baa
Newbie
I have a Leitz 90/2.8 Elmarit lens from the 60s S/N 2373444
I am wondering about upgrading to a new Leica 90/2.5
Is this worth the money out, or am I just buying the same lens only newer?
I am wondering about upgrading to a new Leica 90/2.5
Is this worth the money out, or am I just buying the same lens only newer?
Damaso
Photojournalist
The 90mm Summarit is a very nice lens, sharp with little flare. Is it worth it? Well that depends on your budget and how much you'd use it...
venchka
Veteran
There are folks in this world who value the "look" of the original 90/2.8 Elmarit over the current (last) version of the 90/2.8 Elmarit-M and/or 90/2.5 Summarit. That explains why I can't bring myself to sell my 1965 90/2.8 Elmarit. Yet.
All 3 are good lenses. All 3 are different in some small way.
YMMV.
All 3 are good lenses. All 3 are different in some small way.
YMMV.
Last edited:
Koni Kowa
Well-known
Since I learned that the new 75/2.5 and 90/2.5 have a plastic focusing ring, I have solved a part of my gear acquisition syndrome.
venchka
Veteran
Optics aside, there is much to be said for the old construction materials and tolerances.
All of my lenses from the 1950s and 1960s have a solid feel lacking in some of my modern lenses.
All of my lenses from the 1950s and 1960s have a solid feel lacking in some of my modern lenses.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Personally I don't think I'd bother. Yers, they're different, and yes, technically the newer lens is 'better'. But will it give you better pictures...?
If I were buying my first 90mm, and could afford the newer lens, I'd buy without hesitation. But an 'upgrade'? Not unless you're convinced there's a good reason.
Cheers,
R.
If I were buying my first 90mm, and could afford the newer lens, I'd buy without hesitation. But an 'upgrade'? Not unless you're convinced there's a good reason.
Cheers,
R.
Ronald M
Veteran
The new one does not go on a visoflex. The whole line was crippled in favor of the R, which they then dropped.
Notice how people are tuning up visos to work on M9?
No you will not get pics that jump off the page different/better. That lens was the best all-round 90 mm made.
Notice how people are tuning up visos to work on M9?
No you will not get pics that jump off the page different/better. That lens was the best all-round 90 mm made.
brokencivilian
Established
How are the elmar f4's? in terms of sharpness and picture quality
paulfish4570
Veteran
90/4 elmar-m:
menos
Veteran
I don't know, what is your reason for feeling the need of an upgrade (or change).
I would look into this:
- last Leica pre ASPH 90 Cron (less than the latest 90 Elmarit-M, one stop more for the needy, very nice for portraits, fantastic build with sufficient integrated lens hood)
- Canon 100/2 LTM (this is a crazy lens, that really caught me by surprise - super sharp and contrasty for it's vintage from f2 on (!), so maybe not the first selection for your models beauty shots, long focus throw though, as not a tele focus design, but a nice, light built, similar in weight, but longer than the latest 90 Cron pre ASPH).
These two are really different lenses to the one, you ask about upgrading, both entirely different in imaging, both faster than yours (do you want/ need that), both much less costly than the 90 Summarit (I see no reason, ever, to buy a 90 Summarit, when such excellent 90mm lenses are less expensive second hand).
I would look into this:
- last Leica pre ASPH 90 Cron (less than the latest 90 Elmarit-M, one stop more for the needy, very nice for portraits, fantastic build with sufficient integrated lens hood)
- Canon 100/2 LTM (this is a crazy lens, that really caught me by surprise - super sharp and contrasty for it's vintage from f2 on (!), so maybe not the first selection for your models beauty shots, long focus throw though, as not a tele focus design, but a nice, light built, similar in weight, but longer than the latest 90 Cron pre ASPH).
These two are really different lenses to the one, you ask about upgrading, both entirely different in imaging, both faster than yours (do you want/ need that), both much less costly than the 90 Summarit (I see no reason, ever, to buy a 90 Summarit, when such excellent 90mm lenses are less expensive second hand).
illuminati_02
Established
Not worth it, imho.
Do you use your current 90 enough to justify another?
What are you looking to improve?
I wouldn't drop your elmarit for the summarit, but add the e55 pre-asph 'cron if you want another 90.
Do you use your current 90 enough to justify another?
What are you looking to improve?
I wouldn't drop your elmarit for the summarit, but add the e55 pre-asph 'cron if you want another 90.
photo4ls
Well-known
Paul, I like your Elmar shot and it seems to have some pretty
good optics opposed to the one that I have. Maybe time to
have mine cleaned up a bit.
Nelson
good optics opposed to the one that I have. Maybe time to
have mine cleaned up a bit.
