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wide angle for up-close portraits?


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is there any wide angle lens in leica's lineup (current or past) that has the ability to focus very close for up-close portraits where you can utilize the distortion as an effect? i'm talking about getting within 1-2 feet of someones face with a 21-28mm. elongated/distorted features on the subject. anything? 

some recent examples of shots i've done with a 28mm on my slr, though i would like to get even more distorted/exaggerated features: https://imgur.com/a/VdfAX2o

i would like to do a project with a leica taking these style portraits with a wide angle. 

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Old lenses that I own.

I don't know newer ones.

Super-Angulon 3.4/21 or 4/21 in M mount focus without coupling to 40cm.

Better yet, if that's what you want, take the very scarce Super-Angulon-R 3.4/21 with R to M adapter, tricky focus (just checked that number now),

20cm from film plane .

This one S-A 3.4/21mm from Wiki , I use with it on my Ms the infamous 22228 (side note, the picture in Wiki is not the right 22228) , but Leica offered more modern adapter 14642.

In my use, the parallax will be the most challenging, at this close but possible after some tries.

This one 4/21 for R has 20cm also .

Have fun.

Edited by a.noctilux
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Wide-angle M lenses focus down to 0.7 m, and that's it. The Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21 mm Asph is the only exception in the current line-up; can focus down to 0.5 m but between 0.5 and 0.7 m it's not coupled to the rangemeter.

To focus an M lens closer than 0.7 m, use a close-up lens with +2 or +3 dpt. But then you'd have to frame and to focus via live-view; the rangefinder doesn't work in combination with close-up lenses.

Or use a wide-angle lens from a 35-mm-format SLR camera on an adapter. These typically focus down to 0.3 m or 0.25 m without any additional accessories. Of course, only live-view focusing here, too.

Edited by 01af
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01af,

M-A as this thread

so no liveview

Maybe White Buffalo has already the lens to adapt to his to come M-A.

Correct, many of SLR lenses focus close: just now Nikkor AF 2.8/20mm that I have focus to 25cm.

Only non coupling focus with those SLR lenses, of course.

I use calibrated string or strap, as 20cm, 30cm, 40cm to have rough idea where the focus plane will be.

 

Many years ago, I used Zuiko OM lens 2/21mm with focus to 20cm, custom adapter,

while Leitz lenses of same period 21mm at wide open f/3.4 or f/4 .

 

If used carefully, those WA SLR lenses can be good choice for far less money than Leitz/Leica.

Edited by a.noctilux
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Consider buying a Fujifilm camera just for the purpose of using a Fujinon 16mm F1.4 lens.  The results for what you are looking to achieve will not be beaten.  I sold my Fuji gear when getting into Leica, but I've seen nothing get close to that lens in terms of fast aperture, wide angle and close focusing especially on people's faces, it was superb and to be honest, I miss it.

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No way to focus below 0.7m with rangefinders as mentioned above so it's not with an M-A than you can do that. Now if focusing is not a problem or if you intend to use a digital camera, the Super-Angulon-R 21/4 goes down to 0.2m as mentioned above and the Super-Angulon-M 21/3.4 to 0.4m. Both VM Skopar 21/3.5 & 21/4 go down to 0.5m and as far as 28mm lenses are concerned, all versions of the Elmarit-R 28/2.8 go down to 0.3m. Same for the PC-Super-Angulon-R 28/2.8. 

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15 hours ago, White Buffalo said:

is there any wide angle lens in leica's lineup (current or past) that has the ability to focus very close for up-close portraits where you can utilize the distortion as an effect? i'm talking about getting within 1-2 feet of someones face with a 21-28mm. elongated/distorted features on the subject. anything? 

some recent examples of shots i've done with a 28mm on my slr, though i would like to get even more distorted/exaggerated features: https://imgur.com/a/VdfAX2o

i would like to do a project with a leica taking these style portraits with a wide angle. 

I think that a good EVF can be appreciable a lot… for me, now the best Leica for this goal, at a decent (Leica, anyway :rolleyes:) price, is the CL with 11-23 mm

Edited by luigi bertolotti
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Can’t be done below .70 on an M-A, period. The hustle with R to M is expensive non-sense which leads to disappointment. I would never advise such a thing especially not in portraits

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it doesn't really answer your question sorry but the Q on macro distorts nicely IMO

 

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Edited by Guest
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...and another one (out of focus!)

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Edited by Guest
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I agree Ko.Fe.

Big distortions are amusing for a while but become tiresome quickly. A bit like those old screw on star filters, and numerous others...so last century 😬

I think the Leica Q should have been a 35mm lens; it's a shocker as an extreme people close-up.

... 

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2 hours ago, lct said:

Logical evolution in a world where renowned photographers are using UWA lenses for portraits. Not my cup of tea but i hardly see why they could not use Leica lenses for that.

The one issue I see is parallax.i don’t know what camera the OP is using but With an SLR or an EVF camera or in live view you can certainly focus and compose properly. However, with an M8 or M9 series camera, the parallax effect at such short distances will be significant. 

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7 minutes ago, AceVentura1986 said:

The one issue I see is parallax.i don’t know what camera the OP is using but With an SLR or an EVF camera or in live view you can certainly focus and compose properly. However, with an M8 or M9 series camera, the parallax effect at such short distances will be significant. 

Sure but there are no frame lines for UWA lenses anyway and RF photogs disliking EVFs use OVFs instead or simply know their gear.

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