Best all round portrait lens for R system with breaking the Bank

[ropo54]

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[Shlomo]

Hard to answer your question but for the most pleasant portraits I would choose a lens about 60mm

I think you know about the distortion of faces if you take a wideangle right ?

With the M the 90mm was for me the end of the line because the 135mm which I had too was a pain

to use.......

For my R I love(d) the Vario-Elmar 4,0/80-200 which is a amazing and extrem sharp lens with nice Bokeh

but unfortunately hard to get & a little expensive - compared to some M glass still a bargain !

 

More R 60 shots

Colours are superb - thank You!

[farnz]

The 60/2.8 Macro-Elmar-R is a versatile lens and can of course do portraits pretty well but be aware that it's a macro lens and has a very long throw, which isn't ideal for portraits or street-shooting.  For portraits I use the 80/1.4 Summilux-R, example below.

 

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Pete.

[michaelm3]

Always when I see Photos made with the 80 Lux like this I'm sure that I have to have this lens. Did anyone here move from the Summicron 90 to the 80 and did regret it or what was your experience?

 

Michael

Edited November 30, 2017 by michaelm3

[Steve McGarrett]

Nice shot Pete... what aperture?

[farnz]

Nice shot Pete... what aperture?

 

Wide open, Steve.

 

Pete.

[Musotographer]

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Always when I see Photos made with the 80 Lux like this I'm sure that I have to have this lens. Did anyone here move from the Summicron 90 to the 80 and did regret it or what was your experience?

 

Michael

 

I didn't move to the 80 from the 90, but from the 75/1.4, mainly to help finance an M10 (£1500 difference!) - it's a superlative lens. Or lenses - a superbly characterful portrait lens 1.4-2, and a wonderfully detailed short tele stopped down. The only drawback of course is that being an R it can only be used on an M with live view.

[Keith (M)]

The 60/2.8 Macro-Elmar-R is a versatile lens and can of course do portraits pretty well but be aware that it's a macro lens and has a very long throw, which isn't ideal for portraits or street-shooting.  For portraits I use the 80/1.4 Summilux-R, example below.

 

Patterson.jpg

 

Pete.

Long throw is right - somewhere around 320deg (guessimate) but on the other hand, the great majority of that travel encompasses the range between min distance and one metre. One metre to infinity is a very short throw.

[Steve McGarrett]

Long throw is right - somewhere around 320deg (guessimate) but on the other hand, the great majority of that travel encompasses the range between min distance and one metre. One metre to infinity is a very short throw.

 

That's right... even too short, sometimes.

[RvN]

Thanks for all your input and examples guys. For me, i just decided to not start with a new system next to my M system. Purely based on finances since I already have some Nikon glass. But at the same time i like what i am seeing in all the samples you are posting! Thanks again.

[earleygallery]

 

 

The R6.2 has not much shutter lag it's usually the piston in the camera that needs cleaning, ALL Leica R cameras except the R8/R9 exhibit this when bought second hand I have noticed, a CLA always fixes this. 

 

I've had an R3 since new and the shutter action was always really nice compared to pretty much any other camera I've used - very smooth and quiet for an SLR and reactive.

 

The first time I picked up one of the later R models (an R5 I think) I was immediately put off by the shutter action. You have to press the button much further than with the R3 and there's a delay in the shutter firing.

 

It's not a CLA issue, it's just the way they are (on the various R models I tried). The action on the R8/9 is better but still not as nice as on the R3. However, I'm sure it's something you get used to if you own one of these models.

[pico]

We all know the best lens for portraits agrees with our visualization. That is all that needs to be mentioned.

[yst]

For the wonderful Leica R-system, for years although has chances to used most of the lenses in the system, particularly the modern ones, but the 70-180 was the most useful one for most of my slide film shootings, for many many cultural people shots (as well great landscapes).  Although true that the 60 Macro was also a great one for the purpose as well.  For a while, the 90/f2 APO was a good one to use produced good slides of people images, but still find the 70-180 more versatile in travel situations, in events.   The last version of 50/f1.4 was also a good one, often used it at f1.4 for many good "portraits" type of cultural photography...  The 280/f4 APO gave me some fantastic environmental "portraits" while in northwestern China's deserts in distances...  

[Tante Ilse]

I miss here one of my very best R-lenses: the 28-90. Its image quality is out of doubt, and it is not as heavy as the 70-180.

