Apo Summicron-m 90 Or Elmarit-m 90

[fabiandragon]

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Dear,

Which One Should I Buy For Better Quality And Contrast Photoes?

Apo Summicron-m 90 Or Elmarit-m 90??

Thankyou For Your Collaboration

[troyfreund]

I've got the APO and really dig it. Haven't used the Elmarit--can you justify the price difference? I'm sure the Elmarit would do great work for you--it's just whether or not you need the extra stop of the 'Cron.

Troy

[budrichard]

I don't think its about quality or contrast (in fact I'm not sure what you mean by quality). The difference between the two lenses is one f stop and the high resolution offered by the APO at f2.0. I need the f stop and usually am shooting wide open so for the best image at that aperature I have the APO and its my second 90mm Summicron. I have a Canadian version in chrome that is beautiful to look at and takes great pictures but has been eclisped by the APO. The APO trio of 75, 90 and 135 mm form the pinnacle of RF telephoto lenses. I also have the 75 mm APO and its images are stunning also. The 135 mm APO is on my list even though I have the 135mm f2.8 RF.

So I would base my decision on whether I needed that f stop or not. Either will provide excellent pictures.-Dick

[zapp]

Dear,

Which One Should I Buy For Better Quality And Contrast Photoes?

Apo Summicron-m 90 Or Elmarit-m 90??

Thankyou For Your Collaboration

 

Check out Erwin Put's homepage for a comparison of 85/90 mm lenses. He has nice images showing the bokeh of the 90AA compared to a lens with different behavior. Here the Elmarit 90 may look more like the Zeiss 2/85 given a one f/stop difference in DOF.

[waileong]

The new summarit 90/2.5 is a choice.

[xjr]

There is only one choice :90mm APO-ASPH

[RobMac]

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Going off the R versions:

 

If $$$$ are no object - the 90/2. Sadly, it's an object to most of us.

 

For 8/10ths the performance and 1/4 the cost - the LATEST/LAST version of the 90/2.8. The R joke? "...the 90/2.8 latest is beaten by the 2/APO - at F2..."

 

At 2.8 the difference will be all but indistinquisable unless you print BIG. Check sean reid's 90mm review. Says and shows it all.

[innerimager]

I agree that the newest 90/2.8 is a great lens. Sean actually used mine in his review, and in a private e-mail told me "never sell it!". But I'm surprised no one has mentioned the new kid on the block, the 90 summarit 2.5. Erwin loves it, a few folks on the M8 forum have posted excellent samples. The price/performance winner, perhaps. (I'll be keeping my 90/2.8 though). best....Peter

[Ivar B]

For a while, I used both lenses. There is absolutely no doubt that the APO 2/90 is a spectacularly good lens. However, the latest version of the 2.8/90 is not far behind and in practical photography I am pretty certain you will be more or less unable to tell the difference between the pair. At least stopped down a stop or so, the lenses are for all practical purposes equal.

 

Even if I owned the APO 2/90, I found myself using the 2.8/90 more. Quality is most certainly more than good enough, but I found that it balances better on the camera than the 2/90 (the 2/90 is quite front heavy) and the 2.8/90 obscures less of your view.

 

If price is important also, the 2.8/90 is a bargain. Obvioulsy, the 2.5/90 may be a wise choice, but I have never seen or used that lens, and it is probably going to cost more than a mint 2.8/90.

[innerimager]

If price is important also, the 2.8/90 is a bargain. Obvioulsy, the 2.5/90 may be a wise choice, but I have never seen or used that lens, and it is probably going to cost more than a mint 2.8/90.

In the US, a new 90/2.8 is $2000. I got a mint used one for around $1200. The new summarit is $1500. best...Peter

[harmsr]

I could have bought either the 90 APO Cron or the latest 90 Elmarit.

 

The 90 Elmarit is what is in my bag.

 

IMHO the Elmarit is EXTREMELY close to the IQ performance of the APO Cron even at 2.8. When stopped down they are virtually even.

 

The Elmarit is smoother in its transitions to OOF areas.

 

I MUCH prefer the size and handling of the Elmarit.

 

Focussing seemed much easier to nail with the Elmarit than with the APO Cron. The gear ratio and feel on the focus ring is more to my taste on the Elmarit.

 

The MTF graphs show the Elmarit to hold finer detail and texture when compared to the new Summarit, and my photo comparisons of the those two seem to concur.

 

If you really must have the 2.0 speed, then go with the Cron. It is a wonderful lens, but you must accept the larger size and IMO the more difficult focussing.

 

(I think that I can be guilted for pushing Peter into buying his 90 Elmarit. I don't believe that he regrets it.)

