90 millimeters

[WJJ3]

Are people using this focal length on their RF's? The longest lens I see people talking about on this forum is 50mm.

I have been using a 90mm ROKKOR M (CLE version) to compliment my 35mm lens and like the results I get. It probably only sees about 10% use compared to the 35, but for the times when I see a tele composition, i'm glad it's in my bag. I like this particular lens because it is small, ergonomically really nice, and i've got the filter threads stepped down to 39 so I can use the same filters as on my 35.

If you shoot a 90, it would be great to know which one, how much in comparison to your 'main' lens, and to see some shots from it. here's a couple from the ROKKOR (please excuse the poor scan quality):

 

[Spyderman]

I've got the thin Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 made in Canada. It's not much larger than the Rokkor 90/4 you mention. My experience is very similar to yours - I don't use it much but when the composition asks for a short telephoto, I'm glad I've got it.
BTW I don't think I could focus anything faster or longer on a .72 M6.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

I shoot my Macro Elmar 90mm for about 10% of my photos. Always bring it on trips because of the size and quality. For landscape, city scape, portraits, and architectual detail shots...the 90mm length is irreplaceable.

M7, TriX

M7, TriX

M3, E100VS

 

[filmtwit]

I had the 90mm f4 for a small time, wasn't too happy with it.
replaced it with the 10.5cm f2.5 Nikkor.

 

[ktmrider]

Current 90 is a 90 tele elmarit m. Don't use it as much as I used to but usually travel with a 35 and 90. It is small, sharp, and relative cheap for a Leica lens. Find it great for landscapes.

 

[BW400CN]

I´m hunting for a 4,0 90mm Tele Arton for my Retina IIIs.
the 50mm is allways a bit to short and the 135mm to long - a 75mm would be my dream.

 

[hepcat]

My 1968 Summicron 90mm is probably my favorite lens. I also have a 135 Elmarit.

 

[WJJ3]

looks like people are shooting this focal length. Nice examples here.

The thin Tele Elmarit seems to be popular. That lens is really appealing to me because it seems to have the same form factor as the ROKKOR, and twice as bright. Also the fat Tele Elmarit looks quite nice ergonomically. I wonder if anyone here shoots it?

Kokoshawnuff: I had been wondering if the Macro Elmar works on the M3. Do you get the full macro range?

Filmtwit: what didn't you like about the 90? F4 too slow?

Roland: great shots! Thanks for those. Yeah, the optical quality of the ROKKOR seems to be great, even wide open. I actually like the small amount of vignetting wide open because it matches the vignetting I get with my 35mm lens. I really need to make some better scans of my sample images.

 

[Vincent.G]

I had a 90 cron pre-asph E55 for a while.
90mm is the max focal length i would use on a 0.72VF.
I think it will be nice to use it on a M3 or M6 0.85VF
Nothing much to complain about the lens optically but just a little too big and heavy for me.
I sold it as I seldom use it and a bokeh-crazy-lens-collector offered a great price (double what i paid for) for my mint copy.
I don't miss the lens at all.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Kokoshawnuff: I had been wondering if the Macro Elmar works on the M3. Do you get the full macro range?

They used to sell the lens and adapter separately, so I was able to purchase the lens without the macro adapter. Even without the adapter, being able to focus to the minimum .77m with a 90mm can fill a full frame quite nicely. Not to mention that, assuming you don't need the speed, its one of the three highest performing leica lenses available (APO cron 90, APO Telyt 135 being the others)

As for the M3, the adapter will work. But I also have bent my minimum focus 'limiter' (not an exact process or guaranteed outcome) it now focuses to exactly .77m, so at least I can use my MEM on all my cameras.

