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Archive 2005 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

John Black
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

I've noticed some flipping their Zeiss 100/2 for the Leica 90/2 APO. I'm just curious what some of you chose the Leica over the Zeiss. I'm curious as the pro's & con's of the Zeiss 100/2 vs the Leica 90/2 non APO vs the Leica 90/2 APO.

Dec 06, 2005 at 12:30 PM

handcoater
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

I chose the Leica 90mm 2.8 Elmarit over the Zeiss 100mm f:2. The 100 f:2 is extremely flare prone when pointed toward bright areas. The Leica has better contrast and saturation in the shadows and much more highlight detail, while the microcontrast seemed to be on par with the Zeiss. The sharpness was identical at longer distances. Very close up the Zeiss was slightly sharper. The leica has absolutely no CA, bright specular highlights have no red fringing at all. I owned the Zeiss only one day and as you know re-sold it. It is a great lens but not for me. I tried the 90 f:2 APO but it is not good close up with very poor edge sharpness. The bokeh was also a bit brittle looking. At longer distances the APO is wonderful, even at f:2.

Dec 07, 2005 at 12:31 AM

Pham Minh Son
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

John,
I like the Zeiss Planar T* 100mm F2.0 more because I enjoy portrait photography. The Leica is sharp at far focusing distance but in close up it will yield pincushion distortion for your portrait. It is a beutiful lens though no doubt.

-Son

Dec 07, 2005 at 01:30 AM

John Black
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

With the lenses, they are all so close, but so very different at the same time. It's hard to choose just one!

Son, what about a 90/2 non-APO use for walk-around shots? I'm thinking a 35/2 and 90/2 for general walk around use during the day. I'd keep the Planar 100/2.

Dec 07, 2005 at 02:08 AM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

John Black wrote:
With the lenses, they are all so close, but so very different at the same time. It's hard to choose just one!

John, I feel your pain

. At one time, I had no less than 9 prime lenses covering the focal length between 85 and 100mm.....

Dec 07, 2005 at 11:15 AM

John Black
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

Yesterday I shot a couple sequences with 70-200L IS @ 100 vs the Zeiss 100. I'm selling the 70-200 IS and had some morning-after doubts.

Sharpness was remarkably similar. The Zeiss had a slightly richer color. The biggest difference common in all the pictures was micro contrast. When we compared sharpness, fringing, color, etc., they were very close. But when you stepped back and looked at the picture as a picture, there was a big difference.

And this is why I'm considering the Leica 90/2. 1) Just for a different "look" or "feel". 2) Light than the Planar (can carry it in coat pocket). 3) Size, weight, built-in hood all make it a nice travel lens. But, the APO is pretty expensive so I think the non-APO might be a more practical decision.

After the 100mm comparison - I have a new found respect for the 70-200L IS.

Dec 07, 2005 at 12:22 PM

rico
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

John Black wrote:
With the lenses, they are all so close, but so very different at the same time. It's hard to choose just one!

Son, what about a 90/2 non-APO use for walk-around shots? I'm thinking a 35/2 and 90/2 for general walk around use during the day. I'd keep the Planar 100/2.

I find the best solution is to keep them all! I have three CZ lenses at 100mm, each with a different strength: Planar 100 for selective focus, edge-to-edge uniformity, and dead-straight lines; Sonnar 100/3.5 for a sharper center and easy carriage; S-Planar 100/4 to get bellows movement, and killer sharpness at 1:4. The SP100 is the only C/Y lens I know with the "good" bokeh on the infinity side of the object plane.

My walkaround primes for FF are 28-50-100.

Dec 07, 2005 at 01:01 PM

John Black
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

Ha ha ha --- my bank account hates that answer

Dec 07, 2005 at 01:53 PM

Pham Minh Son
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

I absolutely agree with Rico about these Zeiss lens. They all have their strong strength for your applications.

John,
I posted a thread regarding to Lens and its owner and I fell that since the time that I know you and the forum I come to recognize that you and Jorge have made some great photos with the Zeiss Planar T* 100mm F2.0. I think this is your lens John you have used it well and came back to it from time to time. I was surprise when you sold it after you came back from Alaska.

In the Leica department I feel that you initiated the Leica lens and their compatibility and I feel that those information should be a sticky. I remember you went through a whole bunch of Leica lens that were not Apo corrected. I have some experiences here and have heard great things about some of the non Apo Leica lens. Particularly the Leica 90mm F2.8. I heard it is a great lens for walk around without worrying damaging it and yet its performance is absolutely one of the best. I believe Robert from LA area and Guy are folks that love this lens. For the Leica 90mm F2.0 non Apo is also a nice lens but I don't believe it is as good as the F2.8 non Apo version.

