I want a fast and tack sharp prime lens

[sc_rufctr]

Leica M3 (1964) and Leica DR Summicron 50mm F 2.0 (1963)... Shot on film by me at a wedding about 4 weeks ago.

You want fast glass? Noctilux F 1.0 or Summilux F 1.4

[Steve Carlton]

There's no one right focal length for portraits. Different lenses have different feels. A fast 85mm will have a narrower depth of field, which can be very desirable with a portrait. Also, an 85mm will allow you to be further back from your subject, which can make it more comfortable for them.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

There's no one right focal length for portraits. Different lenses have different feels. A fast 85mm will have a narrower depth of field, which can be very desirable with a portrait. Also, an 85mm will allow you to be further back from your subject, which can make it more comfortable for them.

you cant do portraits in a studio with a fisheye

[campbellcj]

What kind of camera system/mount are you intending to use the lens with?

I have a bunch of Nikon F-mount glass plus a smaller collection of other stuff. In fact just got a Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar to use as a 100mm-equiv on my E-P2 (with adapter) plus as a 'normal' on M-mount. I have not even tried it out yet but will this weekend.

Did a portrait shoot of my daughter last weekend with the Nikon 24-70 f/2.8, a fabulous lens but IMO a bit short for FF 35mm. Even doing full/upper body shots you are surprisingly close to the subject even at 70mm. I usually prefer the 70-105 kinda range but we were in tight quarters. The 85 f/1.4 rocks as does the 105 f/2.8 macro and of COURSE the 70-200 f/2.8 is stellar and also more versatile (but bulky).

[MRM]

Peter, that picture is outstanding.

[campbellcj]

I just read the earlier posts better -- I agree that on a crop body I would personally lean towards something autofocus and in the 50-60mm range (75-90 "effective"). When my D200 was my main body I made many of my favorite shots with the humble little $120 50mm f/1.8! The newer 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens is supposed to be very nice although I don't have that one.

It really comes down to personal preference, shooting style/location, and budget of course.

[slakjaw]

I just rented it for a week to see how I lke it.

[RWebb]

good luck finding a Noctilux !

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by RWebb

good luck finding a Noctilux !

They're around... But the 6k asking price has always put me off.

[LeRoux Strydom]

Another vote for the Nikon 85/f1.4, but rather get the newer G-AFS version than the D.

[LeRoux Strydom]

This was taken with my 50/f1.4 Nikon:

[jyl]

55mm f1.2 Nikon, HP5+ pushed 2 stop, 1/30 @ f1.2. Body is Nikon F.
It was a very dark night w/ no streetlights, the only light is a single dim porch light about 40 ft away.
The Count is mad because his Nikon D60 won't focus or meter (too dark).

[campbellcj]

Many people seem to find the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 Nokton a serious contender to the Noctilux at around 1/8th if not 1/10th the price. For me a relatively big heavy lens is undesirable on a small rangefinder or micro 4/3rds format body...I try to stick to the full DSLR for big glass and stay compact on the smaller formats.

[Joeaksa]

Years ago I was using Nikon while my Father persisted with his old Leica's.

Went to the camera store one day with him and silly me, I asked the salesman why I should ever upgrade my nice modern Nikon's to a Leica. Asked if I had a little time, we then played.

He gave me a new Nikon and long lens and told me to go outside and take a pic of something a long ways away. Then did the same thing with a Leica. He then told me to come back in a day or three while he developed the film.

Returned and he showed me the first print, which was a long shot of an elevator several blocks away. Both were very sharp, clear and nice prints. He then showed me one blown up several times using both the Nikon and Leica. The Nikon was very nice and something that anyone would be proud of. The Leica on the other hand when enlarged showed the numbers on the buttons for the elevator... which you could not see with the Nikon.

Couple of months later I sent one of my Nikon bodies in to be reconditioned. The post office dropped the package so hard that it deformed the body, totaling it. Sent the second one in and they did it again. Saw this as an omen that it was a good time to switch to Leica's. Never looked back... its hard to beat their quality.

[RWebb]

the real question is how much enlargement will be done - will you be pulling large prints?

[slakjaw]

I got to try out the Zeiss 100 f2 tonight. I like it! its a sweet lens. Manual focus slowed me down but other than that I am impressed. I will rent the 85/1.4 before I make a purchase.