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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

LEICA R on RED: Pictures

Chad Peter said:
Thoughts on the 80mm Summilux vs. 90mm Summicron APO? If you had your pick...
Click to expand...

Chad, great tough question. I've gone back and forth a few times and eventually decided both were requirements :)

I find them both amazing/unique but very different. It probably boils down to the type of set you want – more vintage or modern, and the benefits/differences that go along with each. There are many reasons to go either way. While they're both all-Leica, the 80mm F1.4 Lux is the ultimate Mandler design from the late '70s (apparently his own favorite of the many lenses he designed) and full of character/bloom wide open but closed down it becomes one the sharpest vintage lenses available anywhere.

The 90mm F2 APO is a 2002 design with modern optical corrections that captures a more consistent well-corrected image across the frame and all apertures. The body design is much more modern too with more butter focus action. But if you prefer the character that comes along with vintage glass especially in out of focus areas, the 90 may seem a bit 'boring' by comparison (i.e. rather evenly blurred like most modern glass), whereas the 80 is full of character there. To complicate things, late 80 1.4s render colors that more closely resembles the 90 APO's in hue and saturation than an early 80 1.4 as there were various color updates over time.

Depending on the desired look I'll reach for one over the other. For instance a few weeks ago on a Vietnam-related docu scene with an older male talking head, the director wanted all the background foliage 'to disappear' and flatter him with a hint of softness but without missing in-focus sharpness. The 80 Lux 1.4 put a huge smile on his face when he saw it on the monitor at wide open. But for cleaner, very well-corrected edge to edge performance in modern Leica rendering style, the 90mm APO is an amazing option but at a higher price.

Otherwise even the classic 90 Summicron is amazing in its own right too, along with the 90 Elmarit (and then there's the astounding 70-180 2.8 APO zoom:)
There are just so many great Leica R lenses in this focal range, you really can't go wrong.

...

And great stills from your film Chad, I'm looking forward to it!
 
Jamon Lewis said:
I would say 90 APO hands down.. I've had both 90 APO & 80 LUX. I had the 90 APO first & got the 80 lUX to build a super speed set, ended up selling my 80 LUX to Mark M. The 80 just doesn't inspire confidence wide open to me, I would have to end up stopping it down to f2 get acceptable sharpness & at the APO is just as sharp if not sharper & is much better as far as CA. The copy of the 80 LUX was in great shape btw.
Click to expand...

Since you've taken the more modern Leica route, the 90 Summicron APO makes a perfect fit in your line-up.

And I agree, your classic 80 Lux was in great shape and wound up in an early '80s set I built last year :)
 
Mark M said:
Thanks David! As boring as it may sound I could capture clouds all day long.

Some of this footage is making its way into an upcoming MV. Will post the link hopefully in a week or so.
Click to expand...

The MV with that cloud footage was released today (first 15 seconds). The rest was captured on Leica R glass – 19mm Elmarit & 90mm Summcrion in one long night at a club but attached to A7riis (for budgetary reasons:). I was camera operator on most wide to mids and contributed the glass along with my A7rii. The director is a good friend and talented photographer who's in the process of transitioning to motion work. A couple years ago I handed him a Leica R to play with and he was blown away. Since then his Canon glass was entirely replaced by Leica Rs.

Here's a link to the MV release:
http://www.stereogum.com/1896918/of-montreal-lets-relate-video/franchises/premiere/
 
Mark M said:
Chad, great tough question. I've gone back and forth a few times and eventually decided both were requirements :)

I find them both amazing/unique but very different. It probably boils down to the type of set you want – more vintage or modern, and the benefits/differences that go along with each. There are many reasons to go either way. While they're both all-Leica, the 80mm F1.4 Lux is the ultimate Mandler design from the late '70s (apparently his own favorite of the many lenses he designed) and full of character/bloom wide open but closed down it becomes one the sharpest vintage lenses available anywhere.

The 90mm F2 APO is a 2002 design with modern optical corrections that captures a more consistent well-corrected image across the frame and all apertures. The body design is much more modern too with more butter focus action. But if you prefer the character that comes along with vintage glass especially in out of focus areas, the 90 may seem a bit 'boring' by comparison (i.e. rather evenly blurred like most modern glass), whereas the 80 is full of character there. To complicate things, late 80 1.4s render colors that more closely resembles the 90 APO's in hue and saturation than an early 80 1.4 as there were various color updates over time.

Depending on the desired look I'll reach for one over the other. For instance a few weeks ago on a Vietnam-related docu scene with an older male talking head, the director wanted all the background foliage 'to disappear' and flatter him with a hint of softness but without missing in-focus sharpness. The 80 Lux 1.4 put a huge smile on his face when he saw it on the monitor at wide open. But for cleaner, very well-corrected edge to edge performance in modern Leica rendering style, the 90mm APO is an amazing option but at a higher price.

Otherwise even the classic 90 Summicron is amazing in its own right too, along with the 90 Elmarit (and then there's the astounding 70-180 2.8 APO zoom:)
There are just so many great Leica R lenses in this focal range, you really can't go wrong.

...

And great stills from your film Chad, I'm looking forward to it!
Click to expand...

So I should buy both of them, is what you're saying? ;) hahah... well, shoot.
 
Chad Peter said:
So I should buy both of them, is what you're saying? ;) hahah... well, shoot.
Click to expand...

Well maybe eventually, but to start I'd check the years of your current set. And if they're say from the '70s or '80s, a classic 90mm Summicron would be a great extension to your 35 and 50 Crons, whereas the 90 APO ASPH wouldn't match as well since it renders more modern than vintage. An early 80 Lux from the same time period matches well but with faster speed and a hair or two sharper (though some prefer the softer Summicron rendering style). But if your set is more mid-to-late '90s, the 90 APO would be a great extension.

