60mm-75mm lens recommendations

Home · Register · Search · Software · Hosting · Software · Join Upload & Sell

FM Forums \| Alternative Gear & Lenses \| Join Upload & Sell
1 2 end

Archive 2011 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

RustyBug
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

Thinking @ retooling my bag a bit ... wondering what others have high regard for in a prime lens in the 60-75 range for FF bodies. There doesn't seem to be much in this FL ... was hoping others might expand my options.

Dec 13, 2011 at 06:23 PM

telyt
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

RustyBug wrote:
Thinking @ retooling my bag a bit ... wondering what others have high regard for in a prime lens in the 60-75 range for FF bodies. There doesn't seem to be much in this FL ... was hoping others might expand my options.

One obvious choice - but certainly not the only one - is the Leica 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R.

Dec 13, 2011 at 06:26 PM

slungu
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

Hm, only the two macro lenses come to mind : the Leica and the Zeiss. I only know of the 80 Summilux that would be around that.

Dec 13, 2011 at 06:50 PM

Z250SA
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

The two 60mm prime lenses I have are the Contax Makro Planar C and the Distagon C for Hasselblad. I use and like both very much but of the opposite reasons. The former close up, the latter at longer distance. Very different, still very zeissy.

Dec 13, 2011 at 06:53 PM

mpmendenhall
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

There are a few more options if you stretch your definitions a bit:

Rokkor 58/1.2 or 58/1.4 (good examples of classic, fast double-gauss lenses)

Mamiya 80/2.8(N), 80/4 Macro (very high resolving, "neutral" rendering lenses, even more fun on a T/S adapter)

Contax Vario-Sonnar 35-70/3.4 should also count as an "honorary prime" in this range.

Canon 65/2.8 MP-E macro fits your description too, but may be a bit overly-specialized

Dec 13, 2011 at 07:17 PM

Steve Spencer
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

There is also the Cosina Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 that is no longer in production, but was available in F mount and I believe K mount as well. They have also announced a 75mm f/1.8 in F mount and EOS mount, but a shipping date has not been announced yet.

Dec 13, 2011 at 07:44 PM

RustyBug
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

Thanks guys.

I've got the "honorary prime" and the 80/4 Macro ... hence the narrow range. I rarely shoot a 50 (I have C/Y 1.7 & 1.4 versions), but sometimes the 80 is just a bit long. Also, it and the 35-70/3.4 can be a touch slow at times.

+1 @ "neutral" glass with the M645 glass (45/2.8 N, 80/4 Macro, 110/2.8 N, 150/2.8 A)

Dec 13, 2011 at 07:52 PM

MichaD
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

If I dare bring up a af lens...
There's also the Sigma 70/2.8 Macro. Really really sharp lens with great bokeh. So-so focusing ring though. I always tell myself to use it more as the results have never disappointed me. Quite awkward focal length for me, not for you as it seems.

Dec 13, 2011 at 08:10 PM

RustyBug
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

Actually, the Leica 60 and the Sigma 70 are the two that I was specifically trying to remember. But don't stop there ... keep 'em coming.

Now if someone just made a tack sharp 65/2.0 macro with excellent bokeh at both mfd & infinity (not possible I know) and tons of micro-contrast with smooth transitions for around $100 ... did someone say "Coastal Optics" at 100X the $$$.

Dec 13, 2011 at 08:32 PM

Kingfishphoto
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

Kent- I have a beautiful Sigma 70 macro in Nikon mount- on B/S, as we speak.
Harry Palmer

Dec 13, 2011 at 08:55 PM

jcolwell
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #11 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

I think the Mamiya M42 60mm f/2.8 macro is very nice.

Mamiya macro sekor 60/2.8 M42 http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/863874

The Voigtlander SL Color Heliar 75/2.5 mentioned by Steve is also very nice (not a macro), but I rarely used it, so I sold it a few years ago.

Dec 13, 2011 at 08:56 PM

RustyBug
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #12 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

Harry ... I'm shooting EF mount, but thanks for the heads up.

Jim ... thanks for the link ... sounds interesting. Time for some research. How would you say the sekor drawing style compares with the M645 glass?

Dec 13, 2011 at 09:53 PM

wayne seltzer
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

Zeiss Jena Biotar 75/1.5, a lens with a lot of character!

Dec 13, 2011 at 10:19 PM

jcolwell
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #14 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

RustyBug wrote:
Jim ... thanks for the link ... sounds interesting. Time for some research. How would you say the sekor drawing style compares with the M645 glass?

Kent, I hate to admit that I can't tell you. My daughter has been using it for field work with bees, for most of the time that I've had it - or not had it, if you know what I mean. I'm happy that it's a relatively small and very sharp little macro (goes to 1:1). But I haven't used it enough recently to comment on its style.

