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OK, make me spend on an 85mm for portrait photography!
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 5:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you want to spend significantly less and still get an excellent portrait lens, go no further than Biotar 58/2.[/quote]


One of our members, arozenfeld, produces portraits that really appeal to me with his 58/2 biotar, but I don't know if they are ff or apsc.[/quote]

I have no problems using it on a FF camera. The only thing is that 58mm is a bit short for close-up portraits, it makes noses look big. But look at that bokeh! Smile



BTW, it's much sharper than I can see on this page, click on the pic to see it as intended.[/img][/quote]

Well, sometimes ,to show things bigger ,it ain't a problem , is the breast looking bigger then in reality? I believe that,if it's that easy to push things bigger with a lens,many models would ask for it


PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sciolist wrote:
One of our members, arozenfeld, produces portraits that really appeal to me with his 58/2 biotar, but I don't know if they are ff or apsc.


He uses a Sony A7R II for his portrait work. Most of his lately published pictures have been made with lenses from 35 to 85mm incl. several RF ones like the 7artisans 50/1.1, etc.
You may find them on FB here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/classiclenses/

BTW, I don't like the Bokeh of the Biotar at all but that's purely a matter of taste. Wink


PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
tb_a wrote:
Sciolist wrote:
One of our members, arozenfeld, produces portraits that really appeal to me with his 58/2 biotar, but I don't know if they are ff or apsc.


He uses a Sony A7R II for his portrait work. Most of his lately published pictures have been made with lenses from 35 to 85mm incl. several RF ones like the 7artisans 50/1.1, etc.
You may find them on FB here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/classiclenses/

BTW, I don't like the Bokeh of the Biotar at all but that's purely a matter of taste. Wink



Thanks. You know, I'd have put money on them being from a Fujifilm camera, but what do I know!


On the Biotar bokeh, I'd agree it is all subjective. Pirius likes the swirl as many, many do. I prefer the frosted bokeh that I push out of my 58/2 semi-automatic.


For example-









PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have a lot of lenses 85mm~105mm.

For a portrait lens, the 9cm F4 Elmar is hard to beat for the money.

sailor_elmar9cmF4 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Elmar 9cm F4, wide-open on the Leica M3. Go for the Coated lenses, you will find them for ~$100. I've spent a lot more on some of my lenses.

If you want a faster lens, the Canon 100 F2 is a classic 1-2-2-1 Planar, available in Leica and Canon mount.


PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 10:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fiftyonepointsix wrote:
For a portrait lens, the 9cm F4 Elmar is hard to beat for the money.


Is there any particular version of this lens you would recommend? I'm adding it to my "keep a look out for" list.


PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 10:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fiftyonepointsix wrote:

For a portrait lens, the 9cm F4 Elmar is hard to beat for the money.


Wow, you're right. There's a bunch on eBay for <100USD. Hmm. . .


PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 10:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
pirius wrote:
go no further than Biotar 58/2.


I miss my Biotar. I swore I'd never get rid of it. . . so much for swearing.

This one taken with a Canon 450D (crop sensor). But no issues at all with FF.



PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 10:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fiftyonepointsix wrote:
I have a lot of lenses 85mm~105mm.

For a portrait lens, the 9cm F4 Elmar is hard to beat for the money.

Elmar 9cm F4, wide-open on the Leica M3. Go for the Coated lenses, you will find them for ~$100. I've spent a lot more on some of my lenses.


I've destroyed my Elmar during an attempt to clean it internally. Wink

However, from my collection of lenses in this range I really like the Leitz Elmarit 90/2.8 very much. A little bit more expensive than the Elmar but way better for portraits. I really like it's bokeh.
Click on pictures for better quality viewing.

Sony A7R II:



Ricoh GXR-M (APS-C):



PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I had the Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 but sold it in favor of the Elmar.

For the Elmar: look for the post-war chrome version, coated optics. My current one has a SN in the 1.2million (mid 1950s) range and uses 34mm filters. Later ones use 39mm filters, filters may be more common to find. Stay away from the earlier lenses as they are very difficult to open up and clean. My chrome lens was very easy to take apart and clean, everything unscrews. Early ones up to the mid/late 1940s stamped the optics into place. The "Rigid" lenses are cheaper, and have the same optics as the collapsible 9cm F4. I also have the latter- but got it for $100, gambling that I could clean it. Came out beautifully.

