Elmar 90/4

Michael I.

Michael I.

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I've seen an Elmar 90/4(Ernt Leitz Welzar,matte chrome-like finish,metric scale,screwmount,seems uncoated,no click stops,closes to 32) for pretty cheap. I don't need it much but I might consider buying it for resale.

How much should it cost(light cleaning marks,stiffish focus)?
 
I've owned a few Elmar 90/4's and I would describe the image quality very marginal, at least with color film. I have found that similar LTM short telephotos from the 50's (made in Japan) such as the Sun Sola 90/4 or the Soligor 105/4 (perhaps from the early 60's) are much better, in fact wonderful unrecognized gems. Many of the Canon short telephotos beat the 90/4 Elmar as well IMO.
 
Perhaps on overall performance, yes. I'm very pleased with my Nikkor 85/2: in fact, I wouldn't be at all interested in trading it for Leitz glass. But for an old look, with B&W film, I have been exceptionally satisfied by my uncoated 90/4.

David Murphy said:
Many of the Canon short telephotos beat the 90/4 Elmar as well IMO.
Click to expand...
 
I've owned two Elmar 90's, coated and uncoated. They are subject to haze and I think from lens to lens performance varies. My coated 90 was exceptionally good and worth keeping. I think one is worth at least $100, and $200 would be fair for a really nice (mint) one.

However, it's my experience that the 135mm Elmar is the consumate performer but both are bokeh kings, and far better at that attribute than almost any Leitz lens ever made.

They are VERY sharp but have medium contrast and will flatter the ugliest of old women with their very controlled DOF.

The 135 Elmar is probably the best portrait lens ever made by anyone and the 90 is a good second and wonderful to use because of its compact size.
 
II'd say wait for one in great condition at a low price - you shouldn't have to wait too long as this isn't the most desirable lens. I happen to think they are highly underrated.

I lucked into an early coated one (1945) with perfect glass - no scratches, cleaning marks, haze, or fungus - for under $50. Mine's very sharp (meaning I don't feel the need to look for something sharper)) from f8-16 , and soft in a nice way at wider apertures.

As for portraits, what the others have said about it's magic wrinkle removing properties at f4/f5.6 is true. Really, it is amazing. I'd say that it is a superb portrait lens if flattering images are your thing (If not I recommend the 120mm Medical Nikkor with integral ring-flash - a favorite of Richard Avedon)
 
Note that the classic chrome Elmar 90 comes in two forms: mine is the so-called 3-element. The optical performance is claimed to be better than the Tele-Elmarits, but I like it for the DOF scale and general handling. A perfect lens for your travel kit:


elmar90.jpg
 
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