CatWorthy Posted August 4, 2019 Share #1 Posted August 4, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello...I'm looking for a portrait lens with AF for my CL and would like to hear from you on your choice of lens. I already have a few M mount lens + not really want to carry the weight of the SL lens, this narrows down my choice to just 2 lens - the TL 60mm and the TL 55-135mm. Neither one is very fast, but I think they are adequate. The main purpose of this lens would be for non-studio portrait. I will double-duty the 60 as a macro lens, and the long zoom as a landscape lens when opportunity arises or when I seek a diversion. I searched this forum, flickr, etc, but didn't see discussions/samples of these lens as applicable to portrait use. Appreciate your comment and advice. Thank you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 4, 2019 Posted August 4, 2019 Hi CatWorthy, Take a look here APSC Portrait lens for CL. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
meerec Posted August 4, 2019 Share #2 Posted August 4, 2019 I use the SL Summicron 75. I know you already disliked SL lenses but you should revisit that lens. It’s not large or heavyset all and just like on the SL it allows for magnificent portraits on the CL too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
justbananas Posted August 4, 2019 Share #3 Posted August 4, 2019 And I thought the TL 60 was expensive 🤑 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatWorthy Posted August 4, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted August 4, 2019 Thank you both of you for your replies. meerec: I did research the SL lens and haven't heard anything but praise for the 75. However, I plan to use the CL as my travel kit and keep things light. justbananas: the TL 60 is expensive for me too. I'm buying a used copy so it'll help. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted August 4, 2019 Share #5 Posted August 4, 2019 (edited) I have the 60TL, but don't have the 55-135TL. The 60TL is my portrait lens for the CL (see here). I also have the 90SL for portraits which is fabulous on the SL but IMO negates the advantages of the CL when used on the latter body (and it's the same size as the 75SL). One can argue (I wouldn't) that you will get much better images by using the SL lens (the difference is small and, IMO, irrelevant to getting a good portrait), or that the extra aperture is a real advantage, but I find in portraiture that the size and weight of your equipment makes a difference: lightweight makes it easier to swing around in informal work, and subjects (esp children and amateurs) react to a large piece of black kit being swung around in their vicinity. Edited August 4, 2019 by LocalHero1953 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacek.PL Posted August 4, 2019 Share #6 Posted August 4, 2019 CatWorthy CL+Sl90/2 https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/279062-leica-cl-the-image-thread/page/112/?tab=comments#comment-3568054 CL+TL35/1.4 https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/279062-leica-cl-the-image-thread/page/109/?tab=comments#comment-3562569 https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/279062-leica-cl-the-image-thread/page/108/?tab=comments#comment-3562433 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatWorthy Posted August 4, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted August 4, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) LocalHero1953: Thank you! Both samples are wonderful. I went thru the decision between CL vs SL not long ago and decided that at this point, the CL would work better for me. The SL seems a wonderful camera / system that I got distracted but finally swung back to my original purpose of reducing the weight. The SL may be in my future. Jacek.PL: Thank you for the samples. I already have the TL35 and am loving it. It's such a wonderful lens, isn't it? SL90 definitely seems like a great lens for portraiture. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacek.PL Posted August 4, 2019 Share #8 Posted August 4, 2019 3 hours ago, CatWorthy said: Jacek.PL: Thank you for the samples. I already have the TL35 and am loving it. It's such a wonderful lens, isn't it? SL90 definitely seems like a great lens for portraiture. CatWorthy All Leica lenses are great. Next example: TL60/2.8 macro #6384 https://s3h5x8b3.stackpathcdn.com/uploads/monthly_2019_07/L1000703.jpg.e548afd76d6a25420f0965c0b5a35df6.jpg and SL90/2 https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/279062-leica-cl-the-image-thread/page/98/?tab=comments#comment-3550796 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatWorthy Posted August 5, 2019 Author Share #9 Posted August 5, 2019 Jacek.PL: images from the SL90/2 do look very nice. Skin tone looks natural and beautiful. Thank you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatWorthy Posted August 5, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted August 5, 2019 Many thanks for all your replies and samples. They have helped me decide on the TL60. I have ordered the lens from a Leica shop. Cheers. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
