Best Leica 50mm lens for portraits?

[Erato]

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Is there any of you could tell me which lens has been used on the following pictures? Heartfelt thanks.

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Leica M6 | Ilfordh HP5

davidivjak
Karlotta 
artist, karlottafreier.de

Edited July 30, 2020 by Erato

[dkmoore]

4 hours ago, JTLeica said:

Some would say though, that there is very little difference between F2 and F1.4 and the positioning of the camera and person you are photographing will have more impact on DoF than 1 stop in aperture value.

The Cron is smaller and the hoodless Cron is even smaller than that, plus has a focus tab.

Plus then there is the choice between, ultra sharp, modern looking portraiture which the ASPH lux will give you, vs a slightly softer look that the Cron will give you (at F2 anyway) then it becomes sharp like the APSH.

Its preference. Plus, you dont find many portrait photographers using F1.4...

There is a big difference between my 50 Cron APO and regular 50 Cron regardless of distance to subject or positioning of camera...

even more differences between 50 lux and regular 50 Cron. 
 

totally disagree. Especially the point that Farnz mentions above. 

[farnz]

10 minutes ago, Erato said:

Is there any of you could tell me which lens has been used on the following pictures? Heartfelt thanks.

The pictures look to have been taken in strong sunlight since the subject's pupils are fully contracted and it looks to me like a lower contrast lens has been used because the highlights are not blown and the shadows have retained some detail so the dynamic range is fairly wide, hence a lower contrast lens.

Everything in the plane from the tip of the nose to the back of the head in the first picture is in focus, which suggests to me that they weren't taken with a large aperture, although that could simply mean a fast lens stopped down.   I suspect that the camera was fairly close to the subject, which would explain the fall-off in focus behind her head.

The subject's skin is rendered quite smooth apart from where the strong sunlight has formed deep shadows behind small raised objects (moles on her left cheek) so my guess would be a 'classic' lens such as the 50/2 Rigid Summicron at f/5.6 or f/8.

Pete.

[farnz]

23 minutes ago, dkmoore said:

totally disagree. Especially the point that Farnz mentions above.

You disagree with the point I made or the point that JTLeica made?  Sorry, wasn't clear.

Pete.

Edited July 30, 2020 by farnz

[JTLeica]

2 hours ago, farnz said:

Not those using Summicrons, no.  

But I strongly suspect that the tendency for portrait photographers with fast lenses outside the studio is to use them wide open to provide subject separation and to lessen the effects of distracting backgrounds.

Pete.

If you wrench it hard enough and wait for the cracking sound you can get to 1.4 😉

[Erato]

3 minutes ago, farnz said:

The pictures look to have been taken in strong sunlight since the subject's pupils are fully contracted and it looks to me like a lower contrast lens has been used because the highlights are not blown and the shadows have retained some detail so the dynamic range is fairly wide, hence a lower contrast lens.

Everything in the plane from the tip of the nose to the back of the head in the first picture is in focus, which suggests to me that they weren't taken with a large aperture, although that could simply mean a fast lens stopped down.   I suspect that the camera was fairly close to the subject, which would explain the fall-off in focus behind her head.

The subject's skin is rendered quite smooth apart from where the strong sunlight has formed deep shadows behind small raised objects (moles on her left cheek) so my guess would be a 'classic' lens such as the 50/2 Rigid Summicron at f/5.6 or f/8.

Pete.

More than appreciate your professional observation in detail and best guess on the lens.
I am wondering if I should get 50 APO for a similar result on my M10-P.
What would you suggest, other than 75 lux if 50 APO is not the best choice for me?

[JTLeica]

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27 minutes ago, dkmoore said:

There is a big difference between my 50 Cron APO and regular 50 Cron regardless of distance to subject or positioning of camera...

even more differences between 50 lux and regular 50 Cron. 
 

totally disagree. Especially the point that Farnz mentions above. 

I was only talking about desperation of F2 vs F1.4.

My point is. It is preference. Some chose to shoot portraits at F8. My father was a pro for years, can’t remember working on a single photograph of his at F1.4. Not that a lux doesn’t have its appeal, I love the 50 Asph it’s one of the best lenses ever. But one of the first thing that people do when they get a fast lens is constantly shoot it wise open, instead of learning to use each aperture properly.

If you type into google, best 100 portraits, you’ll find probably that none that were shot at F1.4. 

 

[JTLeica]

4 minutes ago, Erato said:

4 minutes ago, Erato said:

More than appreciate your professional observation in detail and best guess on the lens.
I am wondering if I should get 50 APO for a similar result on my M10-P.
What would you suggest, other than 75 lux if 50 APO is not the best choice for me?

