Leica r 90 f2 pre ashp – The Leica R 90 f/2 Pre-ASHP, a lens born before the advent of the “Aspherical” era, stands as a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and optical prowess that defined Leica’s legacy. This lens, a coveted gem among photographers, embodies a time when lenses were designed with an unwavering focus on image quality and precision, reflecting the era’s photographic sensibilities.
Released in 1979, the Leica R 90 f/2 Pre-ASHP was a marvel of engineering. Its six-element, four-group optical design, coupled with its robust construction, delivered exceptional image quality across the entire aperture range. The lens was renowned for its sharp, detailed images, rich contrast, and smooth bokeh, making it a favorite among portrait photographers, landscape enthusiasts, and those seeking a timeless aesthetic.
Image Quality and Performance: Leica R 90 F2 Pre Ashp
The Leica R90 f/2 lens is renowned for its exceptional image quality, delivering stunning results across various apertures and shooting conditions. This lens excels in sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and minimal distortion, making it a popular choice among photographers seeking exceptional optical performance.
The Leica R 90mm f/2 pre-ASHP lens, a marvel of optical engineering from the 1970s, offers a unique combination of sharpness and character. Its legacy, however, is not limited to its own era. Modern photographers seeking similar performance and versatility can turn to the sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 dg dn art lens for sony a7iv , which, while a different focal length, delivers exceptional image quality and a similar level of detail in its rendering, showcasing the evolution of lens design while maintaining the essence of classic optics.
Sharpness and Contrast
The Leica R90 f/2 lens exhibits remarkable sharpness, particularly at its widest aperture of f/2. This lens achieves excellent detail rendition across the frame, even at the edges, making it suitable for capturing fine textures and intricate details. The lens’s exceptional contrast contributes to a sense of depth and dimension in images, enhancing the overall visual impact.
The Leica R 90 f2 pre-ASHP, a legendary lens known for its exceptional sharpness and contrast, is a prized possession for any serious photographer. Its robust build and timeless design have made it a favorite for capturing everything from portraits to landscapes.
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Color Rendition
The Leica R90 f/2 lens is known for its accurate and pleasing color rendition. It produces vibrant and natural-looking colors, faithfully capturing the nuances of the scene without appearing overly saturated or muted. This lens excels in reproducing subtle color variations, rendering images with a high degree of realism and visual appeal.
Distortion
The Leica R90 f/2 lens exhibits minimal distortion, particularly barrel distortion, which is often found in wide-angle lenses. This lens’s exceptional optical design minimizes geometric distortions, ensuring that straight lines remain straight and objects maintain their natural proportions. This characteristic makes the lens ideal for architectural photography and other applications where precise geometric accuracy is essential.
The Leica R 90 f2 pre-ASHP lens, a marvel of optical engineering, is renowned for its exceptional sharpness and clarity. While its fixed focal length excels at capturing portraits and landscapes, photographers seeking a more versatile reach might consider a telephoto zoom lens like the Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 DG OS HSM or the Canon 100-500mm lens.
A comprehensive comparison of these two popular lenses can help determine which best suits your needs. Ultimately, the choice between the Leica R 90 f2 pre-ASHP and a telephoto zoom lens hinges on the specific photographic goals and desired level of versatility.
Performance Compared to Other Lenses
The Leica R90 f/2 lens stands out among its peers for its exceptional sharpness, contrast, and color rendition. It rivals or surpasses many contemporary lenses in its class, offering a combination of optical excellence and classic Leica build quality. While some lenses may offer slightly better performance in specific areas, such as bokeh or macro capabilities, the R90 f/2 remains a top contender for photographers seeking a versatile and high-performing lens.
The Leica R 90 f2 pre-ASHP lens, a relic of a bygone era, offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of optical technology. While its manual focus and mechanical design may seem archaic compared to modern marvels like the Nikon 24-120mm f4, a lens lauded for its versatility and sharpness as detailed in this comprehensive review , the Leica R 90 f2 pre-ASHP retains a certain charm, offering a distinct character in its rendering and a tactile experience that modern autofocus lenses often lack.
Comparison with Similar Lenses
The Leica R90 f/2 lens stands out as a classic portrait lens with its exceptional image quality and unique character. However, it’s essential to compare it with other popular lenses in its class to understand its strengths and weaknesses better.
This comparison will focus on the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM and the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G, two widely recognized lenses known for their performance and versatility.
Key Differences in Image Quality and Performance
These three lenses offer distinct image characteristics, each catering to specific photographic needs. The Leica R90 f/2, known for its exceptional sharpness and micro-contrast, delivers images with a classic, film-like aesthetic. This lens excels in rendering fine details and subtle textures, resulting in a high degree of sharpness even at wide apertures.
In contrast, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is renowned for its smooth bokeh and creamy rendering, particularly noticeable at wider apertures. It produces a softer, more ethereal look, often favored for portraits and low-light photography. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G strikes a balance between sharpness and smoothness, offering a versatile option for various photographic applications.
It provides a pleasing balance of detail and bokeh, making it a popular choice for both portraits and general photography.
Key Differences in Features and Price
The Leica R90 f/2, being a manual focus lens, offers a unique experience for photographers seeking a more deliberate and tactile approach to capturing images. This lens requires a higher level of precision and control, which can be both rewarding and challenging.
The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM and the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G, on the other hand, are autofocus lenses, providing faster and more convenient focusing capabilities. They are also equipped with features such as image stabilization and weather sealing, making them more versatile for various shooting conditions.
The Leica R90 f/2, being a legacy lens, is significantly more affordable than the Canon and Nikon counterparts. This makes it an attractive option for photographers seeking high-quality optics at a lower price point.
Lens Specifications and Features, Leica r 90 f2 pre ashp
The following table summarizes the key specifications and features of each lens for easy comparison:
| Lens | Focal Length | Maximum Aperture | Minimum Aperture | Lens Construction | Weight | Price (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leica R90 f/2 | 90mm | f/2 | f/22 | 8 elements in 6 groups | 500g | $1,500
|
| Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM | 85mm | f/1.2 | f/22 | 11 elements in 8 groups | 950g | $1,800
|
| Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G | 85mm | f/1.4 | f/16 | 10 elements in 8 groups | 600g | $1,600
|
Concluding Remarks
The Leica R 90 f/2 Pre-ASHP, a relic from a bygone era, continues to captivate photographers with its exceptional image quality and timeless design. Its legacy as a precision instrument that captured the essence of moments remains unchallenged, cementing its place in the annals of photographic history.
The lens stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of handcrafted optics, a reminder of a time when meticulous craftsmanship and unwavering dedication to image quality were paramount.