Explain to me Leica 90mm lenses pls

Krosya

Krosya

Konicaze
Local time
3:03 PM
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
3,605
Location
USA
View My Gallery
Hi All,
I was on a sort of a long lens kick and am thinking about a good Leica one. However as I try to figure out all those Elmarits and Tele Elmarits and all their versions - I'm lost. Can anyone point me to a good source or just explain and recommend one? I don't really want Elmar as it's a slow lens to me. Summicron - 90/2 - seems to be a bit too much for me now. So 2.8 lens should do it. Question is - which one? And how do I differentiate one version from another? thin, fat, and whatever else is there. How Elmarit and Tele Elmarit differe? I'm very confused. :bang: Oh yeah - and what should I expect to pay for each type?
Thanks in advance.
 
kbcamera or Cameraquest have good explanations on their website.

Roughly speaking, optically you have:

1 - old Elmarit (E39)
2 - Tele-Elmarit, thin and fat
3 - old Summicron
4 - new Elmarit (E46)
5 - new Apo Summicron

All focus down to .9m.

4 and 5 are supposed to be outstanding, but I have never used them,
out of my price class.

1 and 2 behave very similarly, 1 is just a bit sharper than 2, but 2 is more
compact. Bokeh-wise they are all beautiful.

3 is very heavy, and some say not too sharp. I am convinced that this is
partially due to experience with badly collimated, or hazed lenses.
Mine was CLA'ed by DAG and behaves well. It has the most beautiful OOF
behavior you can imagine.


If you want a fast short tele, other options include the Nikkor 85/2
or 105/2.5. Costs you about as much as a v1 Elmarit, but is a great,
great lens.

Also, myself, I like the CV 75/2 a lot.

Best,

Roland.
 
ferider said:
kbcamera or Cameraquest have good explanations on their website.

Roughly speaking, optically you have:

1 - old Elmarit (E39)
2 - Tele-Elmarit, thin and fat
3 - old Summicron
4 - new Elmarit (E46)
5 - new Apo Summicron

All focus down to .9m.

4 and 5 are supposed to be outstanding, but I have never used them,
out of my price class.

1 and 2 behave very similarly, 1 is just a bit sharper than 2, but 2 is more
compact. Bokeh-wise they are all beautiful.

3 is very heavy, and some say not too sharp. I am convinced that this is
partially due to experience with badly collimated, or hazed lenses.
Mine was CLA'ed by DAG and behaves well. It has the most beautiful OOF
behavior you can imagine.


If you want a fast short tele, other options include the Nikkor 85/2
or 105/2.5. Costs you about as much as a v1 Elmarit, but is a great,
great lens.

Also, myself, I like the CV 75/2 a lot.

Best,

Roland.
Click to expand...

How would you compare any of these to the CV90...aside from speed of course.
 
Thanks Rob and Roland. Good explanations. I'm more clear now. Followup questions - could you tell me more about CV 75/2.5 lens? I use 50mm lenses a lot and was thinking that 75 may be too close to that.
It's funny, 2 lenses that each of you guys talk about - Jupiter 9 and Nikon 85/2 - I have and both work fine, focus correcly, but I was looking for something better, thinking of selling my Nikon to go with Leica or possibly CV. Not a good idea? Any thoughts? I'm keeping J-9 btw, its a great lens when works right and mine does. But it "paints" different from Leica - thats why I was thinking of going that route.
Thanks again. and if you can add to your comments or add some sample pics - pls do. I'd like to see that old Summicron OOF look that you like so much.
 
dazedgonebye said:
How would you compare any of these to the CV90...aside from speed of course.
Click to expand...

Like I said Steve, I haven't used the Apo Lanthar.

Roland.
 
Last edited:
At 2.8 the Nikkor will beat the Elmarit in terms of sharpness and bokeh.
But the Elmarit is much smaller and lighter.

Hard for me to tell you to sell one to get the other ... I like all of them.

The CV 75 is great. Very small, easy to handle and very nice OOF behavior.

