Compact 90mm M lens

[Rico]

I use the 3-element Elmar. Maybe the chrome lacks discretion, but the size is friendly on the street. Performance is thoroughly modern for a 1960's design. Downside is finding one, and the relative cost.

 

[hdrmd]

I have used the 90mm elmarit 2.8 for years both for film and digital. I can find little fault with it, and it is certainy compact. DR

 

[nikon_junkie]

I find there is very little size difference in the 90 'Cron and 90 Elmarit. Weght and thickness? yes... but not a deal breaker.

If you need speed go for the 'Cron.

 

[Kim Coxon]

I started with a 90/2 and could never get used to the size. I then got an Elmarit-M and find it gives great performance for a moderate cost. I then got hold of a TE at rock bottom price. I don't think the performance of the TE is up to the Elmarit but it is a much more expensive lens. I hardly use 90 and only keep one for "emergency" use and so the Elamrit-M is going.

There are a couple of Elmarit-M in the classified at the moment.
Mine http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=2222&cat=2
And this one http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=4236

There is an Elmar-C as well

Kim

 

[sirius]

Here's what Putts has to say about it.

 

[Shac]

Berliner - what aperture did you mainly shoot your 90 AA Cron at? If f4 then the Macro elmar is the most compact and superb quality even at full aperture.

 

[Shac]

PS I guess I'm a 90 mm nutter - have 4 - elmarit 2.8, Apo, TE and Macro elmar. The last is a joy to use and I use it to good effect with the Visoflex II

 

[Ronald M]

My ex demo Thin 90 2.8 I have had since `86 is a decent lens. Not much bigger than a 50 2.0.

Have a new 90 Macro Elmar that puts all 90`s except the current ones to shame if extreme sharp is your bag. And it does not go soft up close like the 90 AA and previous 90 2.0

 

[ampguy]

I'm interested in one of these, but how do you detect the fungus that many of these supposedly have that gets worse over time?

 

[Artorius]

Don'i forget the Elmar col.

Don'i forget the Elmar col.

Not a great shot, but this was shot with the Elmar 90mm f/4 collapsible, hyper focal distance with the M8. I had set the distance on the guy drinking.
An underrated, sweet lens, on any M camera. Plus, on the M2346, collapses into the camera. On the M8 it sticks out about 3/4" from fully collapsed.
ISO 800 f/4. This has had NO PP. I should say 640, but tests say it's actually 800)

 

[peter_n]

I'm interested in one of these, but how do you detect the fungus that many of these supposedly have that gets worse over time?

With a penlight shone through the lens at an angle. The etching occurs inside a rear sealed element pair - it is "unfixable". There was a thread here last week that discussed this issue.

 

[ferider]

I'm interested in one of these, but how do you detect the fungus that many of these supposedly have that gets worse over time?

The easiest way, Ted, is to get a later one that has the yellow 90
on the focusing barrel.

Roland.

 

[Captain]

Most compact would probably be the second type Tele-Elmarit (f/2.8) or the Elmar-C (f/4; same outward size but lighter).

Actually the Elmar-C is 40 grams heavier than the Compact TE lens! In order to fit the larger elements in a barrel of almost the same size the internal baffles have been removed and makes it lighter weight but that also causes it to flare easily.

The collapsible Macro Elmar would be the most compact and near APO picture quality.

 

[JNewell]

Actually the Elmar-C is 40 grams heavier than the Compact TE lens!

= 1.4 oz, for the metric-challenged... 😀