Just bought 90mm Elmarit (1997) - heavier than expected!

[tom_uk]

I bought a s/hand 90mm Elmarit this morning from my local Leica dealer. I was able to sample a Summicron (non-APO), two Elmarits from the 1990s, and a (second type) Tele-elmar. I bought one of the Elmarits.

Having got it home and mounted on my camera (M6 TTL) I'm quite surprised how heavy it feels, and how much of a strain it is holding the camera level. Obviously it's not as heavy as the Summicron, though there didn't seem to be that much difference. It's a lot heavier than the Tele-elmarit, but I was put off that because it was actually quite hard to mount: locking the bayonet required a lot of pressure right at the end of the twist, so I wonder if that lens is quite square. A pity, because the Tele-elmarit had perhaps been my preferred option in advance.

Anyone else find the Elmarit heavy? And does using a handgrip on the camera make it easier?

 

[Al Kaplan]

Support the lens with your left hand holding the focusing ring, your left palm or heel of the hand under the bottom or end of the camera depending on orientation.

Borrow a chromed brass 85mm f/2 Nikkor for a day or two. The Elmarit will feel light as a feather! I have and use both.

 

[James (DC)]

The 90 Elmarit feels light to me too. I have the chrome and black paint Nikkor 85/2s. Both are heavier lenses. If you want a great and light-weight 90, try the Macro Elmar. It's widest aperture is f4, but it's a fantastic lens, and very small. I use the 50 Elmar (2nd ver.) screw-in hood for it. It's very compact and unobtrusive in the viewfinder. But all of these lenses are good, great for portraits. The Macro Elmar might be a little too sharp, but so is my Nikkor BP--even wide open at f2.

 

[35mmdelux]

Ive used a variety of 90's including the Elmarit. The Elmarit (latest) is one of the sharpest 90's, right up there w/ the APO. The silver of course is the heaviest if this is what you have. The black isn't as heavy. Ultimately I settled on the APO Summicron because I wanted the extra speed.

Having shot with the 85/1.4 ZF Nikkor the 90mm Elmarits aren't heavy comparatively. I pair my 90 APO with a 35mm Summilux asph for a two lens street/travel kit. BTW, to my eye the 90 TE doesnt have the snap I want in my fotos although it is a good lightweight travel lens.

 

[jack palmer]

I have the Chrome version and it's heavy but I like it. It has good balance but you do have to support it with your right hand when shooting. A super sharp lens. I just returned from Yellowstone and this lens was on my MP at least 50% of the time.

 

[35mmdelux]

I find the Leica handle helps immensely with the larger and heavier lenses.

 

[awilder]

The weight of the current Elmarit-M is a bit heavy not much less than the pre-AA Summicron, but optically it's at the top of it's class. It's a pity you didn't have the choice of a 90/2.8 M-Hexanon as it's smaller and lighter with performance close to the Elmarit but typically at least $100-200 less. Build-wise it's every bit as good as the Elmarit-M. For compactness and lifght travel nothing will ever beat the "thin" TE.