Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Having tried a few out (as in all of the below), I settled on the <gasp> Hexanon 90/2.8. It's cheap enough to buy new, is devilishly sharp, but it doesn't have harsh bokeh and like all of the K***** line it is basically designed around classic bokeh. The nice thing about it with an M3 (which is what I use it with most of the time) is that between the HM finder of the body and the relatively fast focus twist of the lens makes it a snap, so to speak. And as between K and current L 90/2.8, it's a dead heat. The Elmarit has a longer throw for focusing. If you saw the two together, and you couldn't read the nameplates, you would have a very hard time distinguishing K from L. Nor would your finished product know the difference. Main differences: different leather case; different cap; different grip pattern. Otherwise, same weight, same size, same layout, same color scheme, same materials. I give a slight edge in finish to the K because (1) it has no black specs in the glass (flaking paint) and (2) doesn't have wear around the screw holes like the Elmarits tend to exhibit (you can actually see this in one of the catalogs). The Leica is a great lens in its own right, but very $$$. Pretty much the pinnacle of 90s. But it's no bargain, whether new or used. Then you get the best performance for money lenses: 105/2.5 Nikkor (under $500) then the 85/2 Nikkor (under $500). From what I have been able to tell, these are about as good as anything until the Elmarit-M 90. The 105 is well worth departing from the 90mm length. It is just a spectacular lens. The Nikon stuff is creeping up in price: the 85/2 is running over $500 now, and Samy's just listed a 105 for $895. User lenses are much cheaper as long as you don't need MIOJ. The next tier down is Leica 90s of older vintage, like the 90/4. Cheaper but slow. Then come the cheapo 85/2s - the Jupiter, the Canon, etc. Not bad lenses, and many are Sonnars. Although they may have some appeal due to their really low price, at 2.8 the newer 90/2.8s are sharper than the older 85/2s at 2.8. Cheers - ------------ Dante Stella On Thu, 4 Jan 2001, Douglas Cooper wrote: > > I'm sure this is old territory, but I have yet to look seriously into 90mm > Leica lenses. Now that I'm inseparable from my M3, I thought I'd try out > that frameline. Which 90 is considered to have the nicest balance between > sharpness and bokeh? And are any a bargain, like my DR Summicron? > > thanks, > > > Douglas Cooper > www.dysmedia.com >