Comparison: show different lenses with the same focal length

[hansvons]

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I am interested in the rendition and character of lenses. I'm curious about your experiences and opinions.

Many buy lenses based on charts, reviews, sample pictures and specs but rarely on the comparison to other lenses. But only when we compare lenses using a similar shot, the individual character will be revealed. 
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As a Leica newbie, this is my take on the 24-90 at 50mm and the 50mm SummicronR 2nd gen.:

I purchased a 24-90 along with a SL2-S because it is said to be a great match to the SL system. After almost a year shooting with the 24-90, this is my verdict on the 24-90 Elmarit:

it's a high-resolving, particularly sharp lens with a pronounced dimensionality and neutral to warm colour rendition. Despite its technical perfection, it shows some character and is not a boring lens but has great motivation potential.

I also have a 50mm SummicronR. My take on this lens:

The 50mm SummicronR is less resolving, less contrasty and less sharp. It renders pictures comparable flat, renders faces on the wider side and colour on the cooler side losing some neutrality by introducing colour unevenness across the contrast. The 50mm SummicronR is very prone to flares. This all said, the old Summricon shows tons of character. It gives portraits that flatness, which works nicely together with a moody editorial style. The motivation potential is high, as long as moody portraits are on the list. Landscape shots can be somewhat disappointing due to the lacking sharpness, especially on the edges. But this all changes when flares are wanted, or a vintage signature is part of the story.

Below are some samples that showcase the two lenses. I gave the DNGs a basic grading based on the 24-90 and copied that grading to the SummicronR shots to showcase the differences in colour and contrast. There is no sharpening applied. The last shot is a typical use case for the 50mm SummicronR with tons of flare and moodiness.

 

 

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[jankap]

With or without post processing? RPP, COBALT, TOPAZ, PS, etc.

[hansvons]

1 hour ago, jankap said:

With or without post processing? RPP, COBALT, TOPAZ, PS, etc.

I never use these things. A basic grade and WB in C1. No secondaries or any other more fancy stuff. 

[jankap]

Why not allow these "things"? Is not the end result the measure of a good picture? Remember the Egyptian pyramids were moved in in the picture of a periodical as an example.

[Slender]

What on the top of the model's head/hair in image 1/2 ? Looks like masking.... or a white window frame out of focus appears to make some halo just on top of her?

If you fancy, like many other cinematographers, some sexy R glass, here are my recommandations for you:

 

• Elmarit 19VII
• Elmarit 28 VI or VII, both perform lovely.
• Elmarit 35. Summilux 35.
• Summilux 50 e60.
• Macro-Elmarit 60.
• Summilux 80.
• Elmarit 90. Summicron APO 90.
• Macro-APO-Elmarit 100.
• APO 180 f3.4.
• APO-Elmarit 280, any version.

 

Edited November 29, 2021 by Slender

[wizard]

Those shots make you appreciate the 24-90 Elmarit lenses capabilities. I particularly like the background bokeh it produces, but it also seems that apart from bokeh all optical parameters of that lens are very much in sync, as its rendering is just very pleasing.

[hansvons]

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37 minutes ago, Slender said:

What on the top of the model's head/hair in image 1/2 ? Looks like masking.... or a white window frame out of focus appears to make some halo just on top of her?

Exactly that, the lighter grey of a rounded window frame. Blame the photographer.

• Elmarit 35. Summilux 35. 

Curious, why didn't you mention the Summicron 35mm? 

[hansvons]

41 minutes ago, wizard said:

I particularly like the background bokeh it produces,

Absolutely, that's what I think. But the SummicronR's much less contrasty bokeh is intriguing too. 

[hansvons]

3 hours ago, jankap said:

Why not allow these "things"?

As I'm rarely pushing pyramids in the centre of a picture, I have no need for photoshopping my photographs. To my taste, I like pictures as raw as possible. That's the reason why keep default de-noising, and the subsequent necessary re-sharpening always switched off. But I didn't phrase "not allowing" postproduction wizardry. On the contrary, if well done, such manipulation can help very well the story. It's nothing I'm interested in photography, though. On the filmmaking side, that's another whole story.

[Slender]

3 hours ago, hansvons said:

Exactly that, the lighter grey of a rounded window frame. Blame the photographer.

• Elmarit 35. Summilux 35. 

Curious, why didn't you mention the Summicron 35mm? 

Because it is suuuuucccuuuulent.

Summicron's can be a bit dry across the M-R-SL ranges, sometimes.... personal opinion.