Re: [Leica] R portraits

[Leon Davenport <leonjdav@pacbell.net>]

Dear Doug,


I just purchased the 80mm f/1.4 and I'm delighted.  I traded in a 90mm f/2
(a Canadian made lens) and I'm very glad I did.  I almost purchased the
100mm f/2.8, but something bothered me.  I not sure what.  I believe it was
to flat of field as compared to the 80mm.  I wouldn't hesitate to use it on
a macro subject, (the ability to pull detail out of Jell-O has to be
respected) but at infinity I didn't like what it gave me.  The 80mm felt
right and had the look that I wanted.  The speed of the lens is also a plus.
Which ever you choose you will be getting an excellent lens.


Leon.




> From: Doug Herr <Telyt@compuserve.com>
> Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2000 23:44:09 -0500
> To: 
> 
"INTERNET:leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us"<leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.
us> >
> Subject: [Leica] R portraits
> 
> Gib Robinson wrote:
>>>> 
> I'd like some help choosing a portrait lens for an R8. I don't own any
> lenses above 50mm that are faster than f/4 and I'd like one. As far as I
> know, my choices are 80 Summilux, 90 Summicron, 100 f/2.8 APO Macro. I've
> been leaning toward the 80mm 1.4 because it seems like a very workable
> focal
> length with ideal speed. The APO macro seems a tad long and a tweak slow in
> spite of it's legendary qualities as a macro lens. What's been the
> experience of this group?
> <<<
> 
> My experience is with the 90 Summicron-R, the 100 APO-Macro and the 135
> Elmarit-R.  IMHO the 90 is a better portrait lens than the 100 APO because
> it's gentler to skin complexion than the 100, and the bokeh is more
> pleasing.  The 90 is more likely to be too short than too long.  The 135 is
> in the same class as the 90 Summicron-R, and is better when my subjects
> want more personal space.  Both the 90 and the 135 give excellent detail
> and colors but the micro-contrast and color saturation of the 100 APO are
> in another league.  I also feel like the 100 is rather large to be pointing
> toward someone's face, like it may be a bit intimidating to some subjects.
> Of these my favorite by far for portraits is the 90.
> 
> Doug Herr
> Sacramento
> http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/telyt