Leitz Canada 90mm T-E: awesome

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I have been searching for a really good, not-too-slow 90mm or thereabouts for more than a year. I believe I've gone through the 90mm uncoated Elmar (a good one, but slow), the Canon 100/2 and 85/1.9 (both excellent but huge and heavy), and another T-E that turned out to have rear element damage, which I returned. Then I almost bought a thin Elmarit at Adorama, but it had focusing problems.

Finally I got a good, a really good, Midland T-E on eBay and took it out today for a walk around the Cornell campus, on the M8. It is perfect. Amazingly light, comfortable, and incredibly, bitingly sharp--yet with really nice creamy out of focus areas. Colors render beautifully; all I needed was a bit of contrast adjustment on these. I even like the rubber hood that everybody seems to hate--I'm not sure why, it works great and is easy to extend and retract. Plus mine came in the original box--it was like buying it new, back in the day!

Thanks to everyone who recommended it.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Looks like a winner for sure. Your making me want to try the 90mm focal length.

 

[maggieo]

I may have to bust my T-E out this afternoon! Congrats!

Oh, and yours has a rubber hood? Mine came with a metal one.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Yeah, apparently the standard hood was rubber? And it has a weird front cap that flares way out...I suppose it's intended to go along with the collapsed hood. Together they are rather odd looking.

 

[ampguy]

nice photos John. I've been on the lookout for a clean used TE for years, but got spoiled once when I found a minty one (very clean glass, orange "90") for mid $300s, and before I left he offered it for high $200s, but I just didn't know if I needed it.

Anyways, now they are always double that or likely to need a cleaning, so I just haven't grabbed one yet. I wonder if I'd use it more than the 15 and 21s I have. I use the 21 a lot, but the 15 much less because of the need for putting the finder on.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Is that the fat or thin version of the T-E?

Bob

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Is that the fat or thin version of the T-E?

Bob

I guess it's the thin one? It's this one, photo stolen from Admiral Rockwell.

 

[maggieo]

That looks like mine. So, yeah, thin. Here's mine with the metal hood mounted:

 

[Sonnar Brian]

That is the Thin Tele-Elmarit. Very nice, Leitz's answer to the Steinheil Culminar.

 

[fbf]

I have one that was made in germany. I haven't seen any difference from the canadian copies. It is a great lens

 

[Richard G]

This is also a great advertisement for the M8. Thanks. The Leica 90s like this and the Elmarit M produce really lovely images.

 

[peter_n]

Yes it's the "thin" one. A little soft wide open and susceptible to flare, so I would use the hood. If you fancy the metal hood the Leica product number is 12575. I got my hood with a 135/4 Tele-Elmar, as it happily fits both lenses.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I guess it's the thin one? It's this one, photo stolen from Admiral Rockwell.

Thanks, I have the fat version and there does not look to be a lot of difference between the two. I am happy enough with it not to go looking for another 90. I can see why you are happy with yours.

Bob