kxl
Social Documentary
If I had the money and assuming I can find one, I would get the the ZM 85/2.0 Sonnar but then again, I seem to be in constant need of a Sonnar fix these days.
Graham Line
Well-known
All of my lenses are so much better than I am, that I've stopped buying new ones.
Vics
Veteran
I just bought an Elmar-C 90/4, after agonizing over whether to buy a 90 or not. I won't use it much. Mostly I'd use it for landscapes- the hilltop village across the valley- and I usually don't like 90mm portraits, so I ended up bottom fishing for the cheapest, smallest, lightest well-regarded Leica lens I could find. I could've gotten even cheaper with an LTM Elmar, but all things being equal I'd rather have an M-mount lens. I'll use this lens for about 5% of my pictures.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Dont forget the Apo Lanthar 90mm f3.5 from Cosina! Better than the Elmarit 90f2.8 and rivals the Apo Summicron 90 at f5.6 and onward. Still available as used. It is a true apochromate too.
M2, Acros 100, Pyrocat developer and 90f3.5 Apo Lanthar. BMW 507.
Damaso
Photojournalist
Ruhayat
Well-known
Some lenses have a certain "feel" that resonates with you and can make your picture-taking skills to another level, though. For instance, everytime I see a shot from the 50mm C-Sonnar it makes me want to go out and take colour pictures. My 50mm Summicron, on the other hand, is technically competent but boring, and it doesn't inspire me the same way.
Or maybe it's just my excuse to feed my GAS.
mfogiel
Veteran
I think, that unless you use lenses for shooting resolution charts, it does not make sense to switch, unless you want to get a Summicron, which is quite similar to your old Elmarit, but with better bokeh yet. Another option, which would make sense, but only if you are a colour landscape shooter, would be the Zeiss 90/4, which is a completely different, modern look with high micro contrast and strong colours.
mfogiel
Veteran
I think, that unless you use lenses for shooting resolution charts, it does not make sense to switch, unless you want to get a Summicron, which is quite similar to your old Elmarit, but with better bokeh yet. Another option, which would make sense, but only if you are a colour landscape shooter, would be the Zeiss 85/4, which is a completely different, modern look lens with high micro contrast , great flare resistance and strong colours.