Wide-Open, on the Leica M8.

cpic1 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

cpic3 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

cpic2 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Last edited by fiftyonepointsix on Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:28 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
There's also the Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 35-70/3.4


Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 80-200/4


And the Vivitar 28-90/2.8 which can be had for peanuts these days.


So many good shots/advice in this thread. OP must feel overwhelmed at this point.

Last edited by frenched on Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:36 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
And that's why I have so many lenses in the 85 to 105 range.

I did not suggest a Canon 85/1.5. It is very under-rated. But also very heavy...

I picked up a Sun Sola 90/4 for $20 at a camera show, in Leica mount. Took all day to unfreeze the helical, relube, clean the optics- but worth it. Very similar to the Elmar. Minolta Chiyoko 90/2.8 is also very good... but uses hard-to-find 40mm filters. The Canon 100/3.5 is amazingly good, but almost impossible to find one with glass that is undamaged.

Canon 100 F3.5 Test, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

This one has glass from the FL mount lens in it.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
fiftyonepointsix wrote:
I had the Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 but sold it in favor of the Elmar.

For the Elmar: look for the post-war chrome version, coated optics. My current one has a SN in the 1.2million (mid 1950s) range and uses 34mm filters.


My Elmar in M-mount is from 1958 (still in parts and waiting for assembling). However, I like my Elmarit (which is totally different from the later Tele-Elmarit) from 1972 much more, particularly for portraits the shallower DOF is IMHO better.
In the end it's again a matter of taste. Wink


PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 1:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Actually my most favorite portrait lens for my A7R II is the Minolta AF 85mm/F1.4 G. However, it's not particularly cheap.



PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 1:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Nikkor-H 85/1.8 or the restyled just plain Nikkor 85/1.8 pre-AI or AI may be the best value for money, usually.

Nikon made tons of them in the 1960s-80s.
They can be had on US ebay for $120-150 and are always available.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 7:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
There are just so many good portrait lenses in the 85~105 range-

Probably would be a good idea for the OP to post a price range for the purchase, and even some pictures with his existing lenses with the Bokeh that he favors. My cheapest lens was $20 for the Sun Sola, my most expensive is the Pentax 85/4.5. Lenses in between range from the 9cm F4 Elmar through to the 9cm F2 Summicron and 85/1.5 Canon. Nikkor 8.5cm F2 RF lens, 85/1.8 Ai'd, and 85/2 Ais, J-9, CZJSonnar 8.5cm F2, Minolta 85/2.8, etc.... There are so many choices, best to narrow the price range a bit.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fiftyonepointsix wrote:
For the Elmar: look for the post-war chrome version, coated optics.


Thanks. I will keep an eye out. I'll check out the 90/2.8 Elmarit too, but f/4 doesn't bother me.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 11:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I found these instructions useful:

https://medium.com/@fixingthings/cleaning-leica-elmar-9cm-90mm-f4-aperture-blades-and-aperture-mechanism-df90e8eccea5

Also, the front name ring comes off with a pin type spanner, or (I use) needle nosed pliers. The rear element also is fairly easy to get to, unscrews with a standard spanner. Some 9cm F4 Elmars, my collapsible for one, name-ring off with a cork grommet to expose the retaining ring.

The early Black lenses: I still cannot figure out how they come apart.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 1:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Does the Minolta AF 85 1.4G do well in sony A7? I found one for a good price, but I should take in mind it's adapter.... So I'm not sure if it's worth it finally


PostPosted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
kiddo wrote:
Does the Minolta AF 85 1.4G do well in sony A7? I found one for a good price, but I should take in mind it's adapter.... So I'm not sure if it's worth it finally


As I already stated: It's my most favorite portrait lens on the A7 and I have quite many prime lenses in this portrait lens range. I'm using it on the LA-EA4 adapter which allows to manage the aperture on the camera. AF is more than OK as I'm not shooting at sporting events. The LA-EA4 adapter is a nice extra for the A7 anyway as it allows the usage of many very nice Minolta AF lenses which are available for little money (compared to the new E-Mount lenses). You may also go for the cheaper LA-EA3 adapter and do the focusing manually with these older lenses.

BTW, I'm using also the Tamron SP AF 90mm/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 (272E) in A-mount on this adapter. Very capable for portraits as well:

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