Leica APO 2/75 Summicron: finally got it AND my first pics...

Well, after a lot of reading about it, recommendations from users (thank you all, dear

photo.net fellows), highly positive reviews, and a bit of hard saving, I finally got hold of an

APO 2/75 Summicron...I am extremely pleased with my first results, it looks like this is THE

lens that really suits my vision of photography. Compact enough, easy to handle, and

stunningly beautiful sharp AND at the same time warm results.

I am an amateur photographer, so, bearing this in mind, please let me know what your

thoughts are, mainly not on my pics, but on the rendition of images of this lens...Am I right

to be so pleased?<div></div>

Sorry, still have not managed to correctly size the images for posting on the forum...please

forgive me...!

Luigi, it's a little large for viewing - could you possibly repost at approx 500 pixels instead of c. 1600 down the long side. If you want to see the image appear in the thread, the instructions can be found here

http://www.photo.net/photo/nature/imagerules.html, or alternatively, here http://www.photo.net/frequent-questions#upload.

 

Cheers, A

One more...<div></div>

Thanks Andy, I'll check your link before posting any more images...

One last try...if the image is still too large many apologies and goodnight...<div></div>

Wow! I like the portrait. I agree, 75mm is an ideal focal length. Enjoy that wonderful lens.

Luigi,-- Why do you refuse to learn how to size the pictures to the

recommended dimensions?

 

Could you ask for instructions?

Luigi,-- No it is still much too large. Good night and good bye!

Ok.

 

I copied the image. Resized it to 72 resolution at 510 on the long side, and saved it as a Jpeg. That should do it.<div></div>

Should use a soft filter for women's face portraiture. Too sharp, showing skin imperfections!

Luigi,

 

when you do this again, use any version of Photoshop.

 

Go to "Image."

 

Go to "Image size."

 

Change the resolution to 72.

 

Change the longest dimension (on top) to 510.

 

Go to "File" in the upper lefthand corner and click.

 

Go to "Save as" and click.

 

Look at the bottom and there will be a box, and scroll down and click on "jpeg" and save the image.

 

It is now ready for internet and e-mail posting.

 

Hope this help. let me know if you need other suggestions.

 

This will eventually become simple and fast for you.

Tito,

 

No offense intended, but if Luigi wanted a soft image he could have bought a nice 90mm Elmar lens (Sherry Krauter has a fine one on her site for sale for $150).

 

Why pay the price Luigi did and then say, it's too sharp! I don't understand!

 

Do we want sharp or do we want soft?

If you want sharp, this is the lens to have.

I agree the lens is too sharp for portrait. It shows all our human imperfections and is not flattering for portraits. It would be great for taking pictures of museum paintings for details. Soft filters or lots of makeup.

Sometimes, I personally prefer to see the skin with all its imperfections.

 

Not everyone cares for that glamour/fashion/cosmetics commercial type look, certainly not every time.

Here's your second shot.

 

Also, when you "save as" you need to rename the photo and i just put an "e" behind it to indicate it was downsized for e-mail. You don't want to loose your original image in case you want to make prints.<div></div>

She's beautiful.

Here's Number 3, and who says I don't try to help Photonetters! (^O^)<div></div>

Flattery is not the sole purpose of portraiture. The CV 75 was a lens very dear to my heart. I'd

love to try the 75 'Cron. Looks nice to me.

Now then, for those who think the lens is too sharp, why not take the scanned image and do something in it with photoshop?

 

In Scott kelby's book, "The Photoshop CS2 Book, For digital Photographers," there is a truly simple and quick method to soften an image WITHOUT making it look too blurry (pages 320-321, Soft Focus Effect).

 

Film vs. digital?: "The farmers and the cowboys CAN be friends." It's the best of both worlds!<div></div>

Oops...this is Number 2...I'm working too fast, but I hope this helps you, Luigi.<div></div>

Is the 90mm APO Summicron-M anywhere close?

 

<p>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3739314-lg.jpg">

Arthur, was that picture taken with a 75 or a 90?

Not only has Todd's post processing work improved by a fantastic amount lately, he's recently been doing his own "preprocessing" work with a Leica M2 and a couple of Leitz lenses, complete with Leitz hoods. Monkey was most emphatic that he wasn't going to fly across the country for a two week stay at Todd's Monkey Hostel if he was going to be photographed on his adventures with a lesser brand of camera. His plane arrives in San Francisco today.