Summicron 90 pre ASPH vs 90 ASPH vs Voigtlander 75 1.5

[loverofthelight]

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Hello to everyone!

I'm interested into buying new glass for my M system, and I'm looking for something longer than 50mm, that I already have. What are main differences between 90 pre ASPH, and 90 ASPH summicron? Just better sharpness? Or  also better rendering, micro contrast, character, etc,...? Because price is much higher. 

I also saw that voigtlander have new 75 1.5 asph, and it looks really nice on reviews, great character. Does anyone have experiences with 75 voigtlander and 90mm summicron? Would be great to hear some experiences from the first hand. 

Which one would you recommend? 

Thank you very much and have a nice day! 

 

Edited December 13, 2019 by loverofthelight

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[Guest JMF]

Hi, I've not tried the recent ones but am very happy with the 90 summicron pre asph e55 !

My 2 centavos, JM.

[lct]

Which 90/2 pre-asph? If it is v3 it has less micro contrast than the 90/2 apo, which is fine for portraiture especially at full aperture and it is plenty  sharp at f/2.8 and on but it suffers from significant CA. The 90/2 apo has less CA, more micro contrast but is also more difficult to focus at full aperture with rangefinders.  

[loverofthelight]

Thank you for the answers, I appreciate it! Yes I had V3 in mind. Is anyone here who have used voigtlander 75 1.5? 

[adan]

The C/V 75 f/1.5 will focus closer and frame tighter than either of the 90 Summicrons (as will most of the Leica 75s). Roughly speaking, the 90 Summicrons will get down to about 1/9th life-size, while the 75s will get down to about 1/7th life-size.

The C/V 75 f/1.5 is a lot lighter-weight than either of the 90 Summicrons - while being almost a stop brighter.

The close-focus capability makes a 75 far more useful to me than a 90. BUT - that is partly because I use a 135mm as well. If one is going to carry and use just one long lens for an M, a 90 is often the best compromise overall.

When I DID use a 90 Summicron, I personally liked the smoother "retro" rendering of the v.3 non-ASPH lens. I am a big fan of the "Mandler look" of contrast and color, and found the APO-ASPH a bit harsh - and not all that much sharper, especially in the close range (below 2.5m/8 feet). And I've never liked the extra weight and cost either.

Of note, the 90 Summarit lenses are basically a "rethinking" of the core v.3 Summicron 4+1 optical formula (minus a half-stop or so, and with newer glass and coatings, naturally) - and the f/2.4 version specifically frames more tightly than the Summicrons (slightly better than 1/8th life-size). The Summarit falls (IMHO) about halfway between the APO-ASPH and the non-APO in contrast, and is a bit tighter in clarity wide-open than the pre-ASPH. Very smooth bokeh (a v.3 forte). And lighter than either by a noticeable amount.

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I haven't used the C/V f/1.5 and don't plan to - already have a nice 75 f/2. There is discussion and example pictures on this other thread, however.

My impression from the web-sized samples there is that the 75 f/1.5 is a bit "dreamy" and soft at f/1.5. Quite a bit softer than either of the 90 Summicrons you mention at f/2. And more than I want to use. YMMV

All that being said, none of them are "bad" - it is just a question of taste and goals.