Leica 90mm Summicron-R

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Archive 2008 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

thrice
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p.1 #1 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Call me a doubter but I always thought all this "leica glow" and "leica colour" stuff is a bit of garbage...

I just got the adapters for my Summicron-R 90/2 and 35/2 and I have to say I'm a convert.

I've only fired off a few shots with the 90 but I must say it's one of the most underrated lenses I've ever used. It has a little purple fringing and longitudinal chromatic aberration, but it's not around OOF highlights so it's not very noticeable. I am amazed at the colours that come straight from RAW files with just lightroom default import settings (+50 brightness +25 contrast). I've exported some jpeg's resized to 1000pix on the longest edge and used lightroom's "sharpen for screen" at standard in the output. All are sRGB. Sorry about the boring subject matter

All shot wide open at varying ISO (see exif) note I got the programmed focus confirm adapters from big_is... 3 business days to Australia! Very impressive - So all my shots record as 90mm f/2.0 with this lens. Great build quality with the very tiniest amount of wiggle if I try hard (same as I get with my EF lenses so no biggie).

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Look at the colours on this one!
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100%

Once again sorry for the boring subject matter! I'll have to compare this to my 85/1.8 and 135/2L ASAP

Edited on Nov 07, 2008 at 01:31 PM · View previous versions

Nov 07, 2008 at 09:51 AM

slungu
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p.1 #2 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

These two Summicrons are very nice lenses - I used both on a DRebel and liked them very much - I think they are a great combination. Only weaker point on the 35 was that the corners never sharpened up on full frame. Other than that, great - so I am sure you will have a lot of fun with them

Nov 07, 2008 at 10:41 AM

s23chang
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p.1 #3 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Didn't you see my 5 most freq used lens in another thread here?

4 of 5 are Summicrons

Here are my 5 most freq used out of 43

1. Leica Summicron 180mm F2 APO ( mostly for landscape and portrait )
2. Leica Summicron 50mm F2 version 1 ( best walk around )
3. Leica Summicron 90mm F2 ( lighter than Leica 80/1.4 and I rarely need to shoot at wide open other than portrait )
4. Leica Summicron 35mm F2 ( closeup and low light )
5. Minolta MC 58/1.2 Rokkor-x PG ( mostly for portrait )

Nov 07, 2008 at 11:39 AM

thrice
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p.1 #4 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

s23chang wrote:
Didn't you see my 5 most freq used lens in another thread here?

I did indeed! and I am in fact considering the two I have yet to acquire from your list... I will probably get the 180/2.8 to save weight, I'm trying to build a very minimal pack covering everything 17-180mm (17, 21, 24, 35, 50, 90, 135, 180) approximately in primes. I have all except 21 and 180

My pentax will probably do me fine as a lightweight 50, but I want to try the summicron out of curiosity.

However, the Cosina Voigtlander 180/4 APO-Lanthar might find it's way into my pack simply because it is APO and much cheaper/smaller than the leica 180/2.8 APO.

Nov 07, 2008 at 12:00 PM

Conner999
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p.1 #5 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Congrats on the new lens. the 90 'cron pre-APO is very nice glass and draws very differently than it's APO brother. One almost needs both ;>

The Cv 180/4 is a very nice lens - compact, sharp, color corrected and inexpensive. Another lens to consider if you want the extra stop is the Mamiya 200/2.8 M645 APO. It's heavy and larger than the CV and Leica 180, but is very, very close to Leica APO quality.

Nov 07, 2008 at 02:46 PM

thrice
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p.1 #6 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Conner999 wrote:
Congrats on the new lens. the 90 'cron pre-APO is very nice glass and draws very differently than it's APO brother. One almost needs both ;>

The Cv 180/4 is a very nice lens - compact, sharp, color corrected and inexpensive. Another lens to consider if you want the extra stop is the Mamiya 200/2.8 M645 APO. It's heavy and larger than the CV and Leica 180, but is very, very close to Leica APO quality.

I really want the 90 APO, but the weak Aussie dollar put sand on that fire. Unless I find someone willing to part with one for US1500 or so I'm afraid that dream will have to wait a while until I have more disposable income

Cheapest I've found was 2399 on ebay.

I did a quick check and the non-APO 90 has essentially no coma wide open making it good for star photography... I remember I was doing this test for someone but now I forget

Haven't checked the 35 yet.

EDIT: DAMN! that Mamiya can be had for a steal! Don't make it too popular you'll drive the price up

It's too big for me but I'm gonna recommend it to some of my friends who prefer big & heavy

Nov 07, 2008 at 03:16 PM

CVickery
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p.1 #7 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

I agree that the Summicron 90/2 is a nice lens and a very good value at today's prices. (I know since I'm trying to sell mine

) What is you opinion of the Summicron 35/2 that you mentioned? It's on my short list of wants, along with the Elmarit 35/2.8 and the Elmarit 28/2.8 .

Nov 07, 2008 at 05:18 PM

thrice
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p.1 #8 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

I've done very little shooting with it, but it's exceptional. Sharp at f/2.

