Leica Thambar-M 90mm: a review

[street-photographer]

Hello guys,
A few weeks before the official lens release I was asked by Leica Camera to test one of the first new Thambar lenses and to produce a portrait to show the lens's potential.

Here's where you can find some thoughts about this experience:

https://eoloperfido.com/blog/leica-thambar

Bye!

 

[Emile de Leon]

Nice! I would like to get this lens..!

 

[lxmike]

many thanks nice review🙂

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

I like the resulting image. The images from Leica in their press releases really make the lens look horrible. For me, I'd never buy one, but at least it makes more sense now.

 

[Pioneer]

Not for me.

I am sure I am not seeing this as I should but to me this looks like a Holga on a Leica.

Believe me, I have nothing against the Holga and love working with mine. But I paid a whole lot less for the privilege. 😀

 

[Huss]

Nice! I would like to get this lens..!

(spits out my Zima onto my ipad)

Uh huh.
all o' a sudden ur jiggy w/ a $7000 blurry focus lens, but a $3000 M is crazy money?

😀

Eolo, gorgeous photo showing how a tool is meant to be used for a specific job.

 

[icebear]

For studio portrait jobs it might be nice and customers might love the dreamy result. Just short of late 70's French soft p... movies.😉
So it seems super special effect. This will get boring after the 10th shot for anything else. I'll pass😎

 

[ptpdprinter]

For studio portrait jobs it might be nice and customers might love the dreamy result. Just short of late 70's French soft p... movies.😉
So it seems super special effect. This will get boring after the 10th shot for anything else. I'll pass😎

A Huss said, it is a tool. Whether you need the tool, and the price, play into the equation. Not everyone needs a $7000 soft focus lens.

 

[Emile de Leon]

(spits out my Zima onto my ipad)

LOL..my wife has been begging me to get some Zima for her..its always out of stock..

Uh huh.
all o' a sudden ur jiggy w/ a $7000 blurry focus lens, but a $3000 M is crazy money?

The lens will have value in the coming years..unlike the door stopper hockey puck M240...
And in the meantime..it will get use..
Besides..I already have a bunch of SF lenses for LF...from the 1800's on up..
And when I take happy snaps...of Tunas..Droolin babies..and Dogs..I will have saved a bunch of cash...by not buyin the M11 to come..and just using my el cheapo..Sonys and Pannys...forever..
That makes sense doesn't it?...
I wonder if I can write it off too...should be able to..
When they ask..why so much claimed for a camera lens..
I'll reply...this is my ugly person lens..it makes anyone..no matter how ugly..instantly beautiful...and that don't come cheap..like sushi Tuna...pricy stuff...
and...there is no limit to Leicas imagination..in regards to the procurement of capital..to Tuna photogs..like me...they get us..every time...

 

[Huss]

LOL..my wife has been begging me to get some Zima for her..its always out of stock..



When they ask..why so much claimed for a camera lens..
I'll reply...this is my ugly person lens..it makes anyone..no matter how ugly..instantly beautiful...and that don't come cheap..like sushi Tuna...pricy stuff...
.

The Thambar definitely is the 10 at 2, 2 at 10 lens.

😀

(Just had a tuna melt for lunch,, with muenster cheese. Zima goes perfectly w that.)

 

[Lux Optima]

Special tool for special purposes. I can't afford to buy one, but - if a truly ugly persons indeed becomes beautiful on a thambar photo - I would desperately love to be photographed by someone using this lense.

 

[zuiko85]

At that price I'll be content with a +10 attached to a cheap focusing tube and stuck on a SLR (where you can see the effect on the focusing screen). Put a paper stop behind the lens (about f4 I should think) and go crazy.

 

[Lux Optima]

Frankly, I appreciate every tendency to produce lenses which sole purpose isn't an even more of sharpness but that help creating a distinct look.

I honestly can't differ between lenses that all produce a totally sharp photo - but obviously a Thambar shows a characterstic style to me.

 

[waileong]

Don't like the effect.

 

[Lux Optima]

If I would own a Thambar I would consider it a challenge to shoot portraits that may people look like UFA stars of the 40s BUT include a more modern approach to portrait as well.

And I would love seeing pics that would show me the visual range of using a Thambar - excepting the field of portrait.

There has to be more that can be shown convincingly than just faces. Hopefully...

 

[Emile de Leon]

Too bad they didn't make it in a 50mm..or 75mm...could have called it a Thambax....and called it a day..

 

[FUJINON]

Roger Hicks wrote a very informative 2 page review, and also gave his opinion of the Screw Mount version of the Leitz 90mm f2.2 Thambar for SHUTTERBUG some years ago.
See:-
https://www.shutterbug.com/content/leitz-thambar-90mm-f22brwhy-it-considered-legendary-portrait-lens

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I really need to start grafting Rapid Rectilinear lenses onto focusing helicoids.

Good review and beautiful photo but not a lens I'd voluntarily own.

Phil Forrest

 

[valdas]

Maybe a stupid question - what about filters (like Zeiss softar or Rolleisoft)? How different is the effect? I remember using those two (on Planar 85mm and Rolleiflex), I see the end result quite similar, but maybe I just can't see that difference of 7000$ lens and 20$ filter looking at web resolution pictures?

 

[aizan]

we'll have to wait for it to get into more hands to start pixel peeping this lens vs. softening filters, vaseline, gauze, etc.