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Archive 2008 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

Paul Yi
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

I wasn't able to use this lens because I did not have an adapter for it.
I finally received the adapter, and tried few test shots, and I'm in love.
This is one cute lens with lots to offer...especially at such a low price.
I've always like Leica colors....
And, I don't understand why many people say this lens is soft at wide open.
It looks pretty sharp to me.
I'm going to bring it to this weekend's hike, and take some pictures, but meanwhile...

Dec 03, 2008 at 02:58 PM

mpmendenhall
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

I'm looking forward to using my 90/2 for actual pictures over the upcoming holidays. I haven't had the time yet to do any more than dinky test shots with it. I certainly wouldn't classify it as soft — true, it's not as sharp as an 85L, but that just means the Leica gives sharp looking images on a 5D while the 85L gives sharp looking images with aliasing/moire problems where it seriously outresolves the sensor.

The 90/2 seems better at holding texture/detail a bit out of the depth of focus; instead of a uniform gaussian blur as objects pass out of the plane of focus, nearly-focused objects appear as a sharpish image with a superimposed diffuse halo. As a result, you get more perceived depth of field on the image subject, with the same level of far-background blurring, which I think helps to make subjects stand out with a more "3D look". I see the same happening with the Leica Summicron 50/2.

Dec 03, 2008 at 03:28 PM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

mpmendenhall wrote:
I'm looking forward to using my 90/2 for actual pictures over the upcoming holidays. I haven't had the time yet to do any more than dinky test shots with it. I certainly wouldn't classify it as soft � true, it's not as sharp as an 85L, but that just means the Leica gives sharp looking images on a 5D while the 85L gives sharp looking images with aliasing/moire problems where it seriously outresolves the sensor.

The 90/2 seems better at holding texture/detail a bit out of the depth of focus; instead of a uniform gaussian blur as objects pass out of...Show more →

+ 1

Dec 03, 2008 at 03:34 PM

s23chang
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

I think it is a great lens for the price. It really good and sharp from F4 and on.

Dec 03, 2008 at 04:09 PM

Conner999
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

The 90/2 is a VERY nice lens and one of THE best bargains in Leica land.

The 80 Lux, another Mandler lens, draws very similarly. The 90/2 is razor sharp in center starting from F4-5.6, the 80 Lux from 2.8-4 (in short, 1 stop ahead of the 90 for obvious reasons). You do get that nice gradual transition from in/out of focus vs. some lenses which have a more abrupt transition.

Dec 03, 2008 at 04:23 PM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

Did I mention that it's a very cute looking lens as well?
It has a nice built-in hood as well.

Its rendering of out of focus area is really a top notch.

Dec 03, 2008 at 04:41 PM

s23chang
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

I guess you haven't seen Summilux 80 and Summicron 180/2 APO yet

Paul Yi wrote:
Did I mention that it's a very cute looking lens as well?
It has a nice built-in hood as well.

Its rendering of out of focus area is really a top notch.

Dec 03, 2008 at 04:43 PM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

s23chang wrote:
I guess you haven't seen Summilux 80 and Summicron 180/2 APO yet

One of these days.....

I've just came back from a trip, and saw those two lenses, and I really wanted to get them, but I couldn't buy either one of them because I had to buy Contax N17-35.
AHHHH.... there are just too many good lenses out there.
Then again, I have many good lenses as well....

Dec 03, 2008 at 04:55 PM

Conner999
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

Ah, the 180/2 - that is a NICE lens. Should have kept mine...argh.

Paul - enjoying the 1DS2?

Dec 03, 2008 at 05:15 PM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

Conner999 wrote:
Ah, the 180/2 - that is a NICE lens. Should have kept mine...argh.

Paul - enjoying the 1DS2?

Enjoying is an understatement....

I really think I made a right decision choosing 1DsMKII over 5DMKII.
100% viewfinder alone makes me happy.

Dec 03, 2008 at 06:04 PM

telyt
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

Conner999 wrote:
The 90/2 is a VERY nice lens and one of THE best bargains in Leica land.

