75mm Lux/Cron or 90mm Cron what do you recomend ?

[Guest Olof]

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does anybody own a 75mm and 90mm lens, and could tell here which lens he prefer ?

[Ben Marks]

The question really revolves around what your needs are and how you shoot. I guess I would approach an answer by asking whether you have a 50 that you like. I like the 75mm focal length, but many find it too close to a 50 to justify having both in their bag. (35/75 is a combo that makes sense to me as does 28/50/90). I have all three lenses you mentioned, but have focus issues with the 90 cron on my M8. The 75 lux is biggish, the 75 cron is not much larger than the 50 Summilux (with which it shares a lot of visual characteristics). For a 90, I have been using the generally less well-regarded Tele-Elmarit, for which the focus is spot-on with my M8 and which reliably gives me wire-sharp eyebrows on my subjects. . . In this case, I guess the best lens is the one that you can use reliably. This may be a boring answer, but I think there are no bad lenses in the set you've listed.

 

Another way to answer is in terms of my experience with the lenses "character" (a fuzzy term, but there you go). I find the 75 cron/90 cron/50 Summilux asph belong to a similar family of lenses and share a modern look. All are VERY sharp wide open. The 75 lux, about which you have asked, belongs to a prior generation of lenses and I have found that (wide open at least) it is less clinical in its rendering - it is also very sharp when closed down a stop or two.

 

Good luck with your choice and let us know which way you wind up deciding.

 

Ben Marks

[stunsworth]

Both are excellent, but my personnel opinion is that if you already own a 50mm, buy the 90mm. If you already own a 35mm or wider, buy the 75mm.

 

At least with an M you can see each lens's perspective by using the frame selector.

[Jack_Flesher]

I officially own both (75 Lux and 90 Pre-ASPH Cron) but they have not arrived yet I will post a few images from each for the board next week.

 

One note however... I used to be a prolific user of film M's. At that time, I compared both and preferred the 90 as I found for my style the 75 was just too short for a portrait focal on the full-frame M -- and the 75 is slower to focus than the 90 Cron, AND for what ever reason the 90 framelines in the M's are more accurate than the 75's! (the 75's have always been tighter than the lens really renders -- never understood why, but conjecture is Leica did that to keep it separated better from the 50 set.) ... Also, the image rendering qualities of the 90 Cron pre-asph and the 75 Lux were VERY similar -- if not identical. (The 90 APO Asph is different -- clinically sharp with more contrast than either.) Anyway, they are so similar, that I suspect if you back up an extra 20% with the 90, the resulting images will be difficult to tell apart.

 

An interesting FWIW: As re DoF, a 90 at f2 and 75 at f1.4 have IDENTICAL DoF limits when subject distances are the same(!) Note that this means the 90's image magnification would be roughly 20% greater, but the fact remains actual DoF is the same at the same distances for these two lenses wide open.

 

All that said, I think the 90 Pre-ASPH Cron is a relative bargain now when compared to what one has t pay to get a decent 75 Lux... One added PS: There are multiple versions of the pre-asph 90 Cron. The one I tested years ago (and recently re-purchased) is the last pre ASPH version with the built-in sliding hood, looks just like the 90AA. (There is one currently listed FS in the classified here with pictures, though I know nothing about it or the seller.) Earleir versions had funky hoods and/or weird aperture arrangements as well as different optical formulas I believe.

 

Cheers,

 

Jack

[AGeoJO]

I have both crons and they are similar in IQ and fingerprints. I don't have the lux and cannot render any opinion; however, from what I gathered, the fingerprint of the 75 lux is different. Indeed, I would go with the 75mm in combination with a 35mm plus 24mm lens and the 90mm in combination with a 50mm plus a 28mm lens.

[carstenw]

If you are considering 75 Lux and 90 Cron, I would tend to go with the 75 Lux, as with the 90 Cron you lose about 1 1/2 stops (1 stop plus the extra focal length to stabilise). However, the 75 is very close to the 50, as others say. I find that 35 and 75 are a good fit.

[huwge]

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My preference is the 75 lux, although I reach for the apo 90 once in a while. First picture is an explanation of the preference, second shows the sharpness as you stop down - here f4

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[jaapv]

Olof, I have the 75 Summilux, which I mainly use for its beautiful plasticity and "Leica Glow" wide open, and the 90 AA which is a marvellous lens for all other shots in the longer focal length. Having said that, the 75 Summilux stopped down is certainly not a lens to be ashamed of.. It would be enough upon itself, having the choice is pure indulgence.

