Let's talk tele

[DoveVadar]

I'm feeling the itch once again for a tele lens action and am looking at the Sonnar ZM, Summicron 90 pre-asph or the Summicron 75 Apo.

From my readings, it seems the Sonnar is all the way sharp and crisp with very smooth bokeh with the incorporation os the floating element. Size wise abit on the large side, no chrome is the main reason why I havent gotten it till now

Cron 90 is also quite interesting in the contrast department. Objects are sharp but not clinical. Very well defined outline of object but lacking in micro details. OOF is also quite noisy if I must say...

Cron 75 apo seems like a very well balanced lens. I know most of you will ask me to go for the Lux.. But it is huge and heavy and I dont really think f1,4 at 75mm will be fun to focus fast for street. 75mm cron seems to be the most high resolving of the lot, alightly better than the sonnar 85. My only grip with this lens is that it is too close to the 50mm - most of my standard lenses.

Hopefully people here can share some experience with their tele lenses since it is one of the rarely discussed topic in this forum and will be helpful to alot of others here.

So far, I tried the tele-elmarit. It is soft, very soft wide open and bloody tiny, shorter than my 50mm lenses.

Tele-Elmarit + Ektar 100

 

[meven]

I have the Summicron 90 pre-ASPH and love it. I have it in chrome of course, it is very heavy compare to the black version.

I do like the bokeh a lot. I have not used the other lenses so I can't compare.

Here a photos of the Summicron 90 pre-ASPH against some ZM lenses.


And here are some photos on the M9 (maynly bokeh shots to show you how it is)

 

[meven]

Now some photos on Agfa APX400 pushed to ISO800 and developped in Rodinal 1+30.






You might also want to look at the Konica Hexanon 90/2.8, it is tiny and the best part, wait for it... It is a SONNAR! Unfortunately it only comes in black, no chrome...

Check out my flickr for some shots with the Konica Hexanon 90/2.8: http://www.flickr.com/photos/from_max/tags/konicahexanon90mmf28/

 

[alex36]

The Nikkor 105 2.5 is a great lens if you can find a good copy and don't mind guesstimating the frame!

 

[fuwen]

ZM 85/2. Good lens but price on the high side though .........

http://www.fuwen.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=162

 

[dankwan]

Contax G 90/2.8 converted to M mount....tiny, light, sharp and best of all...sonnar (comes in black and chrome)

 

[gommy]

Skinny TeleElmarit is actually quite sharp wide open- at least my copy. My fave traveling 90mm.
Chrome version 1 TeleElmarit(fat) is a nice match for you LHSA Lux50. It has nice rendition.
3elements Elmar is also small and light.
Cron90AA resolving power is super!
Cron75AA has the closest focussing distance for a regular tele.
Rollei HFT 80mmf2.8 is also very nice. Come in chrome & black. Hard to find now especially chrome one.
Nikkor85f2(black) & Nikkor105f2.5, both sonnar are great too.

 

[NazgulKing]

I have an old tele-elmarit 90mm/2.8 and I generally like I produce when I use it with the GF1.

On the other hand, I haven't used the lens much on my Bessa, though I suspect the short EBL is hindering my ability to produce decently focused images unless I stop it down.

 

[meven]

Contax G 90/2.8 converted to M mount....tiny, light, sharp and best of all...sonnar (comes in black and chrome)

I agree, it is a great lens. However Mr DoveVadar is a fashionista and the chrome of the Contax G 90/2.8 will not match the chrome of his MP...

It's like putting a titanium lens on a chrome body.

 

[fuwen]

I have an old tele-elmarit 90mm/2.8 and I generally like I produce when I use it with the GF1.

On the other hand, I haven't used the lens much on my Bessa, though I suspect the short EBL is hindering my ability to produce decently focused images unless I stop it down.

I have been using my 85/2 at f2 on my Rollei 35RF (Bessa R2) no issue.

