Leica M Tele Lenses

[albert4321]

This should go to the Leica forum. But since I have been shooting Contax N, ND, C645, I thought I would write here for the Contax/Leica users to get some point of reference.

I am thinking to get into the M digital when it is available for traveling, and wedding PJ work. I like faster lenses. Looking at the Leica lens line up, I am interested in the newer 35mm f/1.4 ASPH, 50mm f/1.4 ASPH.

If the M sensor is 1.37x, I think the 50mm f/1.4 ASPH would be my starting lens.

My question is, there is no newer f/1.4 ASPH lens at the Leica Tele lens. Is the 75mm f/1.4 a good choice for portrait or the new f/2 ASPH 75/90mm better in real life practice?

Al.

 

[fotografz]

A 50 will be approx. a 70mm, the 75 roughly a 95mm, and the 90 around a 125mm.

The 75 Lux, although not an APO nor ASPH lens is very, very well regarded. The 90AA is brutally sharp and suitable for portraits as long as the subject is under the age of 13 : -)

One of the pre AA 90/2s would make a better choice for portrait work IMO, and is a lot less expensive.

I've not used the new 75/2 ASPH, but would imagine it to also be a very sharp lens. Like the new 50/1.4, I believe it has a floating element making it a better performer for closer distances.

 

[efournier]

Hey Al.

I currently have both the 50 ASPH and 75 Lux for sale. You just missed the 35 ASPH and the 90 APO...

I'm somewhat local in Alameda but work in SF. I'd be more than happy to show them to you with no pressure to buy.

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Eric.

 

[wang]

I like my AA 75mm f2. Its angle of view is the same as Contax APO-Makro-Planar 120mm f4 the one for C645. The feel of using it is quite like the use of AMakroP, but the combo is a lot smaller. With the use of 0.85 Leica rangefinder and preferably with the magnifier, you could focus down to 0.7 meter with pinpoint accuracy. This ability of close focusing is great for portraits of the kids, because you normally look at them at a shorter distance and you would like to reproduce this portrait at such a distance. 75 is a pleasing focal length, when you can come close to the subject and produce a feel of intimacy.

On the other hand, AA90 f2 is able to produce the head only shot at a distance of 1 meter. When you look at the prints you get a more distal feeling. If you wish to creat modern looks and coolness this is the lens. It is also a workable lens for clinical photos when you wish to have an objective look of the face, so it has a clinical feel.

At f2, AA90 2 is sharper and more contrasty than AA75 2. I find 75 more versatile. 75 and 90 have distinct characters but if you really wish to try one of them I would go for 75.

I have no direct experience of using the 75 1.4 Lux. I understand that it is quite big, I wonder how much it will block the rangerfinder view. I have seen its photos, it bokeh is not as good as AA75 2 that I can seen glass like sharp edges in the out of focus pattern. The bokeh of AA75 2 is pleasant that it has soft edges. I should believe that 75 1.4 has more astigmatism whereas AA75 2 is more balanced so you get better rendering of the skin tone and bokeh

I don't like using 135 on the rangefinders, the view of 135 is just too small. You might wish to do this in 1950s, when there was no SLRs.

I am proud to anounce that I am now an owner of C645 with 80 2 and 120 4. The shutter of the C645 creates more vibration and noise than the lift up of mirror, whereas it is the other way round for 35mm cameras.

Marc, which agent did you buy your Museo Silver Rag Paper ?

 

[albert4321]

Marc & Joseph, thanks for your detailed feedbacks. That's the kind of information I am looking for, and that's why I love this forum.

Eric, thanks for your offer. I won't be ready for shopping until I see a solid review on the actual M digital. At the mean time, I am still researching and start saving.

BTW, I just saw the review that the Voigtlander 35/1.2 Nokton Aspherical is as good as the Leica 35/1.4 wide open. I guess I will also look into the Voigtlander and Zeiss M mount option as well.

Thanks again!