[Nicolas91]

Hello everyone !

I hope that I am not posting in a bad place or that topic has already been treated; I don't think so, I have been looking for it without success. Nevertheless, if I made a mistake I am sorry, I am new here and english is not my native language so please forgive me.

That been said, I would like to get some opinions about the " best " of those two lenses for portraits. I am following the work of some photographer who creates great pictures with the 105mm f2.4 so it became my dream lens but I saw on many forums that people prefer the 90mm f2.8 so I was wondering if some of you tested both of them and could give me some pros and cons or just personal opinion or even some samples taken with those lenses.
What I know is that in France at least, the 105mm f 2.4 is not easy to find at all, is it an indication that it is a keeper or maybe he is less produced (but I don't think so)?

So if one of you kind people may have some informations, you are more than welcome to share them here

Greetings from France

Nicolas

[tuco]

I take it we are talking about using these lenses on a 6x7/67/67II instead of say a 645D/645Z camera, right?

I have the 105/2.4, 90/2.8 and 90/2.8 Leaf Shutter. And I won't argue what is the "best" but I tend to use the 105mm more. At f2.4 the 105 is pretty soft of course. It sharpens up more at f2.8 with decent bokeh. The 90/2.8 I've never shot at f2.8 but I haven't been unhappy with any of its results. But then again I don't care too much for critical sharpness when I shoot film. I'll leave that to the meausrebaters. Anyway, I like them both and which one I grab depends on a lot of things.

I'm sure you've seen plenty of examples but here are a couple more with people.

105/2.4
Tight Head Shot At f2.8

Full Body At f2.8

90/2.8

People On Beach Stopped Down

Bokeh On The 90mm LS

[Nicolas91]

I take it we are talking about using these lenses on a 6x7/67/67II instead of say a 645D/645Z camera, right?

I have the 105/2.4, 90/2.8 and 90/2.8 Leaf Shutter. And I won't argue what is the "best" but I tend to use the 105mm more. At f2.4 the 105 is pretty soft of course. It sharpens up more at f2.8 with decent bokeh. The 90/2.8 I've never shot at f2.8 but I haven't been unhappy with any of its results. But then again I don't care too much for critical sharpness when I shoot film. I'll leave that to the meausrebaters. Anyway, I like them both and which one I grab depends on a lot of things.

I'm sure you've seen plenty of examples but here are a couple more with people.

105/2.4
Tight Head Shot At f2.8

Full Body At f2.8

90/2.8

People On Beach Stopped Down

Bokeh On The 90mm LS

Hello tuco and thank you for your answer.

I was indeed planing to use those lenses on 6x7 and 67 so you guessed it right.
You got some nice images there, I am like you, I am not looking for the sharpest point of sharpness on film, it makes something soft and special.
I owe the 90mm but I did not have time to test it properly and I ll get a new 67 with the 105 on wednesday so I was wondering if I could sell the 90mm if the 105mm was so much better, but as I can see, the 90 can also have his advantages and gives great pictures.
So maybe I ll keep both of them ... I doubt that my bankier will like it but it is for a good cause haha

[tuco]

...
I owe the 90mm but I did not have time to test it properly and I ll get a new 67 with the 105 on wednesday so I was wondering if I could sell the 90mm if the 105mm was so much better, but as I can see, the 90 can also have his advantages and gives great pictures.
So maybe I ll keep both of them ... I doubt that my bankier will like it but it is for a good cause haha

Thanks.

Yeah, if I had to own only one of those lenses it would be the 105mm. These lenses are certainly close enough in focal length to be redundant. Perhaps if you look at the DOF scale on the 90mm, it can get more near-to-far in focus at say f19 than the 105mm. But the 105mm I'm sure has better f2.8 performance since it's not wide open like the 90mm would be.

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Last edited by tuco; 09-26-2016 at 12:22 PM.

[lesmore49]

I used a 90 mm F 2.8 Leaf shutter lens many years ago. I used it for portraits and like the end product. I'm a fan of leaf shutters, I have 3 leaf shutter Mamiya-Sekor lenses for my Mamiya 220 Pro F TLR and one leaf shutter Zeiss (attached lens) for my Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta B..

To me...the leaf shutter... is why I prefer the 90 over the 105 Pentax lenses...but that is just my individual preference, others may differ.

[Nicolas91]

Thanks.

Yeah, if I had to own only one of those lenses it would be the 105mm. These lenses are certainly close enough in focal length to be redundant. Perhaps if you look at the DOF scale on the 90mm, it can get more near-to-far in focus at say f19 than the 105mm. But the 105mm I'm sure has better f2.8 performance since it's not wide open like the 90mm would be.

I decided to keep the 105mm but I bought my 105mm yesterday and there is a mushroom on it but it is not central so I bought it with a 67 body and a 55mm f4 ( very attacked by mushrooms too, I probably wont be able to use it ) for 500 euros ... it was a mistake I admit it.
So now that I am with a 105mm with mushroom I don't know if I ll sell my 90mm, I guess that I ll simply test the 105 mm and see if it affect the picture a lot ( but I don't think so ).
Would you have by any chance an idea of price to make a lens cleaned from mushroom ?

[tuco]

...
Would you have by any chance an idea of price to make a lens cleaned from mushroom ?

Sorry, no, I don't know what that would cost.