Roland.
 
if you know little about the 90mm and don't want slow consider the 90mm/3.5 VC or the 75mm/2.5 VC. These are very reasonably priced new and even better priced used.

The newer Leicas are state of the art pretty much and you will pay for this distinction. In the past year I owned all the newer Leica 90s and have settled for the compact and very light Minolta CLE 90mm/4.0. It delivers awesome results and great boke. I use strictly for portraits and 400 Portra. Really depends on how you want to use the lens....My Leica 90mm/2.0 is used less because its on heavier side and I prefer to travel light... 90mm/4.0 and 400asa film is equivalent to 90mm/2.0 and 100asa film.
 
Krosya said:
Thanks Rob and Roland. Good explanations. I'm more clear now. Followup questions - could you tell me more about CV 75/2.5 lens? I use 50mm lenses a lot and was thinking that 75 may be too close to that.
It's funny, 2 lenses that each of you guys talk about - Jupiter 9 and Nikon 85/2 - I have and both work fine, focus correcly, but I was looking for something better, thinking of selling my Nikon to go with Leica or possibly CV. Not a good idea? Any thoughts? I'm keeping J-9 btw, its a great lens when works right and mine does. But it "paints" different from Leica - thats why I was thinking of going that route.
Thanks again. and if you can add to your comments or add some sample pics - pls do. I'd like to see that old Summicron OOF look that you like so much.
Click to expand...

Funny how needs and perceptions color things.
I have a J9 and I actually love the way it "paints." I'm just looking for a little better sharpness.
 
I'm also trying to decide on a 90mm lens to go with the M4 I'm about to buy. I've narrowed the choices to the pre-Asph 'cron and the current Elmarit but I still have some questions and I'm not able to make the decision yet.

Apart from the maximum aperture difference, it seems like the 'cron is considerably larger than the Elmarit, and the Elmarit is much sharper than the 'cron. I haven't been able to corroborate either as I don't own either lens yet and I can't find the dimensions for the pre-Asph 'cron online.

I have several specific questions that I hope someone here can answer:
1. Is the above a fair characterization of these two lenses?
2. Can someone tell me how much larger (and heavier) the 'cron is?
3. Is the Elmarit really sharper? At all speeds or only the larger apertures?
4. How about bokeh? I've seen some lovely pictures taken with the Elmarit but haven't found any examples with the 'cron.

Thanks in advance.
 
CorreCaminos said:
I'm also trying to decide on a 90mm lens to go with the M4 I'm about to buy. I've narrowed the choices to the pre-Asph 'cron and the current Elmarit but I still have some questions and I'm not able to make the decision yet.

Apart from the maximum aperture difference, it seems like the 'cron is considerably larger than the Elmarit, and the Elmarit is much sharper than the 'cron. I haven't been able to corroborate either as I don't own either lens yet and I can't find the dimensions for the pre-Asph 'cron online.

I have several specific questions that I hope someone here can answer:
1. Is the above a fair characterization of these two lenses?
2. Can someone tell me how much larger (and heavier) the 'cron is?
3. Is the Elmarit really sharper? At all speeds or only the larger apertures?
4. How about bokeh? I've seen some lovely pictures taken with the Elmarit but haven't found any examples with the 'cron.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Cann't talk about the current Elmarit.

Check out http://www.flickr.com/groups/86731438@N00/pool/tags/LeicaSummicron90mmf2.0III

For Summicron vIII example photos (I assume this is the one you mean).

Roland.
 
not to be discouraging but....

not to be discouraging but....

You need really good eyesight to focus the 90mm lenses accurately, preferably using a higher-magnification finder. With the .72 finder in low light and/or wide open I found it to be hit or miss. Not to mention composing accurately in such small framelines. Just be aware of what you're getting into. You might try it out - go slow and get the Minolta f4 lens before you sink big money into this focal length. If it works for you, sell it for what you paid for it and get one of the Leica offerings.
 
I have no trouble at all to focus my Summicron 90/2 wide open on my M3 or M6 (0.85). It is a sharp lens with a gentle touch of vintageness.

