The 90mm Summicron APO for portraits

[douglas fry]

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This lens drives me crazy, it is either the best I have ever used bar none, or I cannot get a good focus no matter what I do..

 

When you get it pin sharp, then there is nothing else like it much better than my Canon 85mm F.12L, there is a clarity and colour that just isn't there with the Canon.

 

But on a shoot yesterday I had to resort to Live View to get the lens to focus, just the lack of anything contrasty....going EVF does slow everything down and I'm not really comfortable with it.

 

Is there a preferred technique to get good reliable focus with OVF? or just shoot portraits with a 50mm which is easy to focus, in fact moving from the 1DX to M240 means that I can get closer to the subject (and maintain better communication) as its less face obscuring than the hulking great 1DX..

 

I'm tempted by a 50mm Summilux for portraits rather than the 90mm, the shallow depth of field with the 90mm is gorgeous though.

 

Any thoughts welcome though

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[mmradman]

Yes there is; screw-in magnifier, Leica makes 1.25x and 1.4x, I use third party 1.35x with variable diopter, you can also stop down to compensate for focus errors, you still keep relatively shallow DOF.

[mmradman]

 

 

I'm tempted by a 50mm Summilux for portraits rather than the 90mm, the shallow depth of field with the 90mm is gorgeous though.

 

 

Nothing wrong with 50mm Summilux ASPH for portraits, one example  [/url]Smile by Mladen Radman, on Flickr">http://Smile by Mladen Radman, on Flickr

[tobey bilek]

Set the focus on lens to 5 feet.  move body until near eye is merged.    Use the catchlights if you have them.

 

Never fiddle trying to focus lens.  For tighter heads,  use 4 feet.  

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Douglas,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

You might try an M3. M3's were clearly designed to be the home of 90mm lenses.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[lct]

At f/2, 90mm lenses are near the limit of the M240's rangefinder accuracy. Should work fine if the lens is well calibrated but the least move of the focus ring can be critical. Using a magnifier will help anyway. With a 1.25x or 1.40x magnifier the M240 becomes almost as accurate as a 0.85x (M6J) or 0.91x (M3) film M respectively.

[NB23]

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Never use a 50mm lens for tight portraits. Basic stuff.

 

The 90 is indeed frustrating to use. As you say; some days its exceltional and some others it's hellish.

[rsolomon]

I had originally looked at a 90 but went with the 75 f/2.  I find it easy to use and a great portrait lens. 

[Adam]

I had originally looked at a 90 but went with the 75 f/2.  I find it easy to use and a great portrait lens. 

 

Same here. I think, unlike 50mm,  75mm can be used for tight portraits as well as 90mm

[Exodies]

I also have problems with this lens. The 1.4x magnifier in bright light and the EVF in low light help but don't make it easy to focus.

[KanzaKruzer]

My 90/2 lens drove me crazy as well even with the EVF. I've actually put it up for sale on FM and am using the funds to purchase a second body that has auto-focus capability. I'll be down to my 35/1.4 and 50/2 since they work great with the OVF. May end up adding an A7rII and Batis 25//2 and if that works out add the 85/1.8 at a later date.

[rsolomon]

I had originally looked at a 90 but went with the 75 f/2.  I find it easy to use and a great portrait lens. 

I had tried the 1.4 magnifier on the camera with the 75. It made a smaller difference than I expected so I never bought it.  Does any use the magnifier?

[lct]

I have one (1.25x) but use it randomly as my 75/2 and 90/2 apo are well calibrated but i need the EVF for my 90/2 pre-apo to be accurate at f/2. In fact i use the latter for soft portraits where focus accuracy is not my main goal so all in all i'm happy with the M240's rangefinder. My M8.2 is another story naturally.

[CheshireCat]

I returned my 90/2 for this and other reasons.

The 75/2 is a much better lens, and I enjoy it much more on the A7R2.

[Adam]

Never used a magnifier. I sometimes use the EVF for open shots on the  75mm,  mostly in low contrast situations. However, when I can I practice focusing by comparing what I do with the RF and what shows up on the EVF. this way I try to learn the lens and became more comfortable with how it behaves. It also a good way to check calibration.

[douglas fry]

I use a Sony A7ii for a day of 90mm portraits, it's a good camera for this when used with a Leica as the file sizes are the same and have a similar look once the colour profiles have been applied in LR. Aesthetically though I'd rather use the rangefinders for everything. I'll try a magnifier though.

[douglas fry]

I've ordered a Summilux which will arrive on Tuesday, I'll check it for calibration and then I have four corporate shoots to fill the rest of the week till Saturday, so it will be earning it's keep.

Edited September 26, 2015 by douglas fry

[LocalHero1953]

I had a 1.4x magnifier but in the end I found the loss of brightness and immediacy outweighed the magnification benefit, but it is very much down to your own eyesight.

 

I use the 90/2 for portraits, and IMO wide open it should be used sparingly: there are only so many portraits I can look at with just one eyelash in focus. Opening up to f/4 or f/5.6 helps enormously with DOF and so ease of focusing. It is certainly difficult to focus in darker studio conditions unless you have bright modelling lights, but I can usually manage OK in brighter/outdoor lights.

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[rsolomon]

Douglas do let us know your impressions .... i am very happy with mine. 

 

the EVF-2, i tried it .... egghhh - wasn't a fan but perhaps should take another look.  i would like to get a 135mm for some "once in a while" usage but i'm scared about trying to focus that lens at anything other than infinity

[bocaburger]

I have a pre-APO 90/2 (had the APO during my film days but sold it because I like the rendering of the pre- wide open for portaiture).  I have never had an issue focusing it sharply at f/2 (luck of the draw where the lens is concerned, plus perfect rangefinder calibration).  But if the subject's face is turned more than slightly from straight-on, one or the other eye is outside the shallow range of DOF at 1m.  I find myself needing to stop down one or 2 stops or back off a foot or so if the subject isn't facing me.  And if the subject isn't still, it's frustrating.  That's not the fault of the lens or focusing or the fact it's a rangefinder vs reflex/LV focusing, it's purely physics.  I have the same issue with my Canon and Nikon 85/1.8's.