[rosuna]

In my opinion, it depends on the set of lenses and preferences. There are two possibilities: 28/50/90 (effective FoVs of 35/70/120), or 24/35/75 (eFoV of 30/50/100). I prefer the second set.

 

In terms of optical quality, the first set has the possibility of three last generation lenses, really superb: 28mm Summicron, 50 Summilux and 90 Summicron. You can get also older designs, like the 50mm Summicron or 50mm Noctilux. You would have a great set of f/2, f/1.4 and f/1 lenses.

 

The second set also offers superfast lenses, like the 35mm f/1.4 and Summilux f/1.4, but this last one is discontinued. The 24mm is a f/2.8 lens. The set would include f/2, f/2.8 and f/1.4 lenses, all from last (ASPH) generation.

 

In terms of costs the two sets are similar. In terms of diversity for each focal length, the fist set is more confortable (you have 4 alternatives for the 50mm focal alone!). In terms of speed, the first set is faster, as a whole. In terms of angle of view, the second set is "wider".

[Guest Olof]

I have:

 

24 2.8

50 1.4

90 4.0

 

and think about a 4th lens which can replace my 90 4.0 by night. No the question is if i will go for a 75mm (at the M8 100mm and i think thats not too close to the 70mm of the 50) or better go for a 90mm lens.

[carstenw]

Jan, I already pointed this out, so I apologise if you saw it, but don't forget the 1-to-1 1/2 stop advantage of the 75 Lux. I will likely end up getting a 75 Cron or 90 Apo-Cron in addition, but not for night work. For that the 75 Lux or Noctilux will be the lenses to have.

 

Rubén, I prefer the 28/35/75 set myself. I find that the 28 and 35 are far enough apart, being similar to the 35/50 of the film M. The 90 is nice, but 120mm is rather a lot for general use.

[Guest Olof]

I think a 75mm LUX should be the lens i had to go for (when the new 75 Lux asph or may be Apo asph will come).

[jaapv]

I have:

 

24 2.8

50 1.4

90 4.0

 

and think about a 4th lens which can replace my 90 4.0 by night. No the question is if i will go for a 75mm (at the M8 100mm and i think thats not too close to the 70mm of the 50) or better go for a 90mm lens.

 

It depends if you want to go for the focal length or the character. As a focal length the 75 is a bit close to the 50, which is the same speed as well. That would argue for the 90. I think the character of the 75 will please you so much, that your 50 will see little use, except when weight counts.

[Paul_S]

Olof,

With the 90Cron (AA) already in the bag for the film M, I wanted the 75mm for the M8. I was able to buy a 75Lux recently and today the 75Cron arrived (my 30% discount order).

The 75Lux is bulky, even more than the 90Cron, where the 75Cron is lovely in size and weight and does not cover the frame in the viewfinder (75Lux does).

I expect the 75Cron will always be in my bag with one of my wide angles. Not sure what I will do with the Lux. Time will tell, I am not in the habit of making pictures in low light.

[carstenw]

Paul, try some portraits with it.

[Paul_S]

Paul, try some portraits with it.

 

Carsten, I did. Problem is that my 75Lux is back focussing, making portraits not an easy task. By the way, you can find some full-res pictures on my iDisk, in the M8 folder, if you like.

[Artichoke]

my 90 'cron is a vintage model that I got as it was available for a very good price in a local camera shop & my 75 'lux is a newer model purchased months before I had the M8 as I saw one on KEH and decided to grab it

I much prefer the 75 'lux

it is easier to focus accurately (though the 90 'cron does work well with a magnifier eyepiece) and sharper both wide open and stopped down though the 90 'cron is no slouch

the bokeh from the 75 'lux is as good as any I have seen while that from the 90 'cron is quite good, it is not quite as creamy, though like many tele lens still quite good

my 75 'lux renders some CA about high contrast edges ...the 90 'cron may do a bit better, though I have not formally tested for this

clearly my 90 'cron is a much bigger lens than my 75 'lux which is much less long & imposing ...it "feels" better to me on the M8 ...the focus ring on my 75 'lux is tighter & seems to have a longer throw perhaps because of this

given the choice I would go with the 75 'lux every time

[ptomsu]

The 90/ASPH is for sure the more advanced design and delivers the sharper and higher contrast results. And it weighs less than the 75Lux.

 

Another option which I would prefer over all is the 2/75ASPH.

[jimcollum]

The 75 lux has quickly become one of my favorite lenses.

 

a full size test shot, wide open can be downloaded here

 

jim

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[chris_tribble]

John - I also love the 75 Lux (Malcolm's currently finishing a complete refurb of mine)... BUT - I'd like to see the image you put up and the link doesn't work in Firefox of IE...