Leica 90mm f2.5 or 90mm f2.8 M ?

[lct]

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Just read this on the Diglloyd site:

« The Leica 90mm ƒ/2.5 Summarit-M is not a good choise for contre-jour imaging situations, and it is subject to substatial veiling flare should direct light strike the front element ».

http://diglloyd.com/prem/s/LEICA/LeicaM9/lens-Leica90f2_5-flare.html

Is this true?

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[otho]

I had Summarit 90 f/2.5 before traded it for AA 90. Too short period - about 3 months in spring - to complex testing Summarit lens in various conditions, but even against direct sun, wasn't notice any significant flare at all (using without hood, but with Heliopan SH-PMC UV filter).

[Carduelis]

Just read this on the Diglloyd site:

« The Leica 90mm ƒ/2.5 Summarit-M is not a good choise for contre-jour imaging situations, and it is subject to substatial veiling flare should direct light strike the front element ».

http://diglloyd.com/prem/s/LEICA/LeicaM9/lens-Leica90f2_5-flare.html

Is this true?

 

I have not found this to be the case.  In bright light it can occasionally produce purple edges on dark structures which thankfully I can remove in Lightroom.  I had flare issues with a 90 mm Tele-Elmarit (thin) even with the hood attached which was a shame given how lightweight it was; sharpness with this lens was not an issue.  

[Echo63]

For an M-mount 90mm, I use an M-Rokkor 90mm f/4 (identical lens to the Elmar-C 90mm f/4; mine's an early one so made in Wetzlar just like the Elmar-C). It's a beautifully made, extremely small lens that performs very very well, and cost me all of $300 in as new condition with hood and caps.

 

But I use a Summarit-M 75mm f/2.4 more of the time nowadays—I prefer the shorter focal length.

I have one of the later M-Rokkors (made in japan) and it is superb.

That said, i dont have anything else to compare it to, aside from my 50 sumarit and my canon gear.

[otho]

BTW, short review of new 90 f2.4:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2484958,00.asp

Distortion isn't an issue with the Summarit, nor is purple color fringing. I couldn't find any instances of it in lab or field tests, even when shooting tree leaves against a bright sky at f/2.4.

 

[Carduelis]

Although I appreciate the lens reviews in pcmag, I am afraid purple colour fringing occasionally is an issue with my 90 Summarit f2.5 lens.  May be I am unlucky or perhaps the newer f2.4 version has been improved in this respect.

[asiafish]

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Why not a pre-ASPH Summicron.  It's a bit heavier, but the rendering is just delicious.

[colonel]

Why not a pre-ASPH Summicron. It's a bit heavier, but the rendering is just delicious.

Too heavy, not as sharp as the 2.8 or 2.5

I would prefer spending on the APO if I became ok with the weight ....

 

 

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[pgk]

Too heavy, not as sharp as the 2.8 or 2.5

I would prefer spending on the APO if I became ok with the weight ....

 

You don't specify your other lenses, but FWIW .....

 

For 'general/travel' I carry three lenses; 21SE, 35/1.4 pre-FLE and 90/2.8 E-M. I have owned other longer lenses - both 75s, various 90 Summicrons and most of Leica;s M 90/2.8s and even 90/4s though not the Summarit. Although the 90 Elmarit-M is actually not my favourite 75/90 (the 75/2 is small and light enough for travel and its a toss up between this and the 75 Summilux for favourite >50), it is undeniably the most used, and is my 'go to' 90mm simply because it has so many useful attributes (46mm filter, balance, weight, image 'quality', ergonomics, etc.) and I have checked and have taken many of my favourite images on it. At current prices its a very reasonable buy. However it takes time to appreciate - I stupidly sold the first I had, only to realise looking through my files, just how useful a lens it was, and of course still is. Its one of those lenses which sits there unassumingly, to be used and deliver when required but it is a lens which doesn't have a 'pushy personality' if you know what I mean  .

 

My only experience with a longer Summarit was with the 75 which I was loaned and which I found to be a highly competent performer - I did not like the grip though.

