Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/09/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]First, check the LUG archives as this has come up before. I will however bite the hook as I seem to own every 50mm F2.0 lens Leica ever made including some variations of the same design as I just had to know what they really looked like. It's a disease. Fight it or face constant drains on your finances. Now back to our regularly scheduled LUG discussion. Without a doubt if you do not want to shoot at F1.4 then the 90 APO is the way to go. It is smaller and sharper at F2.0 especially in the outer zones. Also, it is smaller and lighter. The new 90 is not quite as good in the transition to OOF as it is more abrupt, nor does the OOF look as smooth as the 75. Bear in mind these are small differences that you see somewhere beyond 11X14 using a high acutance film and really good technique. Another point is that many find the 75 frame lines confusing so heads get trimmed. Last point, no matter which way you decide, you will have a lens beyond reproach. Now, how about a disturbing thought. If you aren't going to be shooting around 1.4 to 2.0 very often or already have a 50 or 35 Summilux, have you thought about the latest 90 Elmarit. Small, very, very high image quality, and can be had for half the price of the above. You pay a pretty steep price to shoot wide open. Focus has to be exact, the equipment cost hundreds more, it weighs more, and it will partially block your viewfinder. The flip side is you have images that look like no one else has no matter how much money they spend or how good they are unless they are using similar equipment. What's similar? The 110 F2.0 lens for the Hasselblad system. Some would say the 85 F1.4 for the Contax system; a few brave souls on this list would say the 85 1.4's or 1.2's from the Japanese houses. My experience is that wide open the contrast is not in the same ballpark and the outer zones don't hold up as well from the Japanese offerings. One of many posts in response to your question. Don Dory dorysrus@mindspring.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html