which longer lens for reportage, street, portrait?

[drew.saunders]

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My only 75 is the 75/1.8 Heliar from CV, and it's certainly worth considering, although it's not a very light or small lens. I've had no problems with the build quality or image quality. Focusing is smooth and accurate. I have an M6TTL, so I can't really do pixel-peeping with any of my Leica lenses (unless I put them on my Fuji), but at least on film, the results are excellent. At less than half the price of the  summarit, and ~1/5 the price of the summicron, it's certainly a more affordable lens to experiment with.

 

Here are ~1200 images by a variety of photographers with this lens: https://www.flickr.com/groups/1523373@N23/pool/

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[sdk]

Also consider the Voigtländer Apo Lanthar 90mm/3.5 ltm rangefinder lens. With an adapter it easily converts to M mount and is a sharp modern lens. The 75mm/2 Apo Summicron ASPH is better in most respects, except secondary color bokeh, and much more versatile, but the Apo Lanthar 90mm can be had for $ US 550 or so, a good lens deal.

[jack-tucker]

Beg, borrow and steal to get a 75mm Apo-Summicron it is a phenomenal lens. I had a 2.5/75 Summarit it was good, but the 75 Apo-Summicron is something else altogether.

I need (at least I believe so) one longer focal length. I guess I will go for the 2.4/75 and see. If I really like the focal length than I will think about the Apo-Summicron. Right now I don't have the money. 

[jack-tucker]

For price, performance, and walking around compatibility, the Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 is hard to beat.  You can still find good examples for under $500 and I believe it's on the same size level as the 75 Summarit.

Just had a look and it seems to be a nice lens. Again, the compactness combined with relatively fast aperture of 2.8 is really appealing to me. 

 

Choosing lenses is always so difficult

[pico]

Consider this, too. Voigtlander 75/1.8 Heliar Leica M Mount.

Never mind. I don't think it is coded, or as 'sharp'.

[250swb]

Consider this, too. Voigtlander 75/1.8 Heliar Leica M Mount.

Never mind. I don't think it is coded, or as 'sharp'.

 

They have a groove machined in the mount for coding, just like Zeiss lenses. Sharpness is a relative term, it is as sharp at the equivalent apertures but of course the 1.8 has another couple of stops where it may not be as sharp as a Summarit.

 

P.S. In my earlier post I did mean to say 'Heliar' and not 'Skopar', but as CV don't make a 75mm Skopar I hope my meaning was clear

 

Steve

[Jared]

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I currently own a 75mm Summicron and have owned a 75mm Summarit and 90mm Summicron in the past. I found my hit ate for focus with the 90 was just too low in most situations, so even though it can make for wonderfully flattering portraits it wasn't a match for me. Even with a viewfinder magnifier. Great lens, but I never mastered it.

 

I switched to the 75 Summarit and loved it. Great performance at f/4 (which gives just enough depth of field for two eyes and a nose to be in focus on a head-and-shoulders shot while softening ears and background so they don't distract). For me, this focal length is a winner on an 'M' camera.

 

I eventually sold the Summarit for the 75 Summicron APO, and I still have and use that lens. Honestly, though, I could have just stuck with the Summarit. In th e vast majority of my pictures I could get the result I want with either lens, and the Summarit is much lighter and less expensive. The only real downside to the Summarit is it doesn't focus as close as the Summicron, but as others have pointed out the perspective can get a little wonky inside 1m anyway with a 75mm, so for most subjects this doesn't matter.

 

Get the 75mm Summarit and never look back. The images from that lens will never make you say, "if only I had the Summicron for that shot." It's a seriously under-appreciated lens.

 

- Jared

[Photoskeptic]

I use the 75 Summarit for street shooting. Gets me a bit closer than my 50 Lux ASPH. Yes, the APO is a legendary lens, but the Summarit is just as sharp - maybe not what you are looking for? Personally, I'd prefer something a bit softer for portraits. The older 90's come to mind.

I never have any problem focusing the Summarit.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Consider this, too. Voigtlander 75/1.8 Heliar Leica M Mount.

Never mind. I don't think it is coded, or as 'sharp'.

 

Funny. Mine is both coded and sharp. Whoodathunkit?

 

I&B-170.jpg by Gordon Cahill, on Flickr

 

Gordon

 

p.s. coding is just for exif with a 75mm. It makes no difference to the file whether it's coded or not.

[jack-tucker]

...

Get the 75mm Summarit and never look back. The images from that lens will never make you say, "if only I had the Summicron for that shot." It's a seriously under-appreciated lens.

