My copy of the Voigtlander 90mm f2.8 APO Skopar lens, in Leica M mount, arrived on Friday. I did some preliminary tests around the studio using the Fuji GFX camera and I also put it on a Leica M240 to make sure it focused accurately with the coupled rangefinder but after that I got busy and the lens took a back seat until the middle of this afternoon.
I took it out for the routine walk to see just what I could expect from the lens. I used a Leica M to L mount adapter and put the lens on an SL2 camera. That way I could focus very carefully, take advantage of IBIS to take one more variable out of the mix and also because that camera accommodates M type lenses so well. The 47 megapixel files show off or embarrass lenses depending on their real performance characteristics.
I mostly used the lens at f2.8 or f4.0 but occasionally I stopped down to f5.6 when I wanted to get more depth in a shot. I made close ups and I made distant shots --- just to see.
I'm very happy with the lens. It performs well and, as a bonus, it's small, light and inexpensive. Now waiting for one more M camera to arrive so I can finalize the kit. Check out the photos. I think they are darling.
Nice. Good color, contrast and sharpness but not overdone. How would you compare this 90mm f/2.8 in terms of usefulness with the 75mm f/1.9?
ReplyDeleteHi Biro, It's a lot easier to compose with the 75mm frame lines. .They are bigger in the finder and it's just a smoother process. In terms of optical performance they are both really good. The 90 might, might, might just have a small edge on sharpness when used wide open since it's already at f8 but I wouldn't choose between them based on that. Both are small and light weight and work well with the rangefinder stuff. If I could only have one, as when traveling, etc. it would be the 75mm. With 24 megapixels there's more than enough resolution to withstand a good bit of cropping. I bought the 90mm to also use on other cameras for portrait work. In retrospect the 75mm would have been just fine and a good place to stop.
ReplyDeleteOoops. Should say "f2.8" instead of "f8.0".
ReplyDeletethat one with the roses on the pink fence is nice, could slap that on some bedlinen...
ReplyDeleteThe three funniest words you have written in a while. "Finalize the kit"
ReplyDeleteJames Weekes ....
ReplyDeleteWith tongue surgically planted in cheek. Thanks for noticing
To reflect on cameras and keyboards a bit, a riff on the continuing discussion on TOP, people who use cameras and keyboards a lot, and for a long time, can use just about any camera or any keyboard and will do that when they have to. But they really *want* cameras and keyboards that fit them. One size does not fit all.
ReplyDelete