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Currently I have two lenses which I am using with my M10: Summicron 35 ASPH v2 and Summarit 2.4/75. I am very happy with the 35 Summicron, even at the minimum focus distance. 

The Summarit 75 is great, also, but not as much at minimum focus distances I guess. 

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Is this the small weakness of the Summarit lens or am I wrong? Somehow I think the Elmarit-M 2.8/90 (v3) had a better close-up performance, may be the Summicron 2/50 v5, too. I had both lenses a few years ago. Would the Summicron 2/75 Apo shine especially at this setting because of the FLE? Would there be any big difference beside from the background blur and the transition? 

I had the Summicron 2/50 v5 on my M9 many years ago and somehow I am missing that lens very much. I also think the 35/50 pair would be very versatile for me. 

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Your example is uncomfortably close for most portraits.  Try again at four feet distance. Allow a hint of context. Portraits are not just about heads. You can crop for a passport picture.

 

 

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4 minutes ago, otto.f said:

Most comments thus far appear to be opinions about how to make a good portrait, but OP has something against the Summarit itself

My 75/2.5 was fragile (broken aperture ring) but i have not the same feeling about my Summarit 90/2.4 and the 75/2.4 has a closer MFD (0.7m vs 0.9) so i might be worth a try.

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to me the image quality looks ok, like others it feeds very close.

I use the Summitar 90mm, minimum focus distance is 0.9cm. Most of this lenses are not optimized for macro, you can see how much the sharpness changes when you add macro ring on it. the only one corrected is the 90 macro f4

I had the CV90 f2.8. Elmarit 90mm 2.8, 90mm App 2.0 and 90mm f4. My favorite is still the 90 Summitar, performs great at 2.4, easy to rotate and focus, been light is a plus too.

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I used a 90 for portraits for a long time. I bought the Summarit 75 2.4 for my M10 R.
In my eyes it is very, sometimes even too sharp for portraits. I really like the rendering and coloring.
The fact that I now have to get a little closer than with 90 mm suits me very well, without the model being perceived as threateningly close.
Could you be more specific about what bothers you about the summarit, be it technical or maybe negative feelings?

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Thank you all for the input. I find the focal length of 90mm too long and too flat/compressed. 50mm/75mm looks more natural to me, even at close distances. Also this particular shot was at f/2.4 and ISO 3200, pushed in Capture One by half a stop, with 1/180s. With 90mm at 2.8 everything becomes more difficult when using available light only (window light i.e.).

I was not precise, because I don't know really what I am looking for. 🤭 Maybe I am missing some kind of lens character, or how the transition looks to the out of focus area. I think the Elmarit 90 v3 and the Summicron 50 v5 drew more interesting or more beautiful. Perhaps the Summarit is too perfect, then too boring. I guess the Summicron-M 75 APO would make a big difference, not because of the half stop difference, but because of the lens design. But maybe it doesn't matter at all at the end of the day. 

Perhaps I should keep my Summarit 75, simply practice more and enjoy photographing. It's not that pragmatic really, it's more about emotions and feelings. 

Edited by Photomek
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An excellent conclusion. Watch a video or two on portraiture and be inspired. There are many factors leading to satisfying portraiture. Location and lighting, plus the psychology of interacting with your subject, are more important than which lens you are using.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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vor 4 Minuten schrieb Photomek:

...Perhaps I should keep my Summarit 75, simply practice more and enjoy photographing. It's not that pragmatic really, more about emotions and feelings. 

that's how I would do it too. In addition, there is certainly a not insignificant thought: the financial difference between the APO and the Summarit.
My old Elmar 90 mm 4.0 from 1937 obviously has character, at least compared to the Summarit. Open it is a bit softer and you are not tempted to shoot 1.X to 2.X.
However, I prefer the Summarit not only for portraits, but also in other genres due to its imaging performance.

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7 hours ago, otto.f said:

Most comments thus far appear to be opinions about how to make a good portrait, but OP has something against the Summarit itself

I agree that it would be nice to be certain what it is, exactly, about the image the OP doesn't like before we attempt to make suggestions as to how it could be shot more to their liking.

If the OP prefers a 75mm to a 90; wants a bit more 'character' than the Summarit posesses as well as a smoother transition-zone rendering then (unfortunately for their bank balance) the obvious solution is the 75 Summilux......[scared]......

Philip.

EDIT : I meant to add that I think the portrait really is absolutely lovely as-is and there's nothing 'wrong' with it whatsoever but, of course, I don't know what result the OP was after.

Edited by pippy
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2 hours ago, Photomek said:

Perhaps the Summarit is too perfect, then too boring. I guess the Summicron-M 75 APO would make a big difference, not because of the half stop difference, but because of the lens design. But maybe it doesn't matter at all at the end of the day. 

Perhaps I should keep my Summarit 75, simply practice more and enjoy photographing. It's not that pragmatic really, it's more about emotions and feelings. 

Based on my experience with both the Summarit (although I have the previous f/2.5 version) and the APO, I don't think you'll see much difference in "character"...

1 hour ago, pippy said:

If the OP prefers a 75mm to a 90; wants a bit more 'character' than the Summarit posesses as well as a smoother transition-zone rendering then (unfortunately for their bank balance) the obvious solution is the 75 Summilux......[scared]......

This, on the other hand, should do in the "emotions and feelings" department. Bank balance and size/weight are a different problem...

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12 hours ago, Photomek said:

guess the Summicron-M 75 APO would make a big difference,

Given your opinion about the Summarit and your other likings, I’m quite will be heading in the wrong direction with the Summicron. The Noctilux 75  would be a more consistent choice, but the most logic decision would be the Summilux 75. And the portrayed will be more pleased too

Edited by otto.f
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