Portrait lenses on L-mount

[Olaf_ZG]

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Adam with the SL2 & SL lux:

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[LocalHero1953]

From a session yesterday taking headshots of an actor. I started with the Summilux-SL 50 at f/1.4, then took some with the Sigma 85 f/1.4 DG DN at f/1.4, and some more with the same lens at f/5.6. It confirmed my preference for the Sigma as an AF lens for headshots, because it keeps the nose, and ears in better proportion; I'll use the Summilux more for portraits where I want to be further back. All on the SL2-S. His preference (out of a choice of 153!) was for this third one, rightly in my view, though not just because of the lens.

Summilux-SL 50

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Sigma 85 @f/1.4

 

Sigma 85 @ f/5.6

Edited September 14, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[Olaf_ZG]

Thanks for this @LocalHero1953. I can understand why he selected no. 3, as he shows confidence in that image.

Ofcourse I am much more interested in the first two. I guess processing wasn’t the same as there are quite some colour differences.

Great set of images, yet you still didn’t convince me to buy the 85mm. That said, I appreciate your future attempts.

[LocalHero1953]

2 minutes ago, Olaf_ZG said:

Thanks for this @LocalHero1953. I can understand why he selected no. 3, as he shows confidence in that image.

Ofcourse I am much more interested in the first two. I guess processing wasn’t the same as there are quite some colour differences.

Great set of images, yet you still didn’t convince me to buy the 85mm. That said, I appreciate your future attempts.

Hi Olaf - I don't think there is much influence of processing on the colour. They were all taken with flash lighting, soft boxes and use flash WB. Between the first one and the second pair you will see that I swapped the two lights round to give more light on the LHS. I swapped the stands, but didn't change the power settings - a two stop difference between the power settings of each flash. I agree the first one has less flatter lighting (and more light on the jacket), so perhaps I moved one of the stands closer.

[Babylonia]

...but as by "general" speaking.  Using a lens having a moderate "tele" focal length (85mm and above),
is a better choice for taking portraiture shots, than a more short focal length.

A "general" rule that is already valid as long as photography do exist.
Only by "general" changing of social and human evolution over the years,
other approaches are now becoming more accepted.
 

Edited September 14, 2024 by Babylonia

[helged]

On 9/4/2024 at 4:53 PM, SJH said:

Completely agree @Olaf_ZG if you already have the 50 lux I wouldn't bother swapping for the Sigma 50mm 1.2 unless you need better AF for an individuals use cases, so would get an appreciable return or just have both. I think we all get use to the rendering of the lenses we love and use day to day, my example would be the 50mm 1.2 Noctilux re-issue on my SL's. To me magical when you get it right but some see it as too soft in the centre at 1.2.

One thing that is nagging away at me is that the motors are beginning to look a bit dated in the SL line (grinding APO's for example) up from say the first lens (24-90) to the APO's, now to many it's not necessarily a big issue but as time goes on it could become so. Just look at how Sony are rapidly updating there line with new lenses (fast motors) and recent Sigma, Canon and Nikon releases. Clearly it's dumb to buy an SL2 or 3 and expert a sports/wildlife camera but equally I'm sure you know what I mean when it comes to day to day stuff when really good AF motors in primes/zooms would be helpful.

Anyhow I think we're about to see this in the new Leica (read Sigma and no bad thing) 70-200 2.8 being released tomorrow!! I know that @jaapv raves about the Sigma version.

Good point re continuous AF with SL-lenses: These are slowish compared to the more recent offerings from Sigma and Panasonic (Leica SL 70-200 is fast, as it should be, being based on Sigma 70-200). For the focal lengths discussed here, Panasonic 100mm f2.8 is very fast (and small/lis weight), as well as Panasonic S 50mm  f1.4. And most of the newer Sigma lenses are in the range of fast to very fast (one exception is the optically superb, but truly af-pedestrian slow 105mm macro). It is good to have Sigma and Panasonic as part of the the L-mount alliance!

[Olaf_ZG]

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At current I am re-editing some portraits. Quote some taken with the GFX50r plus 110mm. Must admit that images look wonderful (but maybe partially caused to my subjects as they are all professional dancers who care about their appearance much more than the office people I photograph nowadays). I am wondering how those photos would have looked like when taken with the SL lux.

To me, the lux shines when taken from really nearby. But one has to love that look. From further distance, a normal person wouldn’t see the difference between the 24-90 or the lux. We might see it though, but then we look at images different.

[LocalHero1953]

I think you'd notice with the Summilux wide open. This one was taken with the Sigma, but I think the Summilux would have separated the background just as distinctively.