You certainly don’t need a 50 APO to take a shot like you posted. Stopped down any lens since 1950 will give you that look. As Farnz said it’s likely an older lens. I guess 50 3.5.

The 75 lux by the way is beautiful!

[Erato]

5 minutes ago, JTLeica said:

You certainly don’t need a 50 APO to take a shot like you posted. Stopped down any lens since 1950 will give you that look. As Farnz said it’s likely an older lens. I guess 50 3.5.

The 75 lux by the way is beautiful!

Your comment ease my concerns a lot.

Thank you;-)

[farnz]

7 minutes ago, JTLeica said:

As Farnz said it’s likely an older lens. I guess 50 3.5.

I also wondered whether it might be a 50/3.5 Elmar too.  As you point out, a number of older lenses could produce the (lovely) pictures.

Pete.

[farnz]

16 minutes ago, Erato said:

More than appreciate your professional observation in detail and best guess on the lens.
I am wondering if I should get 50 APO for a similar result on my M10-P.
What would you suggest, other than 75 lux if 50 APO is not the best choice for me?

You must remember that these pictures were taken with film (HP5), not digital, which is likely to have contributed a considerable amount to their attractive look.  I doubt that the same scene shot with a 50/2 APO-Summicron asph on a digital camera would produce the same pictures.  There would be a "depth" missing but I can't articulate what that depth would be.  Probably not very helpful but it's one of those indefinable 'you know it when you see it' things and it's certainly in the pictures you posted.

Pete.

[Erato]

1 hour ago, farnz said:

You must remember that these pictures were taken with film (HP5), not digital, which is likely to have contributed a considerable amount to their attractive look.  I doubt that the same scene shot with a 50/2 APO-Summicron asph on a digital camera would produce the same pictures.  There would be a "depth" missing but I can't articulate what that depth would be.  Probably not very helpful but it's one of those indefinable 'you know it when you see it' things and it's certainly in the pictures you posted.

Pete.

Yep, that's why I elaborated those informations under the post and try to giving a hunch for the limitation of digitalized image can be now and it might not be able to reaching the expected level for now but it would be fun if I can still compromise the cons and enjoy the pros of its convenience.

[Ko.Fe.]

In my, keep it simple because it is simple, opinion, Summicron 50 was always kind of kit lens. Great results kit lens. While Summilux is the upgrade lens. Does not matter portraits or else.

I have seen some very gifted photogs photos with older 50 lenses on film, DR prints, but I don't think it will do same wonders on M10. 

[dkmoore]

6 hours ago, farnz said:

You disagree with the point I made or the point that JTLeica made?  Sorry, wasn't clear.

Pete.

Agreed with you. Disagreed with JTLeica. 

[TomB_tx]

2 hours ago, Ko.Fe. said:

In my, keep it simple because it is simple, opinion, Summicron 50 was always kind of kit lens. Great results kit lens. While Summilux is the upgrade lens. Does not matter portraits or else.

I have seen some very gifted photogs photos with older 50 lenses on film, DR prints, but I don't think it will do same wonders on M10. 

Back in 1968 when I bought my first Leica, the Elmar 50 f2.8 was the "kit" lens ($78) while the Summicron Rigid and DR were the "perfectionist" lenses. The Summilux was suggested for low light action. The Noctilux 1.2 ($678) was the unobtainium model. The Leica sales Rep insisted results would be almost identical on all Leica 50s, the more expensive lenses were simply for use in lower light levels.

It had been a friend's M2 cameras with the 2.8 Elmar that sold me on Leica.

[anickpick]

vor 8 Stunden schrieb Erato:

Is there any of you could tell me which lens has been used on the following pictures? Heartfelt thanks.

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!

Leica M6 | Ilfordh HP5

davidivjak
Karlotta 
artist, karlottafreier.de

 

On "flickr", it is marked as Summicron.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

6 hours ago, TomB_tx said:

Back in 1968 when I bought my first Leica, the Elmar 50 f2.8 was the "kit" lens ($78) while the Summicron Rigid and DR were the "perfectionist" lenses. The Summilux was suggested for low light action. The Noctilux 1.2 ($678) was the unobtainium model. The Leica sales Rep insisted results would be almost identical on all Leica 50s, the more expensive lenses were simply for use in lower light levels.

It had been a friend's M2 cameras with the 2.8 Elmar that sold me on Leica.

I guess truth is the variable in Leica world. I remember how I guessed Elmar to be the kit lens, but been told it was Cron with absence of Elmar for some time.

[Erato]

6 hours ago, anickpick said:

 

On "flickr", it is marked as Summicron.

 

This is a living proof of the eagle eyes owner -- @farnz.