1948 Elmar 90mm F4 - First Pics - Post Yours

[charjohncarter]

Mr Flibble, right, my Captain's uniform was Forest Green, It had a black strip on the trousers. Don't stop posting I love your photos. Here are some Officers home from the War (the real one)(Brown Shoe Army), but this IS NOT an Elmar 90mm (and it was taken by my father-in-law), just for Mr. Flibble:

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Thanks for sharing that John, interesting photo,
I can just make out the 'good conduct' ribbon on the man on the right. The middle ribbon is probably an ETO-campaign ribbon.

They're wearing Officer "Pinks".


I'm afraid I don't have that many more pictures to share though, I've not used my 2 90mm Elmars that often.

Operation Pheasant 2008

My sister's dog: Zap

Regards,

Rick

 

[charjohncarter]

Well, I always enjoy your reenactment photos, so I hope to see some more soon.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

There are no events for another 2 weeks though. I do plan on going to the Historical Fly-in at the Aviodrome museum. But the uniform would call for something a little older then any Leica I own.

Our group has been asked to participate in a small event at Fort Veldhuis in the second week of August. The problem is that it's one of those "Only things you can carry events".

But my '37 90mm Elmar is definitely coming with me for the Roll on the Meuse tour in early September. 8 Days with about a 150 Second Armored re-enactors with 30+ Second Armored Vehicles, racing through Belgium along a big part of the route the Division took in the Autumn of 1944.
I'm currently in the process of getting my Jeep in order. It'll get 165th Signal Photo Company markings. I've been on these trips 2 times before and for me they are the pinnacle of living history.

 

[brainwood]

My 'new' Elmar arrived this morning here's some first shots . I had a few frames left on the end of roll so I popped out my back gate and shot these at about f8.
I really like the look this lens gives. Lots of contrast for such an old lens , this one dates to 1959

Chris

 

[raid]

The lens is an old [black] 90/4 which shows signs of coating. It may have been coated after production since the lens is quite old with the strange aperture numbering 6,3 ...

 

[tennis-joe]

Raid, I have one of those older 90's and I was told it has the European apeture openings. They are about the simliar to the US stops. 9 is closest to 8, etc. If you have a thru the lens meter it should work without problem. I used it with my Bessa R and it worked great. Mine was very dirty and I was afraid to clean the inside element very much. I think I just used a can of air that I use on my computer.
Joe

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Just got my uncoated black-barrel version in the mail...it has the European aperture values and the glass is freaking perfect! Serial number puts it in 1936. First pic is of the lens on the R-D1, the others are from my test run. I only adjusted exposure, to preserve character. It doesn't render remotely like any other lens I have, that's for sure.

 

[snausages]

Here is another with the 50s 90mm Elmar on my IIIf:

charjohncarter i love the light you've captured here. do you remember your film/developer?

 

[snausages]

Just got my uncoated black-barrel version in the mail...it has the European aperture values and the glass is freaking perfect! Serial number puts it in 1936.

Mabelsound, I also have the black paint brass barrel - looks like mine has been treated less delicately, but the brassing is beautiful:

I bought this in the classifieds about three months ago - its scars make me wonder what the lens has seen in the last 60 years...

 

[snausages]

From my first black & white roll (tri-x 400) with the Elmar 90mm...

 

[charjohncarter]

charjohncarter i love the light you've captured here. do you remember your film/developer?

Sure do, Tmax400 shot at 200, developed in Rodinal 1+50, 12 minutes, 30 seconds initial agitation, then 3 inversions at 8 minutes and 3 inversions at 4 minutes. This is one of my favorite combos right now. In bright sun the images look like they were taken by a Speed Graphic during the 1950s.

 

[snausages]

Sure do, Tmax400 shot at 200, developed in Rodinal 1+50, 12 minutes, 30 seconds initial agitation, then 3 inversions at 8 minutes and 3 inversions at 4 minutes. This is one of my favorite combos right now. In bright sun the images look like they were taken by a Speed Graphic during the 1950s.

Wow, thank you for the info. Seems like 90% of the stuff that jumps out at me is processed in Rodinal. Gotta give the stuff a try. Are your times for 68 degrees? And, I realize this is probably insignificant, but when you say 8 min and 4 min, do you mean inversions at the 8th and 12th min, or at the 4th and 8th min? Thanks...

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I've been agitating every minute with 1:50 but i think i'm going to try agitating less from here on in. I may go out today with the Elmar and IVSb and give it a whirl...

Snaus, that brassing is indeed beautiful--but I will restrain myself from taking some steel wool to my copy. Your wife/gf is a great model, by the way--i really like the photos you take of her, esp. those yellow umbrella ones, and the second one above. She's very pretty, too.

 

[charjohncarter]

Wow, thank you for the info. Seems like 90% of the stuff that jumps out at me is processed in Rodinal. Gotta give the stuff a try. Are your times for 68 degrees? And, I realize this is probably insignificant, but when you say 8 min and 4 min, do you mean inversions at the 8th and 12th min, or at the 4th and 8th min? Thanks...

Yes, 68 degrees, sorry forgot. But counting down from 12 minutes I start agitation with 30 seconds slow inversions, let it stand until (counting down) I see 8 on the timer, then 3 inversions, stand until 4 minutes is on the timer and again 3 inversions, stand until I dump at zero minutes. When I agitated at each minute my highlights were a little hot. I tried cutting back development time but I lost those great Rodinal midtones (a little). I read something about minimal agitation and it worked for me.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

When I agitated at each minute my highlights were a little hot.

Right!!! I thought that was just Rodinal. This is great, I'm definitely going to try fewer agitations.

 

[charjohncarter]

Right!!! I thought that was just Rodinal. This is great, I'm definitely going to try fewer agitations.

Apug is down right now if you want the reference to controlling highlights with minimal agitation I'll provide it after they are back up. But basically, this guy says (and I believe him): you expose for the shadows, develop (not for the highlights but) for the midtones, and agitate for the highlights. This is different from the old rule; I do this with a couple of films.

Edit: I would be careful with Rodinal. I find that with four minutes between agitation is about as long as you can go. Any longer and you get into the stand, semi-stand uneven development.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Edit: I would be careful with Rodinal. I find that with four minutes between agitation is about as long as you can go. Any longer and you get into the stand, semi-stand uneven development.

Yeah, I have encountered that problem...I know better than to wait too long!

 

[elmer3.5]

Elmar

Elmar

Hi, although i no longer have my iii-f 🙁 I keep the elmar, superb lens. Like it´s size, weight and of course it´s optics.
On the rd1s i also use the viooh Inherited from the late iii-f outfit, 135 fov is perfect!

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Couldn't resist a few more, from today. IVSb, Arista 400, Rodinal 1:50. (John, I tried fewer agitations but it burned the edge unfortunately. Had to crop a bit.)