-Son

Dec 07, 2005 at 03:04 PM

John Black
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

Yeah, I've ween wondering if the 35/2,8 and 90/2,8 might be better choices than their R2 counterparts. It's really hard to evaluate them because many the pictures posted on the web are from scans. And, most of those scans are several years old... On the plus side, the elmarits are very inexpensive, so experimentation is fairly painless

The specs for better performers in the Elmarit - 35 & 90:

Leica 90mm F2.8 Elmarit

- There are 2 or 3 versions in the R; seeking 2nd or 3rd version (unclear with 2 or 3 versions)
- Model Number: 11806 = 3-Cam?
- Model Number: 11154 = ROM?
- Production: 1984, Canada?
- Serial Number: 3,260,000 or newer
- Weight: 475 Grams
- Hood: Built-in
- Filter: E55

Leica 35mm F2.8 Elmarit

- There are 3 versions in the R; seeking 3rd version
- Model Number: 11231 = 3 Cam
- Production: 1979, Germany
- Serial Number: 2928901...
- Weight: 305 Grams
- Hood: Built-in
- Filter: E55
- Note:
1) Series 6 Accessories denotes Version 1
2) Series 7 Accessories denotes Version 2

Edited by John Black on Dec 07, 2005 at 05:01 PM GMT (Reason: Added 35/90 Specs)

Edited by John Black on Dec 07, 2005 at 05:01 PM GMT

Dec 07, 2005 at 03:31 PM

thitran
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

John,

If you like the 35 f2 (Pre ASPH) check out some reviews:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-dec-04.shtml

http://www.photo.net/equipment/leica/r35

Thi

Dec 07, 2005 at 03:55 PM

Stripper
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

Heck, save some money and just buy the Nikkor 105 f-2 AIS.

Dec 07, 2005 at 03:58 PM

kosmoskatten
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

Hi guys, chipping in on the Leica 90/2.8; there are some varieties on it and it is the latest one which is the bees knees. I had the second to last version which was sold to me under the impression that it was the latest, only to find out it wasn't. I returned it and got hold of the other one some time later. The difference is slight but noticeable; the latest version has better near focus correction and all in all it is one of the better portrait/short tele lenses I have used.

The version before was slightly lacking close up. With lacking I mean as in compared to the Zeiss 100/2, the Leica 90/2 at 2.8 and the later version of the 2.8.

I might be able to dig up the serial numbers on where they altered it to the last in production.

I think the latest 90/2.8 lens formula was based on the latest Elmarit-M 90/2.8, please correct me if I am wrong on that. It has a built in sliding hood and is very compact - damn, now I am lusting for one again

... It is the one with the E55 filter thread and built in hood.

Also I was thinking I should borrow a brand new Nikkor 105/1.8 Ais which is sitting on a shelf at work - I have never heard of anyone actually using it.

Edited by kosmoskatten on Dec 07, 2005 at 10:42 PM GMT

Dec 07, 2005 at 04:36 PM

kosmoskatten
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

Also I'd chime in some on the older Leica 90/2 which is actually a really nice portrait lens - pleasing at f2 and sharp enough from there on. Good value for money nowadays.

Dec 07, 2005 at 04:39 PM

thitran
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

I took some pictures with the older 90 f2.8 and like them a lot. It's not only sharp, but the natural color, and that 3rd dimension look (probably due to bokeh), very pleasing.

Thi

Dec 07, 2005 at 04:50 PM

robsteve
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

John:

The 55mm filter size will get you into the more recent of the non APO lenses in the 28-135mm range. The 90mm f2.8 Elmarit is also quite a bit lighter than the 90mm Summicron and near APO quality, but with the nice bokeh.

Dec 07, 2005 at 06:05 PM

John Black
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

Yeah, I spent the afternoon digging up the specs on the 2nd/3rd revisions of the non-APO versions. Once the field has been narrowed by those serial numbers, it's not quite as easy to find "right" one. Researching the older Leica's is quite difficult.

Dec 07, 2005 at 06:57 PM

John Black
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

Didn't I turn you on to them

They have some info, but were lacking on the 35/2.8. Douglas Herr pulled his links...

Dec 07, 2005 at 11:26 PM

med007
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Zeiss 100.2 vs Leica's 90.2's

Pham Minh Son wrote:
I absolutely agree with Rico about these Zeiss lens. They all have their strong strength for your applications.

-Son

Agreed

Asher

Dec 08, 2005 at 04:53 AM


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