I've had mine for almost 30 years and I'll never give it up. It's a bit soft wide open to those of us who have tasted what a Leica APO lens can do - otherwise its drawing character is divine. It's not well-suited for use with extension tubes unless you like using really small apertures.

Dec 03, 2008 at 10:49 PM

thrice
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

There are two that you're likely to see.

Leica Summicron-R 90mm f:2.0 which is made in Canada
This is a 3CAM lens without the electronic contacts

or

Leica APO-Summicron-R 90mm f:2.0 ASPH which is made in Germany
A ROM lens with the electronic contacts

The former should set you back 300-600 USD
The latter about 1600-2400 USD

Dec 04, 2008 at 12:59 AM

HansenTsang
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

Thanks, I thought there were more versions.

Dec 04, 2008 at 01:09 AM

phuang3
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

As I know, there are three versions of Leica 90/2.0.
The photo above is the first version with 2-piece hood.
The 2nd version (SN3381677+) has E55 thread and 1-piece hood.
The last one is the 90 APO with E60 thread.

Dec 04, 2008 at 01:19 AM

SJMD
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

It was my first Leica lens, and a great way to start. it was away from me to sample a Leica lens without spending a great amount of money. A great value. Unfortunately,it will start you down the path of wanting more lens from Leica And they are not very inexpensive..

Dec 04, 2008 at 02:13 AM

thrice
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

phuang3 wrote:
As I know, there are three versions of Leica 90/2.0.
The photo above is the first version with 2-piece hood.
The 2nd version (SN3381677+) has E55 thread and 1-piece hood.
The last one is the 90 APO with E60 thread.

Optically there are two versions, this is what I was referring to.

SJMD wrote:
It was my first Leica lens, and a great way to start. it was away from me to sample a Leica lens without spending a great amount of money. A great value. Unfortunately,it will start you down the path of wanting more lens from Leica And they are not very inexpensive..

Same here! Followed shortly by the 35/2.0 Summicron-R, then the 90/2.0 APO-Summicron-R, a Leica M6 and finally a 35/2.5 Summarit for said M6

Dec 04, 2008 at 02:26 AM

Conner999
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

It's a little confusing, but there are actually three version of the NON-APO 90/2. Changes were strictly to the barrel and filter size/attachment. All are optically identical, regardless of country of manufacture, etc:

1st version - telescoping or stacking hood, series 7 w/filter retaining ring
2nd (or modified 1st) version - stacking hood, E55 filter threads
3rd and last version - lighter, straight 1-pc pull-out hood as in 90AA and other modern Leicas and E55 filter threads

All the re-designs did was reduce the weight of the lens somewhat and simplify/modernize the hood and filter attachment mechanics

#3 looks identical cosmetically to the 90 AA and while not a collector item, is not very commonly found used as I don't think many were made before the lens was dropped in favor of the (uber-spendy and hard to find used) 90/2 Apo Aspheric.

I've seen 1st versions (simply by way of being older) go for +/- $400 to final versions for +/- $600. Finding a clean 90 AA for under $2000 is considered bargain territory.

Edited on Dec 04, 2008 at 08:24 AM · View previous versions

Dec 04, 2008 at 08:18 AM

telyt
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

Conner999 wrote:
It's a little confusing, but there are actually three version of the NON-APO 90/2. Changes were strictly to the barrel and filter size/attachment. All are optically identical, regardless of country of manufacture, etc:

Also the first version may be either 2-cam or 3-cam.

Dec 04, 2008 at 08:23 AM

Conner999
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

Doug - yup.

Paul - glad you like the 1Ds2, she's a beaut. Try hooking a Nikon DK-17M magnifying eyepiece + rubber cup to the VF, helps even more with accurate manual focus

Dec 04, 2008 at 08:27 AM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Leica 90/2.0 ... is a GEM!

I think mine is a first version.
SN starts with 2463.
I like the stacking hood ... very cute.

Dec 04, 2008 at 08:40 AM

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