justbananas Posted August 5, 2019 Share #11 Posted August 5, 2019 14 hours ago, CatWorthy said: Many thanks for all your replies and samples. They have helped me decide on the TL60. I have ordered the lens from a Leica shop. Cheers. I’d love to hear what you think of it when you get it 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatWorthy Posted August 6, 2019 Author Share #12 Posted August 6, 2019 8 hours ago, justbananas said: I’d love to hear what you think of it when you get it Will do! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PDP Posted August 8, 2019 Share #13 Posted August 8, 2019 Allow me to answer from a quite opposite direction: despite kids portrait AF was never of relevance for me, but what matters with family portrait and with models too was SIZE. For the model it is a different story if you position a 90mm SL lens or a little 35/50 M-lens. The first one is a kind of intruder and the latter a cute little gem. From model‘s perspective. Do not forget the distance to model with 90mm (effective 135). In LFI master shots CL you can find one portrait I made with such small lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PDP Posted August 8, 2019 Share #14 Posted August 8, 2019 vor 3 Minuten schrieb PDP: Allow me to answer from a quite opposite direction: despite kids portrait AF was never of relevance for me, but what matters with family portrait and with models too was SIZE. For the model it is a different story if you position a 90mm SL lens or a little 35/50 M-lens. The first one is a kind of intruder and the latter a cute little gem. From model‘s perspective. Do not forget the distance to model with 90mm (effective 135). In LFI master shots CL you can find one portrait I made with such small lens. Peruke show with an older 50 summicron Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatWorthy Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share #15 Posted August 12, 2019 PDP: Your point is well taken. Thank you. For model shoot, I plan to continue using Sony A7RII with the 55. I like working closer to the model even if there's enough room in the studio. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatWorthy Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share #16 Posted August 12, 2019 On 8/5/2019 at 10:17 AM, justbananas said: I’d love to hear what you think of it when you get it justbananas: I haven't had a chance to fulling test it, but here're my first impression: The good...build is fine, not over-build hence not heavy, but not plasticky either. Image quality is good with nice details. Produce nice colors but doesn't de-throne the 35 in this regard. The not so good...I'm surprised to find the focusing on the slow side, slower than the 35 1.4 especially in dim light despite being a lighter lens. Sometimes it hunts a bit before settling. At minimum focuing distance or close to it, sometimes it missed the subject entirely and instead focused on the object behind it in the background. On this point, I need to mention that I'm not a macro shooter and do not know much about it. I'm attaching a snapshot example for you. I took this lens out on the street today. He was playing blues with a slide guitar, and pretty good at it. The light was harsh, the background bad, and I couldn't move him. 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! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/299921-apsc-portrait-lens-for-cl/?do=findComment&comment=3795870'>More sharing options...
justbananas Posted August 12, 2019 Share #17 Posted August 12, 2019 (edited) Change the focus to point focus. I’m sure that will effectively speed up focusing. All macro means is the lens can focus much much much much closer to the front of the lens. Some macro lenses produce a 1:1 image and some don’t. Edited August 12, 2019 by justbananas Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_w Posted August 12, 2019 Share #18 Posted August 12, 2019 Some macro lenses hunt unless the range is restricted to either macro or normal. Could this be a factor? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted August 12, 2019 Share #19 Posted August 12, 2019 11 hours ago, justbananas said: ... All macro means is the lens can focus much much much much closer to the front of the lens. Some macro lenses produce a 1:1 image and some don’t. Maybe to the non-technically inclined. The macro magnification range is generally defined to be 1:4 down to 1:1 in most texts on the subject. A proper macro lens is one that has been corrected to perform especially well in this range, sometimes at the expense of performance at lower magnifications. Of course, the marketing geeks of the world have diluted these precise definitions such that many lenses which simply can focus close are labeled Macro and the word has mostly lost its specific meaning now. I'm pretty sure, however, that when Leica labels a lens as a macro lens, they mean it per the proper definition of what macro is supposed to be, and the Leica macro lenses have always been superb performers ... all of them ... and usually at all focus distances. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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