I'll do more formal testing on Sunday when I get a day off from work

Nov 07, 2008 at 10:06 PM

Mike Ganz
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p.1 #9 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

The flower colors just pop off my screen...really nice. Looks like the dog picture is a bit backfocused?

Nov 09, 2008 at 05:32 PM

thrice
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p.1 #10 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Mike Ganz wrote:
The flower colors just pop off my screen...really nice. Looks like the dog picture is a bit backfocused?

lol yes I was actually trying to get the gate an the dog wondered over thinking he was going for a walk, didn't want to focus on his balloon knot

I just bit the bullet and paid up for an APO-Summicron-R 90mm f/2 ... I paid USD1595 for one in EX++ (apparently) and recently cleaned by Don Goldberg, someone please reassure me I got a good deal...

CVickery wrote:
I agree that the Summicron 90/2 is a nice lens and a very good value at today's prices. (I know since I'm trying to sell mine

) What is you opinion of the Summicron 35/2 that you mentioned? It's on my short list of wants, along with the Elmarit 35/2.8 and the Elmarit 28/2.8 .

The Summicron 35 is sharp at f/2, and blazingly sharp at f/4, the corners don't seem to ever get there though, there is some extreme field curvature in the extreme corners but it doesn't clear up at f/5.6 (smallest I've shot thus far) but I don't notice it in resized/printed shots, only on 100% on the monitor so it's a non issue imo.

Here are some 90/2 non-apo shots:
1
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And these are 35/2 shots which were mostly f/5.6 and SOME at f/2
5 three shot vertical pano
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6 Look at the ford running the red light

Nov 09, 2008 at 11:27 PM

telyt
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p.1 #11 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

One of the nicest features of the late 35mm Summicron-R is the almost complete lack of flare. The only time I've gotten flare with it is when a light source (usually the sun) is outside the picture area and its light bounces off the side of the mirror box.

Nov 10, 2008 at 01:37 AM

thrice
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p.1 #12 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Tiny front element and built-in lens hood probably helps a lot there

plus it is a unique design with a very narrow barrel which also helps I'm sure. Definitely a good buy for what I paid.

Nov 10, 2008 at 02:25 AM

Ed Sawyer
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p.1 #13 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

"balloon knot" ROTFL!

-Ed

Nov 10, 2008 at 03:52 AM

CVickery
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p.1 #14 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Thanks thrice. The your Summicron 35/2 looks very nice. I admit I'm a little concerned about the corners on FF, but at least with the web sized images there's no apparent cause for concern.

Nov 11, 2008 at 05:01 AM

adamM
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p.1 #15 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

A second on the 'cron 90mm
It's my favorite portrait lens

Nov 11, 2008 at 06:10 AM

thrice
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p.1 #16 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Stunning Adam, the background blur is very pleasant on this lens, and the transition between focus and OOF is very smooth. I'll likely keep the standard 90 'cron for portraits, using the apo ASPH version for everything else (including low-light high-iso stuff) where it's additional detail and apochromatic nature are of benefit.

Nov 11, 2008 at 09:25 AM

Conner999
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p.1 #17 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

PM sent

Nov 11, 2008 at 12:51 PM

thrice
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p.1 #18 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Conner999 wrote:
PM sent

Replied

Nov 11, 2008 at 03:02 PM

asbalyan
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p.1 #19 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

I have the first version of Elmarit-R... That doesnt seem (capable of) these levels...

Is Summicorn is much better than Elmarit (lets take APO version out of scope for some time)?

Nov 11, 2008 at 05:25 PM

Conner999
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p.1 #20 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

The last version of the 90/2.8 is outstanding - outperforming the 1st close up, etc. That said, your 1st version 90/2.8 should be sharper than the 90/2 pre-apo until about F5.6 or so when they should start to look similar (in resolution terms only).

Bokeh on the 90/2 would be considered smoother/more buttery and it has that Mandler 'glow' (like the 80 Summilux) vs the 90/2.8 which is why the former and the 80 are so well regarded as a portrait/'artistic' lens. Take a close look at your lens, etc if you think it's resolution seems 'off' vs what you're seeing here at the same apertures.

As you suggest, the 90/2 APO is a whole other kettle of fish.

Nov 11, 2008 at 08:47 PM

thrice
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p.1 #21 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Some pictures from work drinks, at either ISO400 or ISO800, slightly underexposed so had to boost exposure in PP. Not all pictures taken by me (only the in focus ones by me

) but all taken with the 90/2 summicron-R on my 5D.

These two taken with the 35/2 Summicron-R

Nov 13, 2008 at 11:05 AM

phuang3
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p.1 #22 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Just for comparison, these were taken with 90 APO.

f/2

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f/2.8

Nov 18, 2008 at 04:35 AM

thrice
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p.1 #23 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

Makes me even more anxious to receive my copy of the APO

Nov 18, 2008 at 11:31 AM

JimU
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p.1 #24 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

wow

Apr 23, 2009 at 04:44 PM

Tri Tran
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p.1 #25 · Leica 90mm Summicron-R

I received my 90mm f2 today!!!! So excited, however, focusing is stiffer than Zeiss lenses, is that normal?

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Oct 21, 2009 at 05:53 AM


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