[yst]

I miss here one of my very best R-lenses: the 28-90. Its image quality is out of doubt, and it is not as heavy as the 70-180.

 

Because it is not a 70-180 focal length at f2.8 constant... 

[Tante Ilse]

Apparently I misunderstood the initial question.

[SilentShutter]

Apparently I misunderstood the initial question.

 

No, it was about the best "portrait lens" so I think your answer can be correct too right ? 

[adan]

Thanks for all your input and examples guys. For me, i just decided to not start with a new system next to my M system. Purely based on finances since I already have some Nikon glass. But at the same time i like what i am seeing in all the samples you are posting! Thanks again.

 

If you already know the M system, the R lenses in the tele range are very often identical. Sometimes literally the same glass in a different mount (90 Elmarit R v.2 and 90 Elmarit M v.2, 90 APO f/2 in both, 135 f/2.8s).

 

With the caveat that any lens can be used for portraits, the 60mm is, for me, a bit too short. Leads to big noses and distorted faces. The classic portrait range would cover 80mm to 135mm.

 

80mm R f/1.4 - almost identical to the M 75mm f/1.4 (they were designed side by side in 1980). As shown in farnz' picture, very, very soft backgrounds and a glowing overlay of sharp and soft in the transition area.

 

90mm Summicron R non-APO - like the 75/80 only a bit less so. The "poor man's" equivalent.

 

90 Summicron APO - more contrast, less softness, perhaps painfully sharp.

 

90 Elmarits - v.2 similar to the APO-Summicron except a stop slower. Actually sharper in the portrait range, perhaps less so at long distances. v.1 a bit less contrast, but very good (at least equivalent to classic Nikkor 105 f/2.5)

 

The one lens unique to the R in the portrait range is the 100mm Macro f/2.8 APO. Which is also critically sharp and contrasty. It was the signature R short tele for image quality, until the 90 f/2 APO slightly surpassed it (in the opinion of some).

 

My own take would be (and filter this through your own preferences)

 

- for an absolutely unique portrait look, the 80mm f/1.4 - but it costs accordingly.

- for almost the 80mm look in a lens often less than $1000US, the pre-APO 90 Summicron

- for a crisp general-purpose portrait range tele - the 90 APO-Summicron, or either of the Elmarits. The Elmarits will cost less (less ambitious aperture of f/2.8)

- for extreme resolution in close-ups (which can mean portraits) the 100 APO-Macro-Elmarit f/2.8

- the 135 f/2.8s (never made as APOs) track about with the 90 Summicron pre-APO in image appearance, except obviously 50% longer in reach.

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[Tante Ilse]

No, it was about the best "portrait lens" so I think your answer can be correct too right ? 

 

Knowing the usual level of misunderstanding in the german part of this forum I thought that this might be the same here. I apologize for this confusion.

[Steve McGarrett]

If you already know the M system, the R lenses in the tele range are very often identical. Sometimes literally the same glass in a different mount (90 Elmarit R v.2 and 90 Elmarit M v.2, 90 APO f/2 in both, 135 f/2.8s).

 

With the caveat that any lens can be used for portraits, the 60mm is, for me, a bit too short. Leads to big noses and distorted faces. The classic portrait range would cover 80mm to 135mm.

 

80mm R f/1.4 - almost identical to the M 75mm f/1.4 (they were designed side by side in 1980). As shown in farnz' picture, very, very soft backgrounds and a glowing overlay of sharp and soft in the transition area.

 

90mm Summicron R non-APO - like the 75/80 only a bit less so. The "poor man's" equivalent.

 

90 Summicron APO - more contrast, less softness, perhaps painfully sharp.

 

90 Elmarits - v.2 similar to the APO-Summicron except a stop slower. Actually sharper in the portrait range, perhaps less so at long distances. v.1 a bit less contrast, but very good (at least equivalent to classic Nikkor 105 f/2.5)

 

The one lens unique to the R in the portrait range is the 100mm Macro f/2.8 APO. Which is also critically sharp and contrasty. It was the signature R short tele for image quality, until the 90 f/2 APO slightly surpassed it (in the opinion of some).

 

Very well said, I couldn't have said it better myself.

I've owned all the lenses above (except the R90APO, which I've had in M version, so I know it anyway...). In my opinion if someone can/want afford to pick up 2 lenses, the optimal setup with R system is 80/1.4 + 100APO (which also doubles for landscapes, close-up works etc... a truly world-class all-rounder)

Edited December 15, 2017 by Steve McGarrett