If you haven't seen this Erwin Puts review of these same lenses its worth a read:
http://www.overgaard.dk/pdf/Puts_Column_80-100_mm_Leica_R_Lenses_en.pdf
 
Mark M said:
Since you've taken the more modern Leica route, the 90 Summicron APO makes a perfect fit in your line-up.

And I agree, your classic 80 Lux was in great shape and wound up in an early '80s set I built last year :)
Click to expand...

That's what I figured Mark ;-)

Chad- Your questions are directed to the right place, Mark is def in the top 3 Leica guys I know, you can take his word to the bank.
 
Mark M said:
Chad, great tough question. I've gone back and forth a few times and eventually decided both were requirements :)

I find them both amazing/unique but very different. It probably boils down to the type of set you want – more vintage or modern, and the benefits/differences that go along with each. There are many reasons to go either way. While they're both all-Leica, the 80mm F1.4 Lux is the ultimate Mandler design from the late '70s (apparently his own favorite of the many lenses he designed) and full of character/bloom wide open but closed down it becomes one the sharpest vintage lenses available anywhere.

The 90mm F2 APO is a 2002 design with modern optical corrections that captures a more consistent well-corrected image across the frame and all apertures. The body design is much more modern too with more butter focus action. But if you prefer the character that comes along with vintage glass especially in out of focus areas, the 90 may seem a bit 'boring' by comparison (i.e. rather evenly blurred like most modern glass), whereas the 80 is full of character there. To complicate things, late 80 1.4s render colors that more closely resembles the 90 APO's in hue and saturation than an early 80 1.4 as there were various color updates over time.

Depending on the desired look I'll reach for one over the other. For instance a few weeks ago on a Vietnam-related docu scene with an older male talking head, the director wanted all the background foliage 'to disappear' and flatter him with a hint of softness but without missing in-focus sharpness. The 80 Lux 1.4 put a huge smile on his face when he saw it on the monitor at wide open. But for cleaner, very well-corrected edge to edge performance in modern Leica rendering style, the 90mm APO is an amazing option but at a higher price.
Click to expand...

Haven't used either of these lenses, but from the samples I've seen from these lenses as well as other new and old R lenses (and my own experience owning new ones myself), I think this is a really spot on description. It's interesting how much the "look" changed over the decades. It's almost like they should've had two different full sets of lenses, an R Modern that looked like the 180/2 APO and 90AA and the R Vintage that looked like the 80 Lux and older 50 Crons. But then there were some that seem to be to sort of straddle the border between having modern chops but still a bit of the vintage swagger like the 100AME and possibly 28 v2.
 
Hey party people.
We shot a manufactury film for an Austrian eyewear manufacturer on Leica Rs - Mostly Summicrons (the aerial shots aren´t Rs)
Top shots: 19mm V2
Wide shots: 28mm
Closeups: 50 & 90mm, maybe one or two with the 100mm macro + 135mm
Have fun: http://www.lasgafas.at/work/silhouette-atelier-collection/
 
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Gorgeous film Christian!
 
engine.jpg

Weld.jpg

A few grabs of my last gig for an automotive commercial. Both are on the 35 Elmarit with some glass in front of the lens.
 
Hi guys,
I have been a lurker for a month or so after taking my leap into the Red market I am gonna' buy my first Leica-R Lenses. Firstly, my god the look these lenses give are just absolutely beautiful and I have been showing anyone I know just how stunning some of these shots are!!

Anyway, I am thinking of actually splurging on some of these (a 3 set) for an upcoming project. Its a doco and will have a lot of the talking heads interview and macro shots of various devices for cut sequences, as well as establishing shots. I was thinking to have a wide angle for establishing perhaps Elmarit 28mm, as a normal a Lux 50mm and a 60mm Macro. I was just wondering what your guys opinions would be, am I making the right move or is there a better option(s)?

Thank you so much in advance!
Wahab
 
Wahab Iqbal said:
Hi guys,
Anyway, I am thinking of actually splurging on some of these (a 3 set) for an upcoming project. Its a doco and will have a lot of the talking heads interview and macro shots of various devices for cut sequences, as well as establishing shots. I was thinking to have a wide angle for establishing perhaps Elmarit 28mm, as a normal a Lux 50mm and a 60mm Macro. I was just wondering what your guys opinions would be, am I making the right move or is there a better option(s)?
Thank you so much in advance!
Wahab
Click to expand...
Welcome! I guess its all relative to which camera you have, but my thoughts would be you might wan't something on the wider end for the establishing shots. Maybe look into the different versions of the 19mm. Only other thing is the 50mm and the 60mm would be a little too close for my tastes in a three lens set. On my Raven I find myself using my 24mm quite a bit (I know its not as sharp as the 28 but I love my copy.) Also my 35mm is another favorite. So If I had to pick just three maybe 19, 35, 60 But to each their own :).
 
Wahab Iqbal said:
Anyway, I am thinking of actually splurging on some of these (a 3 set) for an upcoming project. Its a doco and will have a lot of the talking heads interview and macro shots of various devices for cut sequences, as well as establishing shots. I was thinking to have a wide angle for establishing perhaps Elmarit 28mm, as a normal a Lux 50mm and a 60mm Macro. I was just wondering what your guys opinions would be, am I making the right move or is there a better option(s)?
Click to expand...

My first set was: 28/2.8 + 50/2 + 90/2
It is a cheap 3 set and you can cover a very wide range.
 
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