[colonel]

You don't specify your other lenses, but FWIW .....

 

For 'general/travel' I carry three lenses; 21SE, 35/1.4 pre-FLE and 90/2.8 E-M. I have owned other longer lenses - both 75s, various 90 Summicrons and most of Leica;s M 90/2.8s and even 90/4s though not the Summarit. Although the 90 Elmarit-M is actually not my favourite 75/90 (the 75/2 is small and light enough for travel and its a toss up between this and the 75 Summilux for favourite >50), it is undeniably the most used, and is my 'go to' 90mm simply because it has so many useful attributes (46mm filter, balance, weight, image 'quality', ergonomics, etc.) and I have checked and have taken many of my favourite images on it. At current prices its a very reasonable buy. However it takes time to appreciate - I stupidly sold the first I had, only to realise looking through my files, just how useful a lens it was, and of course still is. Its one of those lenses which sits there unassumingly, to be used and deliver when required but it is a lens which doesn't have a 'pushy personality' if you know what I mean  .

 

My only experience with a longer Summarit was with the 75 which I was loaned and which I found to be a highly competent performer - I did not like the grip though.

 

thanks, interesting

 

My travel kit is currently 21mm, 35mm and 50mm. I was thinking of adding 75, 90 or 135.

I kind of rejected 75 simply because its portrait only and close to 50mm. 90 or 135 is more versatile as I can use for portrait as well as some telephoto work.

 

My reticence on the 2.5 is simply the rubber ring which is not my fave and the fact that Erwin said that the 90mm is the weakest of the summarit range. Although that's all relative. Its a great lens range and in fact he said that the 35. is better then the (now former) summicron ...

 

"Pushy personality" is interesting. This indicates to me that its not particularly high contrast and is rather neutral. Actually benefits for a portrait lens. I am going through a "Zeiss" period at the moment, and they are really pushy, in your face, apart from the 50 1.5 of course ....

 

Still no closer to 90mm 2.5 or 2.8  but I think a 135mm elmar just came into the picture as well

[pgk]

thanks, interesting

 

..... but I think a 135mm elmar just came into the picture as well

 

I've owned several 135s for the M series but, although it has an angle of view that I like on dSLRs and MF film, for some reason I just cannot get on with it on the M, which I find frustrating. I may try one on the T to act as a 200, one day that is, but as the elmars are cheap enough at least its a lens you can try with little outlay/cost.

[colonel]

I've owned several 135s for the M series but, although it has an angle of view that I like on dSLRs and MF film, for some reason I just cannot get on with it on the M, which I find frustrating. I may try one on the T to act as a 200, one day that is, but as the elmars are cheap enough at least its a lens you can try with little outlay/cost.

 

yes. I have come across one virtually mint, still in presentation box, for £250. so I thought what the hell ...

[henning]

At present I have a pre-APO Summicron, a Elmarit-M, a Macro-Elmar-M and a thin T-E. Previously I've had pretty much all of the other 90's except the Thambar. I didn't care for the APO that much, and I tend to prefer the Elmarit-M over the Summarit, but there's not much in it. The Summicron is softer than the Elmarit-M, but by f/5.6 the difference is gone. In fact, the biggest difference in performance in respect to aperture is between f/2 and f/2.8, so you're getting close to similar performance as the Elmarit-M plus an additional stop with a 'softer' feature. The T-E is also softer and is also right up there by f/5.6. The Macro-Elmar is just stellar right from f/4, and in my opinion isn't as harsh as the APO gets at times.

 

If portraiture is your main purpose with the 90, I'd go for the Summicron or the thin Tele-Elmarit (make sure it's clean!). Somewhat softer wide open which can be both flattering and makes the thin depth of field less obvious, and fully sharp by f/5.6. If sharp is all you care about, the macro would be best, and the Elmarit-M next.

 

With 135's, I'd get the Tele-Elmar. It's quite close to the APO in performance, but again just a very slight touch smoother and softer. The difference to the Elmar is a lot greater (and the Tele-Elmar) is slightly shorter.