View Full Version : Best Portrait Lens
wwulfsohn
11-19-2007, 07:40
What is your recommendation for the best m8 portrait lens for head and shoulder shots? I like a sharp face with lots of bokeh around the edges.
The best portrait lens you will get is the C Sonnar 50/1.5 - just read carefully the question about the focus shift. You can see some shots here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/86731438@N00/pool/tags/ZeissCSonnar50mmf1.5
tbarker13
11-19-2007, 07:58
That sonar is a neat lens. But my preference is the 75 lux. Though if you want more unforgiving sharpness, I suspect there will be those who suggest the 75 cron.
My choice would either be the 50 Lux ASPH and the 75AA.
boilerdoc2
11-20-2007, 06:19
75 Lux or cron. Can always soften an image in post.
Steve
The 75 Lux is a very nice specimen indeed.
I was also looking back through shots I took with the Elmarit 90/2.8, another nice lens and a lot more reasonably priced then the lux.
Philippe D.
11-20-2007, 11:16
For womens portrait: Lux 75
or Summar 5cm, then you'll make a lot of girl friends ;)
For mens portrait: Cron 90AA
bob cole
11-20-2007, 14:02
What is your recommendation for the best m8 portrait lens for head and shoulder shots? I like a sharp face with lots of bokeh around the edges.
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When the Japanese were big buyers a few years ago, this antique was a big seller at astronomical prices...The price has since come down a lot but remains a great portrait lens from the past:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/summicron/104237812/
75 lux is a great lens. Great bokeh wide open. Lens DOF than Noctilux and good focal length for head shots.
Jan
The 75 lux is one of the nicest lenses ever made, but I must admit that I prefer it on a film M. I like to get a little closer and the cropped sensor makes that a bit harder. A 50mm summilux of any vintage will do the trick. The ASPH will be sharper, but the pre-asph is still lovely and sharp...probably closer to the 75 lux in character.
Might as well add some pictures...
75 lux
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/unplugged/images/casey-wall-intense.jpg
Pre ASPH lux
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/sinclair-lux-pre-asph1.jpg
Sorry, I have posted these before a few times here and/or elsewhere. They are just the only real examples I have uploaded of these two lenses for portraiture. I tend to use medium format cameras for portraiture and the M8 for street/candids etc.
Oh, here is one more though...75 lux again. A profile though...
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/unplugged/images/reese-profile1.jpg
Keep in mind that shorter lenses can be good too...
35mm Lux ASPH
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/sinclair-family-meeting1.jpg
Again, 35mm lux asph
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/noelle-relish3-bw.jpg
What is your recommendation for the best m8 portrait lens for head and shoulder shots? I like a sharp face with lots of bokeh around the edges.
If money is not a problem, look at the Noctilux 50mm f/1. It's heavy, somewhat ugly, insanely expensive but renders such beautiful shots they'll make you forget all about that.
http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/m_system/lenses/465.html
Perhaps I am alone on this, but I don't think the noctilux is a good choice. It is only a stop faster than the summilux, and twice the weight and cost. It only focuses to 1m, so the .7m of the later summiluxes actually allow them to have less depth of field. Other than at f/1, the summilux is better at every aperture. You are better off just using the summilux and underexposing one stop...particularly if you are using digital. The special "look" it gives is not much different from the summilux pre-asph in my mind. Furthermore, it is only at f/1 in the dead center of the frame. It vignettes quite a large amount, so while it may be f/1 in the center, it is an f/2 in the corners. While some people swear by it, I think it is probably the least practical 50mm lens in the Leica lineup.
tbarker13
11-23-2007, 17:41
I had a choice between keeping my noctilux (at $2,700 through the M8 30 percent discount) or my 75 lux. (by choice, I mean that I told myself that I would only keep one).
It really was no contest in my mind. I just think I'll find a lot more uses for the lux over the years.
Heck, for the money I'd rather pair a 35 nokton with a 75 lux - at least on an M8.
75 Summarit is shaping up quite nicely, 'lux is nice but the lighter weight Summarit is quite useful at slower speeds and the IQ is not too shabby.
I too find the 35 'lux works well as a portrait lens on the M8 and the 24 can deliver quite pleasing results if you don't mind getting close
rwchisholm
11-24-2007, 12:39
Can't really afford much Leica glass... But I have a CV 50mm Nokton which takes nice looking portraits. I am thinking of getting their CV 90 as well.
I had a choice between keeping my noctilux (at $2,700 through the M8 30 percent discount) or my 75 lux. (by choice, I mean that I told myself that I would only keep one).
It really was no contest in my mind. I just think I'll find a lot more uses for the lux over the years.
Heck, for the money I'd rather pair a 35 nokton with a 75 lux - at least on an M8.
And I was more than happy to take the noctilux off of Tim's hands (Thanks Tim!! :D)
I think the 50 FL can work well for portraits. I do prefer the 50 lux to the nocti for portraits, and I also wish that you could get in a bit closer with the nocti, but the nocti does have its own unique signature...
Here are some examples shot with portra 160 vc
Lux 50 1.4
http://www.pbase.com/pphuang/image/81783222/original.jpg
Noctilux
http://www.pbase.com/pphuang/image/89418480/original.jpg
Best Portrait Lens?
First, which best focal lenght? As Stuart said, short lenses can be good (btw wonderful portraits, Stuart). Personnally, I like 50mm lenses for portraits.
Now which 50mm lens? In my case, I use a Summitar. I like this lens for portrait as it is soft enough to hide skin imperfection, but sharp enough to render all the details of the face, especially the eyes.
The Rigid Summicron I owned (sold it a week ago) was pretty good for portraits, maybe a little too sharp for my taste ... as you can imagine, I don't like the Nokton 50/1.5 for portrait which is way too sharp (but Nico's portraits are amazing with this lens, so I guess it's a matter of processing and post-processing).
That's all I can't say from my experience.
75 Lux or cron. Can always soften an image in post.
Steve
IMHO, it would be better to use a softer lens for portrait than a dead sharp one that needs softening in post-processing.
Some examples with the Summitar, already posted here and elsewhere:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1096/748139551_8caab832d2_o.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g6/83/699683/2/72375119.8r5n81HV.jpg
tbarker13
11-25-2007, 07:38
And I was more than happy to take the noctilux off of Tim's hands (Thanks Tim!! :D)
I think the 50 FL can work well for portraits. I do prefer the 50 lux to the nocti for portraits, and I also wish that you could get in a bit closer with the nocti, but the nocti does have its own unique signature...
Here are some examples shot with portra 160 vc
Very nice images, Paul.
I see that lens has found a loving home:)
Digital Dude
11-25-2007, 09:39
Keep in mind that shorter lenses can be good too...
Again, 35mm lux asph
http://www.stuartrichardson.com/noelle-relish3-bw.jpg
Not necessarily a fair comparison since this subject would likely look great with any lens on any camera.:D
Regards,
I have a Helios 85/f1.5 for my Pentax but I rarely use it. I really like my CV 75/f2.5 Heliar. However, I use my 50 Summitar the most just because of convenience. If I'm using my M3, the Summitar is usually attached to it. I find it a very versatile lens and it is great for portraits.
M3 + Summitar
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/1314290606_d7b2ac623e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fgsemedo/1314290606/)
Depending on how close I want to get, how much background to include, how much detail in the face to show while still being flattering,and how I want the OOF area, my choices are the 50 Lux ASPH, or the current 90 2.8 Elmarit.
This is what I also liked & still do on film, I adjust my positioning for the crop.
Basically, you really need to tell us what look you like in a portrait and how you compose it for a good suggestion from us.
Best,
Ray
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