Dec 13, 2011 at 11:04 PM

philip_pj
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #15 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

It would be easy for me, Kent - the Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f2.8, here is a lens sheet, these are probably close to CZ bench data:

http://us.leica-camera.com/service/downloads/lenses_for_single_lens_reflex_cameras/macro-elmarit-r_60_mm_f28/index.html

Slightly weak outer frame wide open, terrific everywhere by f5.6, might 'beat' your best lens handily, which may be worth something to you - Zeiss like flat lines. It's a 6/5 lens and 400 grams light, 62mm x 68mm, deep recessed elements at both ends.

Many consider it the best 'normal' lens one can buy. Pix at the Leica R thread. Different from most of your other lenses too. Cheapish - well, Leica cheap anyway, many have a bit of cosmetic wear, they get plenty of use, I'd say.

Dec 14, 2011 at 06:14 AM

kosmoskatten
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

As an allrounder, the Leica R60/2.8 macro. A great "normal" lens that does it all well.

As a close up lens (and stopped down to 5.6 at least, for infinity) the Zeiss 60/2.8 AE.

Dec 14, 2011 at 09:22 AM

philber
Online
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #17 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

ONe more vote for the Leica R 60mm Makro. Although, as noted, it does all very well, from macro to landscape, close up to infinity. I use it on my Sony NEX 5N, so it is also versatile from the cam body POV.

Dec 14, 2011 at 09:48 AM

AhamB
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

The Contax MP60/2.8 MTF data don't look as good as the Leica's. It looks like the Contax has a lot more astigmatism. The Contax is optimized for 1:10 though, and MTFs look quite good at 1:10. Leica doesn't provide MTFs for 1:10 or 1:2 unfortunately. The Leica charts give the impression that the lens is without weaknesses, which may be a bit optimistic. One thing I've seen in some shots from the Leica is some cyan LoCA, which surprised me a bit because I haven't really seen much of that in other 50-60mm lenses with such a moderate aperture.

@Kent: Did you consider the Oly 50/2 Macro? (I know, not 60-75mm but the rendering and performance may be unique enough.)

Dec 14, 2011 at 10:23 AM

RustyBug
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #19 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

Thanks all for the input.

I wasn't specifically looking for a macro, but I'm not opposed to it either. I'm trying (still) to get my bag "established" as to what I want to "always" carry. In the "old days" (read young sailor with no money) I carried a bag that had this lineup:

Sigma 28mm Macro
Nikon 50/2.0 (little used)
Nikon 75-150 Series E
Tamron 300/5.6
Vivitar 2X

That was it, shot chrome, life was simple (i.e. ignorance is bliss).

Today ... thanks to the wonderful members of FM ... ignorance has been obliterated, but I'm still yearning for that (elusive) bag. The biggest problem is that now that I've been exposed to the alt realm ... I haven't met an alt that I didn't like.

Of course, that's been an ongoing problem of many a "lens-a-holic" ... but I'd like to make a move away from that and I recently purchased a 24 TS-E that is intended to "anchor" my bag as a "lifetime" lens because there is no "alt" for it.

So, that puts me thinking something like 24 tilt, 60-75 (knowing I don't like 50's), 90-110 & Sigma 100-300/4 with a 1.4X as my "ready for anything" bag.

But, as many of you know choosing between such glass as the Leica 90/2.8, Nikon 105/2.5 & Mamiya 110/2.8 for your "100" is no easy task either ... kinda like choosing between a brunette, a blonde & a redhead.

(My wife never has learned to appreciate that analogy.)

Anyway, my profile has the laundry list of glass I currently own. Feel free to make a bag retooling recommendation ... kind of a pick 4 or pick 5 ... looking at IQ and versatility to build the "ready" kit.

I suppose if I were to build it myself today (with what I've got) it would look like this:

Oly 18/3.5
Canon 24/3.5 TSE
C/Y 35-70/3.4
M645 80/4 Macro
Leica 90/2.8 R
Sigma 100-300/4
Sigma 1.4X

That being said, I'm looking at the 60-75 range as a way of maybe removing the 35-70 and/or the 80 from the equation with something a bit faster ... hence, the OP.

Again, thanks for the input.

Also, Jim ... you got any pics/links for that Sekor your daughter has stolen from you?

Dec 14, 2011 at 02:11 PM

philber
Online
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #20 · 60mm-75mm lens recommendations

RB, I have both C/Y 35-70 and Leica 60mm. It is no contest, and I will sell the C/Y. That also rids you of one adapter, as you already have a Leica R 90...

Dec 14, 2011 at 02:31 PM

1 2 end
FM Forums \| Alternative Gear & Lenses \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 end