 

Best,

 

Ray

[innerimager]

(I think that I can be guilted for pushing Peter into buying his 90 Elmarit. I don't believe that he regrets it.)

 

Best,

 

Ray

 

For sure Ray, you gave me the push in the elmarit direction, and I have no regrets at all. Your comments about it's handling are very true, it is extremely quick to focus and easy to nail focus as well. Have you actually handled and seen images from the summarit as well? best....Peter

[harmsr]

Hi Peter,

 

Yes, I have.

 

I knew that the 90 Elmarit fit me better than the 90 Cron, but was curious about the 90 Summarit. My thoughts revolved around a 1/2 stop of more speed in a similiar size.

 

My $.02 is that while the Summarit is a good lens, the Elmarit is better and worthy of the extra money.

 

Here is a link to Guy's forum where I posted a bunch of photos and made comments. It appeared that the Summarit focused just slightly rearward when compared to the same focus point of my Elmarit. I know that my Elmarit is spot on, so I assume that this Summarit backfocused ever so slighty. However, if you look at the crops and compare sharpest focal plane to sharpest focal plane I think it will be fairly evident that the Elmarit provides more fine detail and texture (As exhibited in the MTF graphs when comparing these two lenses.).

 

Best,

 

Ray

 

 

90 Summarit vs. 90 Elmarit (lastest) photos - The GetDPI Workshop Forums

[ns_ng]

Dear,

Which One Should I Buy For Better Quality And Contrast Photoes?

Apo Summicron-m 90 Or Elmarit-m 90??

Thankyou For Your Collaboration

 

Hi,

 

I have both lenses. The 90 AA has that extra 'snap', typical of the Leica aspherical lenses. Even wide open at f2.0 its performance is outstanding. But some might feel this is too sharp for portrait. The 90 Elmarit does not reach the standard set by the 90 AA, but by the time you stop down to 5.6, I doubt you will see that much of a difference.

 

I think the choice is govern by whether you need f2.0 and your budget.

 

N.S.

[Danny2p]

Hello Fabian,

 

I took some times to decide which 90mm lens would be better for. Both my wife and I are in our fifties and I chose the Elmarit for two reasons. For one the Elmarit is smaller and lighter to carry. Two, unlike the fabulous Summicron Asph the Elmarit is softer on portrait photography. In other words it will not show people ages (and defect as much). If you are looking for bokeh the Elmarit will compete very well against all others. Attached are two unfortunately digitised images shot with the 90 Elmarit at 2.8 to give you an idea.

Cheers!

Daniel, Vancouver, BC

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[fernando_b]

Daniel,

very nice portrait! However I don't agree with you: the Elmarit wide open is surely not so sharp as the Summicron AA, but it also is too sharp for portraits (at least IMO). In your image I can see single thinner hairs very well defined. The old Summicron wide open was another story!

Fernando.

[innerimager]

Hi Peter,

 

Yes, I have.

 

I knew that the 90 Elmarit fit me better than the 90 Cron, but was curious about the 90 Summarit. My thoughts revolved around a 1/2 stop of more speed in a similiar size.

 

My $.02 is that while the Summarit is a good lens, the Elmarit is better and worthy of the extra money.

 

Here is a link to Guy's forum where I posted a bunch of photos and made comments. It appeared that the Summarit focused just slightly rearward when compared to the same focus point of my Elmarit. I know that my Elmarit is spot on, so I assume that this Summarit backfocused ever so slighty. However, if you look at the crops and compare sharpest focal plane to sharpest focal plane I think it will be fairly evident that the Elmarit provides more fine detail and texture (As exhibited in the MTF graphs when comparing these two lenses.).

 

Best,

 

Ray

 

 

90 Summarit vs. 90 Elmarit (lastest) photos - The GetDPI Workshop Forums

 

Very interesting Ray. Thanks...Peter

[jaapv]

Sorry for posting a digital capture on the film forum, but as this is about lenses--

The 90 AA is capable of very fine nuances wide open, which gives it a distinctive fingerprint.

 

 

[yst]

The 90 f2 APO M lens is great, I never have focusing problem with it at widest opening, in fact the f2 has always been a very useful aperture for me and have taken many great images at f2.

 

In my M photography, that f2 on the 90, f1.4 on the 35 ASPH and the 50 ASPH are most welcome and very often used to produce images otherwise would look less interesting or not able to under certain lighting situations.

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[Danny2p]

Fernando,

I agree with you. This is a real "problem" with M lenses (...) they simply capture every details some more than others. As a matter of fact, my latest portrait using the 90 Elmarit have been taken with a little more distance from the subject and in softer light. I'll bet anything that the new 2.5 will be fabulous.

Cheers!

Daniel