 

I am relatively sure, that's what I will do. 

 

Thanks to all of you for so much advise!

[menos I M6]

75/2.5 Voigtländer LTM

90/2.8 Tele Elmarit (thin) - careful with the issues with the sealed rear group of the thin Tele Elmarit - a small number of samples do have irreparable issues with separation of cemented elements, don't buy one of those

90/2.8 Elmarit-M E46 for best possible performance yet much larger size and heavier weight

90/2 Summicron E55 (latest version) - not much bigger and heavier than the 90/2.8 E46 and very similar performance at same aperture, yet a stop faster

90/2 Summicron BIG (usually can be had at bargain prices, yet very large and very heavy - NOT a lens you would casually use and lug around everyday

 

For the budget of a new 75/2 ASPH you may also get a good sample of a 75/1.4 Summilux - be sure what you want in this 75mm lens the 75/2 ASPH and 75/1.4 deliver very different, both are wonderful, the Summilux of course is a LOT heavier and quite a bit bigger.

 

I am not a fan at all of rubber and plastic components on RF lenses - why would one design a full mechanic RF lens like that?

I see how rubber parts deteriorate over time on lenses and it has nothing to do on as long living lenses as RF lenses.

In my opinion this choice of material on Leica's side for the 75 and 90 Summarit lenses is wrong.

These would have been much better value without the rubber focus rings.

 

Apart from that, they are really nice yet I don't see the value when comparing with what is available second hand which performs similarly.

 

 

As mentioned earlier, 75mm framing with a Leica M is not everyone's cup of tea (mine it isn't so my 75mm lenses see very little use).

Be sure to try it out before committing to expensive lenses.

75mm is also a very different focal length from 90mm.

 

I see 75mm really as a slightly longer 50mm while 90mm really is a very sweet lens for getting some reach and also having a perfect head and shoulder framing.

75mm doesn't provide sufficiently more reach than a 50mm you couldn't manage with your feet or a slight crop.

 

The strength of 75 mm lies in allowing for tight portrait framing without balloon noses and 0.7m working distance, poking your subject's eye.

75mm fixes the problems, 50mm can give you when shooting tight.

 

90mm allows for a lot more space, for a lot tighter framing when up close and for practical meaningful reach compared to a 50mm.

 

The best bang for the buck short tele on a Leica M?

Hands down this is a good copy of a Voigtlander 75/2.5 LTM - these can easily be found below 400 USD in great condition. The trick is to find one that focusses spot on (sample variation is a reality with ALL rangefinder lenses, Cosina Voigtlander more so than Leica glass in my experience).

This Voigtlander lens is also VERY small and lightweight.

The 43mm filter size can be hard to get your needed filters for but can be fixed by stepping up to 46mm in a pinch if necessary.

[Herr Barnack]

For reportage, street & portrait, the 50mm has become my telephoto lens.  I have shot with a 28mm so much that the 50 looks and works like a telephoto.  Compared to the 28 and 35mm field of view, the 50 crops a large chunk of real estate. 

 

As for a 50mm for street, I would suggest the 50mm Summicron - regular, not the megadollar APO.  Also, do not overlook the 50/2.8 - an outstanding lens which is available in mint condition for a song on the used market.  I recently added this lens to my kit for $550 USD.

[pico]

On most city streets even a 50mm is too long. People are always stepping in front of the subjects.

[mandelbrot]

I would suggest a Summilux 75 with 1.4x magnifier viewfinder. For portrait it is an excellent lens. A little bit heavy to travel.

[uhoh7]

Put's favortite walk around 90 is the Summarit, which in much smaller and lighter than the Elmarit M and a very good performer also.

[jack-tucker]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for helping with that difficult task of choosing the right lens. 

On Monday I went to Wetzlar to get the rangefinder of my M-P adjusted. I took the chance and brought back home the Summarit 75mm (2.4). It feels right and it will definitely do the job. It is absolutely long enough and matches well with 28 and 35mm which I normally use. 

Thanks for advise, and all the best for this new year!

[asiafish]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for helping with that difficult task of choosing the right lens. 

On Monday I went to Wetzlar to get the rangefinder of my M-P adjusted. I took the chance and brought back home the Summarit 75mm (2.4). It feels right and it will definitely do the job. It is absolutely long enough and matches well with 28 and 35mm which I normally use. 

Thanks for advise, and all the best for this new year!

 

That is probably my next M lens.