.  M240, Lightroom. 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/230575-90mm-summicron-pre-vs-apo/?do=findComment&comment=2644269'>More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted August 11, 2014 Share #13  Posted August 11, 2014 Thanks guys, I think I'll be quite happy with the pre AA then. I already have a few lens with modern rendering so this should compliment them nicely.   The preAA cron is definitely no slouch, even wide open  I have the 90AA as well and I prefer the 90pre when I shoot images with people in the background to avoid the "double face" effect that the 75 and 90 AA lenses create  Here some samples, taken with the M9 - the combo creates superb colors and contrast, all these are straight out of LR as I did not see a need for any pp  1.  2.  3. edit: this image was pp'ed  4. edit: this image was pp'ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted August 11, 2014 Share #14  Posted August 11, 2014 5.  6.  7.  8.  You should be able to find a (black) mint copy with caps and leather pouch for around €1000 on the evilbay (pull out hood last E55 version). The chrome version is heavier as usual and also costlier around €1500-€1750  The even older 90 summicron (with tripod socket) is yet another legend and will pair perfectly with the 50 rigid cron to deliver magical images Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rirakuma Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share #15 Â Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks for the advice Hari. I'm really liking the 90 cron but I have almost no time to use it right now. I took some test images at home and its indeed very sharp with a lot more character (imho) than the R mount. I thought I'd be selling the R mount but the extra focusing distance is very useful for future work so I guess I'll be keeping both . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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