Nelson
Fraser
Well-known
I just picked up a 90 pre-asph today to replace the Elamarit 2.8 pic shows quite a lot bigger but I like the handling more, this is to go with my two lens kit 28mm summicron and now the 90mm, a nice compact fast-ish combo for the M9.
menos
Veteran
JSU, since I just started to explore LTM lenses a few months ago, I really like the idea of coded adapters - there is a certain Chinese manufacturer with coding positions milled and whitened, so a quick sharpie coding is basically permanent and very quick.
I pick them up locally (you have to handpick them, as quality really varies).
As been said, figure out, what you really want to improve from the lens, you own low:
- want smaller?
- want sharper?
- want faster?
- want different look?
- want different handling?
I loove that last pre ASPH 90 Cron, Fraser posted above - yes, it is heavier than the 90 Elmarit's, but it handles very sweet and is a real beauty for portraits, while becoming sufficiently sharp in the center, stopped down.
In my experience, it does not show the crazy excellence in sharp across the frame, right from f2.8 on like the latest 90 Elmarit-M (the integrated hood one) - this in fact is right there together with the 90 Cron ASPH minus the issues with focus difficulties, weight, bulk, immense cost.
There is a reason, why this lens goes up in price.
I pick them up locally (you have to handpick them, as quality really varies).
As been said, figure out, what you really want to improve from the lens, you own low:
- want smaller?
- want sharper?
- want faster?
- want different look?
- want different handling?
I loove that last pre ASPH 90 Cron, Fraser posted above - yes, it is heavier than the 90 Elmarit's, but it handles very sweet and is a real beauty for portraits, while becoming sufficiently sharp in the center, stopped down.
In my experience, it does not show the crazy excellence in sharp across the frame, right from f2.8 on like the latest 90 Elmarit-M (the integrated hood one) - this in fact is right there together with the 90 Cron ASPH minus the issues with focus difficulties, weight, bulk, immense cost.
There is a reason, why this lens goes up in price.
mile
Member
Would you mind to qualify that statement a bit more? Over here the asking prices for the latest Elmarit-M generation are quite obscene ATM and certainly in the same ballpark as a factory-new, warranty-covered Summarit-M.
One can find a lot of bad remarks about the Summarit lines on the interwebs and most of it sounds very much like unsubstantial hearsay.
Bye,
Michael
venchka
Veteran
Just out of curiosity...........
I went poking around ebay just now. I see a lot of wishful thinking Buy It Now prices for the 1st & last 90mm/2.8 Elmarits. Like the two that I own. The only early Elmarit that seemed reasonable, again like mine, is an early chrome model with hood & plastic cap for $450. In Poland. Otherwise, there are a LOT of overpriced lenses that folks aren't buying.
Remember the definition of market price. Unsold lenses are not expensive.
I went poking around ebay just now. I see a lot of wishful thinking Buy It Now prices for the 1st & last 90mm/2.8 Elmarits. Like the two that I own. The only early Elmarit that seemed reasonable, again like mine, is an early chrome model with hood & plastic cap for $450. In Poland. Otherwise, there are a LOT of overpriced lenses that folks aren't buying.
Remember the definition of market price. Unsold lenses are not expensive.
hausen
Well-known
+ 1 on the Elmarit M. Really regret selling mine. Have the 90 Summicron now but wish I still had the Elmarit.
jbielikowski
Jan Bielikowski
I have thoughts about Cron, but today got scans from Elmarit&Delta 100, GAS cured for some time.
N.delaRua
Well-known
I really like my Rokkor 90 f/4.0. Its super small, light, and nicely built. Wide open it has just enough DOF for great portraits. It is a little slow, but its also cheap!
hteasley
Pupil
I just got a 90mm Summarit today, after giving it a bit of a test out on the street in front of the shop... I'm really impressed with it. New, it's $1900, and I can see balking at that; this one was a recent return, and doesn't look like it was ever out of the box... 6-bit coded, unfilled warranty card, everything, $1200. They threw in the optional hood for $25, and I felt like I was stealing it....
Anyway, optically, I really like it. Posted two portraits in the gallery today taken with it, and I'm not finding anything to complain about. Yeah, there's the rubber focus ring, but really? Is that the beef with the lens? Focus throw is nice, feels smooth (not "gritty" like I've read)... where's the love for this fine lens?
(Both images M9, lens wide open. Pixel peeping on the DNGs, it's very sharp in the center)
Anyway, optically, I really like it. Posted two portraits in the gallery today taken with it, and I'm not finding anything to complain about. Yeah, there's the rubber focus ring, but really? Is that the beef with the lens? Focus throw is nice, feels smooth (not "gritty" like I've read)... where's the love for this fine lens?
(Both images M9, lens wide open. Pixel peeping on the DNGs, it's very sharp in the center)