 

[Richard G]

For a time my 90 Elmarit M was in the bag all the time. Now it's displaced often by the 21. Wouldn't want to be without it though and some of the pictures are heart stoppingly sharp and have a certain special quality. This is one of my favourites, just at home:

Annual beach holiday landscape (seascape):


Lorne, Victoria by Richard GM2, on Flickr

Aerial shot from the plane coming in to Melbourne from Christchurch May 2009: Elmarit M 90, Fuji Superia 200 (Boeing filter);


Melbourne by Richard GM2, on Flickr

 

[Rob-F]

I use the original chrome 90mm Elmarit; the thin tele-Elmarit; the CV 75/2.5; and the 75mm Summicron. These days the thin T-E gets more use than the larger chrome Elmarit. I think enough of the 90mm Elmarit that I also have the R version, converted to Nikon mount. I like the 0.72 finder for these lenses, although I will use them on the 0.58 if that's what I'm shooting at the time.

 

[WJJ3]

They used to sell the lens and adapter separately, so I was able to purchase the lens without the macro adapter. Even without the adapter, being able to focus to the minimum .77m with a 90mm can fill a full frame quite nicely. Not to mention that, assuming you don't need the speed, its one of the three highest performing leica lenses available (APO cron 90, APO Telyt 135 being the others)

As for the M3, the adapter will work. But I also have bent my minimum focus 'limiter' (not an exact process or guaranteed outcome) it now focuses to exactly .77m, so at least I can use my MEM on all my cameras.

The Macro Elmar without the macro adapter looks like a sweet general purpose lens. Glad to hear your M3 focus mod is working well.

Richard G: thanks for your samples. The flower vase shot is wonderful, and is a great example of tele use indoors.

Rob-F: thats interesting to hear you use your teles with your .58 finder. I have only looked through a .58 finder once, but remember thinking it would be very usable with a 75mm.

 

[BW400CN]

Interessing!
Only Leica user seem to use 90mm on their RF.
Why?
There are so many good old RF with interchangable lenses out there with the possibility to use lenses around 90mm - nobody does it?

 

[lxmike]

How different optically is the Elmar M 90mm f4 compared to the Elmar-C 90mm

 

[sparrow6224]

Boris -- wow. That's the 90mm I got (Elmar-C : Viva!) but I'm thinking that's some digital action I'm seeing.

LXmike -- Irwin Puts is your man here. He says the Elmar-C is better than any Leica 90mm in the f/2.8 and f/4 categories up until its time; it's the equal of the Tele Elmarit of 1973; and is surpassed by the Elmarit M 90/2.8 of 1990 and everything after. Most of the later Summicrons are better too. But the degree of betterness if you look at the MTF charts for f/5.6 is pretty slim. The differences are in the sharpness and contrast at the very edges. Of course the later lenses: The Summicron ASPH and the Elmar Macro and the Summarit 90s -- are in a whole new league, and cost it. (See Leica Compendium: the Company, the Cameras, the Lenses, Erwin Puts, 2011.)

 

[maggieo]

I've got the thin Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 made in Canada. It's not much larger than the Rokkor 90/4 you mention. My experience is very similar to yours - I don't use it much but when the composition asks for a short telephoto, I'm glad I've got it.

I'll second that. I've got the same lens. When it's the right lens, it couldn't be more right.


Flowers, December 13, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Michael, December 04, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


The Flying Dutchman, March 30, 2011 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


1983 '62RI Fender Stratocaster, January, 2010 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Quine Telecaster Switches And Knobs, January, 2010 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Dad, September, 2009 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

Perfect for portraits of any kind.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Interessing!
Only Leica user seem to use 90mm on their RF.
Why?
There are so many good old RF with interchangable lenses out there with the possibility to use lenses around 90mm - nobody does it?

The 90mm has been a leica lineup since the early 30s, and when the time came 'everyone' else (most RF camera makers) went with the 85mm. So ultimately I think it has to do with frame line compatibility. 85 frames can be used with 90 lenses and vice versa, but I think tradition tends to keep 90mm with Leica and 85mm with those cameras that have the proper frame lines.

 

[Richard G]

Stunning black and white mountain landsacpes Boris.

 

[Hosermage]

E46 Elmarit-M w/ sliding hood