The heading says it all. At f/2 it matches my old and loved Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 at f/4. The quality of out of focus areas (bo-ke) is spellbinding! It's quality displayed in my first test role demonstrates the highest level of contrast, microcontrast and sharpness i've ever seen from a 35mm camera/lens. I don't see much of a differnce between f/2 and other apertures to be honest. Click on the link to see some of my pics. Although the scanned images don't do the lens enough justice. I just wanted to shout this out to the world as I am absolutely estatic, seeing I thought I had seen the best 35mm lenses had to offer. I was wrong, very wrong!!!

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=187792

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002

Answers

Yes, it is an amazing piece of glass... not much else to say about it.

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 01, 2002.

I agree. In fact, I've found it so sharp it's actually unflattering to most women when used in portraits. When shooting portraits, I now use a Softar 1 just to smooth out the wrinkles. After all, can't have everyone looking like the Sharpei.

-- Don M (dmaldonadomd@excite.com), March 01, 2002.

Don M, but what do I do about photographing my Pug then?!

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002.

Pugs when photographed with a softar 1 will look like a Beagle (with a short snout), but if photographed with a softar 2, well, you'll now have a short nosed terrier. Don

-- Don (Dmaldonadomd@excite.com), March 01, 2002.

Don M, add the Leic a look and you have a new product, called the Leica M-Pug!!!

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002.

Kristan!

Good for you! A happy photographer is a joy to us all!

Cheers,

Alex

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@suma.kobe-wu.ac.jp), March 02, 2002.

Since you're a member of Photo.Net, then you must have seen the recent photo of the week which featured a bearded and long haired gentleman taken with a Nikkor AFD 80-200mm/f2.8. That is one of the sharpest portraits I've ever seen. It just sings! Many people like to offer pictures of their dogs, girlfriends or wifes, or kids, and expect everyone else to think they're great. For me, this series of photos fell short, and indicates (to me) laziness. Plus the portraits were, well, boring and not well lit. Having the tools is one thing, knowing how to use them is another. I would have rated the series 4/5.

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

Glenn, the photos were snapshots put up so people could see the quality of the lens wide open. I bet you that the shot taken with the 80-200 was shot at f/8. If you are judging me by my photos, then you obviously don't understand the purpose of this forum and post. Instead of using anothers' example to show off, why don't you use one of your own.....that is if you know how to use the equipment?!!!

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

Kristian:

No need to send a snotgram to Glenn. Actaully, I agree with him on the quality of your pictures. And certainly, they don't show the quality of the 90 Apo-Summicron; they could have been shot with any reasonably good 90mm lens.

-- Mitch Alland/Bangkok (malland@mac.com), March 03, 2002.

If he shot at f8 he has an amazing ability to hand hold this monster lend. Besides the out of focus areas on the face show that the aperture was wider.

I have both the 70-200 Canon L lens and the 90mm M APO. I can not say that the Leica lens is sharper, although it is certainly different to the Canon.

-- enrique munoz (dem331@yahoo.com), March 03, 2002.

Ok that is it. NO MORE ridiculous comments please!!!! I made this post to express my opinion and joy. The photos were there to back up what I wa saying. Sure i don't have the greatest scanner. Sure the pics aren't the best you've ever seen. But i never claimed anything or set any expectations. Think what you wanna think but leave my pics alone! If I want critique i'll ask for it ok......oh and the guy who thinks that shot couldn't have been made at f/8....with the focal elngth so long at an extreme close range, the background is going to be blurred whether shot at f/8 or f/16!!!!

if I want criticism, i'll ask for it. otherwise read my post and think "ok", then move on OR shut up!!!

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

Ok, enrique Sorry i was hasty on my comment. I just get frustrated when people turn things around on others for their own personal gain through pityful negative comments such as Glenns. The aperture must have been between f/4 to f/8 dependent on the focal length used. Thanks for not bitching about my snapshots posted.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

Kristian, please ignore those who like to critique, but not submit. Making detailed evaluations of images from web downloads is like "the 5 blind men describing an elephant"... in other words, a joke. You obviously were excited about the performance of the 90 APO, and that's ultimately what personal photography is all about. Keep the enthuseasim alive. It's what fuels the passion to take risks, explore and improve your own personal vision. It's like golf, you against yourself ...not Tiger Woods. Keep going at it, and "happy hunting!". --Marc Williams

-- Marc Williams (mwilliams111313MI@comcast.net), March 03, 2002.

Thanks Mark. Finally someone who understands.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

Hey, you got no complaints from me if you want to post more pics of your lady friend shot with the 90/2. Oh yeah, include the dog too. 8-)

-- Fred Sun (redsky3@yahoo.com), March 03, 2002.

Kristian, I'm quite disappointed that you can dish it out but not take it. As a matter of fact, I post quite often, displaying the virtues of the Leitz M6/Leica Elmar-M 50mm 1:2.8.

-- Glenn Travis, RA (leicaddict@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

Glenn, thanks for sharing your pic. it is a nice shot. No complaints. I just didn't quite like your tone. All I was trying to show was "sharpness and detail". And I expected comments on that alone. Let's just get over it and move on shall we. All forgotton.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.