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90mm Summicron APO ASPH- To magnify or not?


ricomortus

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The 90/2 apo's ergonomics are the same as 90/2 v3's more or less i.e. very good (for me) and DoF is the same at full aperture with any 90/2 and 75/1.4 lens. Those three lenses prove easy to focus at f/2.8 and on in my experience, less so at f/2 and f/1.4 naturally. Better have well calibrated lenses and rangefinder if you don't use an EVF folks. FWIW.

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Not really. I would say this is the hardest M lens to focus.

I absolutely agree. I have the magnifier and I don´t like it. The lens is difficult to focus. I would prefer the EVF over the magnifier

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I got a magnifier and quickly ceased to use it (I exactly don't know where is now...) : when you adventure to focus 90 at f2 (not to speak of the Summarex at 1,5... B) ) my opinion is that is not of help, in practice : EVF (with peaking in SOME circumstamnces) is the only real help : if i have time, I anyway prefer to shot 3 times with minimal front/back movements : it's a maneuver to learn, but it is really of help, and the smoothness of the focus movement is essential : my 90 f 2 (un-apo) is fine in this sense... not the same the Summarex (owing to age... sometime I even think to have it CLAed... but is such a delicate item... :huh:)

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Update: I went back to the store and decided to pick it up. The deal was just too good to pass. I took a few test shots with my cat and yes, focusing is definitely quite a bit more difficult than my 35/ 50 lux. But when I am able to nail that focus wide open, it is delicious. 

 

I have also ordered the 1.4 x magnifier ( i use a thumbs up, so no EVF for me) and the TAAB focus tab to hopefully improve the handling of the lens. Of course with practice, I shall be better!

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I had a thumbs-up so I went with the magnifying loupe, ditched both and went for the EVF. Struggled for 20 mins with the EVF size, lols, etc...

hit ratios are much higher for me, single viewfinder for wide and tele. It's actually a bargain considering what it does/ replaces.

 

I thought I needed the thumbs-up but didn't really, you also have the hand grip option. I went with a half case with protruding grip.

 

I'm Super happy with performance , btw there is something called a thumby- ran into someone using it- same concept but doesn't use the hot shoe slot, I think it's some type of adhesive but I thought it looked made for the m240.

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It's not that difficult to focus. I use it without the magnifier and as it's on the M9, obviously no EVF.  Here's an example I took at a concert where it was pretty dark and I wasn't very close. Full picture and the 100% crop.

 

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!

 

100% crop (note: looking at the viewing of this post it seems that some compression is being applied, the original is much sharper)

 

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Did you focus on the microphone? 

 

Yes, I think I probably did if I recall correctly- this was taken 6 years ago !

That's what I would do in this sort of situation. Pre-focus on a stationary object and shoot if and when the subject is interesting.

His right hand is on the same focal plane in this shot. 

Like I wrote in the post, the image seems to have lost some sharpness in the upload process, I can send the tiff file to anyone who would like to see it. PM me.

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Upon further inspection, I have realized that the lens is not as HARD as I thought it would have been to focus. Initially, I was practicing on my cat and most of the time when shot wide open indoor, the focus was not spot on. 

 

Today, I finally had the chance to try the lens on a human being at f2 indoors. I got quite a few pleasing shots and the focus was more or less spot on! This was quite a relief!

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The focus throw would be even shorter with a focus tab i suspect. Not that good to nail focus.

How would that work geometrically? A focus tab will increase the radius, thus increasing the circumference of the circle segment that finger travels.

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I had a thumbs-up so I went with the magnifying loupe, ditched both and went for the EVF. Struggled for 20 mins with the EVF size, lols, etc...

hit ratios are much higher for me, single viewfinder for wide and tele. It's actually a bargain considering what it does/ replaces.

 

I thought I needed the thumbs-up but didn't really, you also have the hand grip option. I went with a half case with protruding grip.

 

I'm Super happy with performance , btw there is something called a thumby- ran into someone using it- same concept but doesn't use the hot shoe slot, I think it's some type of adhesive but I thought it looked made for the m240.

From our FAQ:

 

Question:

 

I miss my rewind lever. Is there a way to hold the camera more securely?

 

 

Answer:

 

When the M8 came out many people, used to film M cameras, began to realize that they had been using the film rewind lever as a thumbrest.

this gave rise to the construction of the "Thumbs Up" by Tim Isaacs, which is still the leading thumbrest on the accessory market. There are however, a few other options.

First the venerable SNOB by Leicagoodies, which has been around for quite some time, and now there is a newcomer, the "Thumbie" by Steve Barnett ( 250SWB on this forum)

 

How do they stack up against each other?

 

 

The Thumbs-Up:

Well built and designed.

Ergonomically sound. (follows the thumb)

Can be temporarily removed and replaced easily.

Has a (limited edition) silver variant.

 

Is the most expensive of the three.

Blocks the hot shoe ( but has an accessory shoe for a viewfinder)

Might damage the finish of the camera if grit gets under it.

Throws some mechanical strain on the hot shoe.

 

 

 

 

The SNOB

 

Is very cheap.

Does the job.

 

Cannot be temporarily removed

Has doubtful ergonomics.

Looks funny

 

 

 

 

 

The Thumbie

 

Very reasonably priced.

Well built and designed.

Excellent ergonomics ( Follows the angle of the thumb)

Leaves the hot shoe free.

Small and elegant.

 

Cannot be temporarily removed

Comes only in black

 

mailto:barnet@globalnet.co.uk

 

For the record: those that cannot be temporarily removed kan easily be taken off without damage to the camera!

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I had a thumbs-up so I went with the magnifying loupe, ditched both and went for the EVF. Struggled for 20 mins with the EVF size, lols, etc...

hit ratios are much higher for me, single viewfinder for wide and tele. It's actually a bargain considering what it does/ replaces.

 

I thought I needed the thumbs-up but didn't really, you also have the hand grip option. I went with a half case with protruding grip.

 

I'm Super happy with performance , btw there is something called a thumby- ran into someone using it- same concept but doesn't use the hot shoe slot, I think it's some type of adhesive but I thought it looked made for the m240.

 

From our FAQ:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/216580-leica-m8-m82-m9-m9p-mm-mtyp240-faqs-questions-with-answers/?p=2464076

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Beautifuul pictures Peter! i am assuming these are all taken through the viewfinder and not with an evf?

 

Looking at the Exif it says M9 for the colour pictures, so you have your answer for those  ;)

The B/W says "Monochrom" but I don't know if that's 1 or 2. But the copyright date displayed on the photographs also give a good clue as to which version was used.

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