I have the old Elmarit; it is light and very sharp.
I LOVE my Elmar 90/4. It is one of a kind for me.
I admire the Nikkor 105mm/2.5. There is no other portrait lens that beats it.
I cherish my old design Summicron 90/2 for its beauty and optical signature.

I do not aim at getting any CV tele lenses.


Raid
 
Last edited:
Pablito said:
You need really good eyesight to focus the 90mm lenses accurately, preferably using a higher-magnification finder. With the .72 finder in low light and/or wide open I found it to be hit or miss. Not to mention composing accurately in such small framelines. Just be aware of what you're getting into. You might try it out - go slow and get the Minolta f4 lens before you sink big money into this focal length. If it works for you, sell it for what you paid for it and get one of the Leica offerings.
Click to expand...

Well, my eyesight is not what it used to be anymore but I believe I'll be fine with a 1.25 magnifier and the right diopter. Am I right?

Obviously, an M3 or an 0.85x M6/MP would be better but I prefer the M4 for a number of reasons (newer than the M3 and easier to load film, cheaper than the MP, and I just don't like the M6s much).

Oh my ... I think I just answered my own question. I've been trying to be somewhat fiscally responsible, if for no other reason because I need to continue to fund my MF system, but it just occurred to me that a 0.85x MP would be sweet! I guess it's only money...
 
I have used the Konica M-Hexanon 90/2.8, "thin" Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8, and the APO Summicron ASPH 90/2. All of them are excellent, the Summicron less so close up. My favorite as an all-round lens is the Konica but I sold it some years ago. Big mistake. The Tele-Elmarit can be had for $400-500 and is a brilliant little travel lens. Get one with a serial nr. above 332xxxx.
 
bokeh

bokeh

memphis said:
AS someone who has used kroysa's nikor 85.2 and an elmarit 2.8 -- they are worlds apart - I've got the original elmarit -- it's a lot lighter than the nikor, it's also much more compact -- a good version 1 elmarit can be picked up for $150 (I got lucky) - $300 -- use the hood -- it makes all the difference in low light shooting... it's a great compact lens - little bit lighter and shorter than the hektor 135 --- almost grab the wrong lens on occaison....

it's got a nice character

the flowers are with your nikor, the gate is with the elmarit...

both wide open
Click to expand...

Well, if I had to base it on these two photos - I really like my Nikkor better as far as OOF (bokeh) goes. Maybe I should keep it? 😉 It's just so darn heavy - I guess I need to start lifting weights. 😉 Although its nothing compared to a Canon 100-400 L IS lol weight -wise.
 
 
Last edited:
Wow Raid - I love that photo from Nikkor 105/2.5. Great shot and lens performance as well!!!! But than again - you have a great subject there too.
Thanks for sharing.
 
Krosya,

the 105/2.5 is outstanding. Really good. Just a little more difficult
to frame than 85/90. But usually not too expensive.

Or, if the chrome 85/2 is too heavy for you, maybe you want to
look for a black one 😉

Roland.
 
Krosya said:
Wow Raid - I love that photo from Nikkor 105/2.5. Great shot and lens performance as well!!!! But than again - you have a great subject there too.
Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

Krosya,

Yes, my "model" is good, but a bad lens would look bad here too.
I have added an image taken with the old Elmar 90/4.




Raid
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Canon 28mm f3.5 or f2.8 on Leica M - Anyone one using one?
2 3 4
Replies
62
Views
13K
Deleted member 65559
D
I
Used Leica’s serial unknown to Leica?
2 3 4
Replies
68
Views
1K
sojournerphoto
S
macmx
Best M body for 75mm?
Replies
2
Views
462
Harry the K
H
Roastchestnuts
whats your thoughts on a leica 24mm f2.8 asph?
Replies
8
Views
2K
Rayt
Rayt
R
Leica 90/2.8 Fat Tele-Elmarit vs Rokkor CLE 90mm
2
Replies
23
Views
5K
Graham Line
Graham Line
Back
Top Bottom