I cant help myself. I have finally registered to reply to this. I have an old Canadian 90/F2 and it is and always has been my favorite lens. I can't compare ti to anything else as it's all I have. It just creates beautiful images... always. I just hope it works with my 5D when I get it. HOPE HOPE HOPE!
The Canon 85 f1.2 at f1.2 is as sharp as the Summicron-R at f2.8. The Canon 85L at f4 beats the Summicron-R at any apertures. The non-ASPH is just not a very sharp lens. Its color is yellowish. it is not the kind of Sigma type yellowish but more classic feeling, which I am sure somebody will like.
The ASPH version of this lens, on the other hand, gives you sharp images, even wide open in a small package (but the built-in and retractable hood is on the short side). Erwin Puts praises this lens. I do have this lens but have not used it that much to post any images that would reveal the optical performance of this lens fully. I am a sucker for this short tele range and currently hoarding a "collection" of 9 lenses (4 Canons, 3 CZs and 2 Leicas) in that range.
This image wastaken at f/2.0 with the ASPH version:
Cinstance wrote:
The non-ASPH is just not a very sharp lens..
That's rather discouraging... Maybe I should hang on for a later version.
I just had a look at a local dealer's Leica lens list. There's a 90mm APO but no ASPH. Is the ASPH also a discontinued lens?
Or are you talking about an M lens?
It's (the asph) a current lens in both M and R mount. I had it for a while, great little lens, only sold it cause I hated having to focus/stop down while handholding it usually on a bracket with a flash:/
The older 90mm Summicron is a fine lens for its vintage. I actually prefer it to the 80mm f1.4 Summilux. It is not the ultra sharp modern Leica lens, but it has the Leica look and color. If you find one for a decent price, buy it. The only difference between the older and newer 90mm Summicron-R is the hood style and filter sizes. The older one has a folding multipart hood like a collapsable tin cup and the initial versions took series filters or in a second version 55mm filters. The newest version has a slide out hood like the current 50mm Summicron-R and takes 55mm filters.
If the old one is under $500, it is worth a try.
Here is a shot with my old 90mm Summicron taken with the DMR. This is the full uncropped shot. I was at near the close focus limit and focusing on his eyes.
http://www.robsteve.com/DMR/L-1020481.jpg
BTW, that was wide open at f2. It may not be as sharp as a Canon 85mm f1.2, but mine cost about $300 used. I compared it to my Canon 85mm f1.8, which is a pretty fine performer and the Leica was ahead wide open and all apertures. The Leica was also sharper over more of the frame on a 1D. The 85mm f1.8 is a more fair comparison for a lens from the 1970's and which can be had used for about the same price.
Robert, great image and a demonstration of how to shoot wide open fast lens portrait; both eyes are in focus and the skin tones and color is beautifully rendered with your Leica lens.
To put the difference in quality in perspective, I shot the same scene with both my $300 90mm Summicron at f2.8 and the $1,600 100mm APO MAcro at f2.8. These prices are my best guess at used prices.
First the two pictures. I moved closer and a bit lower with the 90mm to get about the same framing. I focused on the eye bolt and used a tripod and cable release. These are FlexColor conversions of the raw files. I click balanced on the grey card and pressed auto in Flexcolor.
Graham,
Congrats on the 90mm Summicron. Too bad your "ex" isn't around to try it on I saw that photo you posted on the other thread, great picture of a beautiful woman.
Rob, I am still waiting for it to arrive. In a few hours I will fly away on holiday so of course it will arrive a few hours after I leave. C'est la vie...
Cinstance wrote:
The Canon 85 f1.2 at f1.2 is as sharp as the Summicron-R at f2.8. The Canon 85L at f4 beats the Summicron-R at any apertures. The non-ASPH is just not a very sharp lens. Its color is yellowish. it is not the kind of Sigma type yellowish but more classic feeling, which I am sure somebody will like.
I don't have experience with the Canon 85 f1.2 and if the Canon 85L beats the Summicron-R at F4 that is extremely impressive. Maybe at landscape distances and not portrait? Here is a picture from my 90 Summicron-R, which does not have perfect glass at F4 and it's not just Leica glass because it is mounted to a Lens Turbo II speed booster to only a 16MP FujiFilm X-T1. It is in the lot of the first 300 made in 1970. That exceeds my sharpness requirements.
The issue with the Summicron-R is price. Indeed it is not a perfect aberration free lens by any means and it's the worst at f/2. By f/2.8 is starts to sharpen up significantly. Still it is more than useable at f2 if you manage to nail focus. At least mine is pretty good. However, it is a unique lens in that it has a shorter focusing distance than most lens with that FOV at 0.7m. It is a short lens while other lenses tend to be much larger in dimension. It is the size of most 50 mm but fatter. Unfortunately, it has a lot of heft to it but that heft is near the body so helps to stabilize. The bokeh is very nice. It has enough unique traits that makes it worth considering. It is geared toward portraits with great bokeh but usable for landscapes stopped down. If you need a lens that is better corrected than the R 90 2.8 is not only cheaper but optically better.
There are macro lens that are 90mm that work well for portraits and focus even close but they tend to be larger in size and limited to f/2.5-f/2.8 for the maximum aperture. There are also compact lens like the Zeiss Contax 85 /2.8 and Nikon E 100 f/2.8 or Topcor 100 f/2.8 but none of them are small lenses with f/2 apertures.
There are faster 85mm f/1.4 lenses but again larger in size and many suffer from color fringing which so far I have not noticed fringing problems with the Summicron.