 

[ZoomP]

I like both my Nikkor 85 f2.0 LTM Sonnar and Voigtlander 75 f1.8

 

[DoveVadar]

wow.. Thanks guys for the input~

Max:: theses are nice pictures and very crisp. Did you sharpen them in post process? And no, im not a fashionista

Gommy:: wow. im surprised. My tele-elmarit not very sharp. I also like the look of the fat tele-elmarit! Its like a summilux on steroid!. Have you tried the image quality of this lens? Does it flare?

fuwen:: thanks for your nice review of the sonnar. I figured you have all the lenses of zm already? lol. But seriously sonnar is looking good. I shot with an 85mm today.. love the feel. .totally unobstructed.

 

[meven]

Max:: theses are nice pictures and very crisp. Did you sharpen them in post process? And no, im not a fashionista

Just kidding Francis .

The M9 photos had no sharpening but the film photos had some, not much though. This lens is very sharp when properly calibrated.

It is the second sample I have and both of them were focusing properly on digital bodies. I sold my first chrome Summicron 90 to a good friend of mine in HK and instantly regretted doing so, I had to get another one soon after. It is very heavy but it is a beautiful piece of German engineering and I love its signature.

If I could, I would go for the Zeiss Sonnar but I don't use my 90 enough to justify the price...

 

[toff]

I've got the 75 Summicron ASPH, the 90 Elmarit-M (with slide out hood) and German made 90 Tele Elmarit (thin).

The 75 Cron is the sharpest of the lot with great contrast. The 90 Elmarit-M is a very nice lens and good value if you can find one used. It is sharp with a nice transition to out of focus areas and is not too physically large.

The 90 Tele Elmarit is actually a sharp lens, but has lower contrast then the other two. It is physically small so is nice to have on travels.

Chris

 

[cchsieh]

I will vote for 90mm cron preasph. I think this lens deserve more attention. Simply a superb lens.
The tone from this lens for black and white is stunning and super sharp when stop down at f4

shots taken with the lens.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49446419@N03/sets/72157625636035479/

 

[hookonclassic]

I'm feeling the itch once again for a tele lens action and am looking at the Sonnar ZM, Summicron 90 pre-asph or the Summicron 75 Apo.

From my readings, it seems the Sonnar is all the way sharp and crisp with very smooth bokeh with the incorporation os the floating element. Size wise abit on the large side, no chrome is the main reason why I havent gotten it till now

Cron 90 is also quite interesting in the contrast department. Objects are sharp but not clinical. Very well defined outline of object but lacking in micro details. OOF is also quite noisy if I must say...

Cron 75 apo seems like a very well balanced lens. I know most of you will ask me to go for the Lux.. But it is huge and heavy and I dont really think f1,4 at 75mm will be fun to focus fast for street. 75mm cron seems to be the most high resolving of the lot, alightly better than the sonnar 85. My only grip with this lens is that it is too close to the 50mm - most of my standard lenses.

Hopefully people here can share some experience with their tele lenses since it is one of the rarely discussed topic in this forum and will be helpful to alot of others here.

So far, I tried the tele-elmarit. It is soft, very soft wide open and bloody tiny, shorter than my 50mm lenses.

Bro...hand itchy again huh...

Some of my experience on the problem with using a RF tele lenses ...

- long and heavy for most of the fast (f1.4, f1.8, f2) tele lenses...chrome lens will weight a ton...don't think you will like to carry for oversea travel
- for hand held shooting, tele lens need 1/90 sec shutter speed without hand shake...you will really appreciate fast lens for the extra stop in low light
- older tele LTM lenses (Canon 85mm f2) flare badly in bright harsh light, hood is a must...
- need VF magnifier or 0.91 VF from M3 for fast and accurate focusing

Difficult to help you choose...
I love the size for 90mm f2.8 Elmarit (most current) for the shape...a well balanced lens for outdoor daytime street shoot...looks sexy with M3 VF
I love the 90mm f2 pre-ASPH Summicronn for the OOF rendition and one stop faster
I love the 75mm f1.4 Summilux for the classic glow wide open and usability hand held at low light

Have fun exploring...