[Sohail]

I like the 85mm perspective. I used to own a Panasonic lens called the Nocticron. It was a 42.5mm f1.2 lens designed for a micro-four thirds sensor, so roughly the equivalent in full-frame terms of an 85mm lens at f2.4. It rendered gorgeously. Nothing I've shot with comes close to it (for me). Maybe the Summilux SL-50. I wish Panasonic would remake the Nocticron for an L mount. Here are a couple of street portraits from 10 years back in Milan,Italy:

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[Olaf_ZG]

11 hours ago, helged said:

Good point re continuous AF with SL-lenses: These are slowish compared to the more recent offerings from Sigma and Panasonic (Leica SL 70-200 is fast, as it should be, being based on Sigma 70-200). For the focal lengths discussed here, Panasonic 100mm f2.8 is very fast (and small/lis weight), as well as Panasonic S 50mm  f1.4. And most of the newer Sigma lenses are in the range of fast to very fast (one exception is the optically superb, but truly af-pedestrian slow 105mm macro). It is good to have Sigma and Panasonic as part of the the L-mount alliance!

An example where the SL lux couldn’t catch up. Despite not in focus as I wanted, I like the result.

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[Olaf_ZG]

21 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

From a session yesterday taking headshots of an actor. I started with the Summilux-SL 50 at f/1.4, then took some with the Sigma 85 f/1.4 DG DN at f/1.4, and some more with the same lens at f/5.6. It confirmed my preference for the Sigma as an AF lens for headshots, because it keeps the nose, and ears in better proportion; I'll use the Summilux more for portraits where I want to be further back. All on the SL2-S. His preference (out of a choice of 153!) was for this third one, rightly in my view, though not just because of the lens.

Summilux-SL 50

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Sigma 85 @f/1.4

 

Sigma 85 @ f/5.6

I had again a long look at image 1 and 2, ignoring lightning. Look at the nose, but especially the brows. I like the subtility of the 50mm.

The 85 is now slouch and I guess latest 50mm sigma isn’t either. But, to me, the lux still wins it. Ofcourse, adding the 85 isn’t a big deal, but I know myself, and I don’t like swapping lenses during a shoot, so most probably a second SL2 and trigger will very quickly follow. Not sure if it is worth it, as long as the 50 will do.

[helged]

5 minutes ago, Olaf_ZG said:

An example where the SL lux couldn’t catch up. Despite not in focus as I wanted, I like the result.

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Quite lovely, actually. One can only wonder how the image would look like if the model's left eye, nose tip or right eye were in focus. I have the feeling that too much of the head would be unsharp with the right eye in focus, whereas the nose tip would be ok. But the texture in the model's hear - as it is now - is delicate, and sort of frame the beautiful smile. I like it!

[Simone_DF]

So, the most preferred scenario that could align everyone is for Leica to release a 90mm Summilux SL?

[LocalHero1953]

I'm content with what I have in both M and SL mount. If I was starting from scratch I would certainly look at a Summilux 90SL, especially if it was a close relation of the Summilux-M 75 rather than the Summicron-SL 90 (I have nothing against the Summicron-SL 90, which I owned - and I still have the 75 - other than a certain busyness in the bokeh).

There is the Summilux-M 90 f/1.5 that gives an idea of how it might perform - though I've seen no portraits from it!

Edited September 16, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[Olaf_ZG]

11 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

So, the most preferred scenario that could align everyone is for Leica to release a 90mm Summilux SL?

I would certainly buy a summilux longer than 50mm. Be it 75 or 90. Not sure if Leica will ever do it though.

[Simone_DF]

7 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

I would certainly buy a summilux longer than 50mm. Be it 75 or 90. Not sure if Leica will ever do it though.

Who knows. The last real Leica lens was the 21mm APO, one year ago, and there’s only one Lux in the lineup. 
For sure they can’t release another big monster and they should work on a more compact design though. 

[Olaf_ZG]

The woman below is 50+. Yes, I did soften her wrinkels/lines by dodging/burning. Yes, i did accentuate certain highlights/shadows, but to me, how the lux renders, my sitters are happy.

They don’t care about corner sharpness, I guess the - a bit older ones - don’t care about center sharpness as well. In the end it boils down to rendering or the transition of the out of focus areas… 

Look at her hair, some in focus, some not. Corner sharpness? I don’t look at it, nor does my client.

I had great results with 1.4 zeiss lenses (nikon mount), but never got so many positive reactions from the sitters with the lux. They love this lens.

Good thing is, that they think I do the magic. Pls don’t tell them the truth.

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[LocalHero1953]

I have similar experience. People love the colour and the rendering and assume it’s all my expertise. I don’t disabuse them.

The qualities needed for a portrait lens are quite different from those needed for a landscape, wildlife or sports lens. Corner sharpness comes way down the list.

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[Olaf_ZG]

Ella, SL2, SL lux, one strobe, from near mfd

 

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[Geoff C. Bassett]

Traditional Portrait Leica SL2 + 75mm SL APO

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