Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/05
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KK Hui,
>>Would you recommend it for portrait work<<
Most portraits are taken within the 85mm to 105 range;
thus, it's a little wider than what's considered correct ;-)!
However, I like using it for portrait work; for other reasons
as well.......listed below.
>>user comments on this lens...sharpness,contrast,<<
>>color & resolution....wide open....down to f4....center<<
>>& edge<<
Whew, a rather tall order ;-)! However, I'll do my best
to give you my subjective impressions; based only on
viewing slides/light table with a 4X & 22X loupe.
It's characteristics ( my lens ) are rather unique in that
sharpness improves more rapidly from f1.4 to f2 than
contrast from f1.4 to f2; however, contrast at f1.4 is quite
good & just gets better......f4 performance is excellent!
Using the eye/eyelashes as a metric; it's hard to
differentiate between f1.4 & f2 performance; i.e,
it's contrast performance at f1.4 compensates
for it's lessor sharpness at f1.4. In summary,
portraits look great at f1.4, & "snap" at f2 thru f4.
Finally, add in it's rather unique "glow"; might this
be that infamous "bokeh"? All in all, aside from
being a tad heavy, & it's balance on a R8/winder
overcomes that; the 80 f1.4 lens produces beautiful
colors.............a definite "keeper" ;-)!
Tom D.