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Leitz 90mm f4.0 Elmar SM
why are these lenses so cheap on ebay?
not very good?
did i just answer my own question?
joe
why are these lenses so cheap on ebay?
not very good?
did i just answer my own question?
joe
This is another under-rated lens that was produced in quantity; well-respected by the best photographers in the 40's and 50's and is a fine addition to any Leica Screw Mount camera. I liked mine so much that I put the M-Mount adapter on it for the M3 and keep the Nikkor 8.5cm f2 on the Canon 7.
Joe, BUY ONE!
Shot with uncoated Elmar 9cm F4; $43 lens.
Joe, BUY ONE!
Shot with uncoated Elmar 9cm F4; $43 lens.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
A while ago, I posted a question about this kind of glass, and Brian's posting convinced me to get one. Not only is it the cheapest Leica glass you can get, but also they seem to have their own... "quirks" (mine shows a particular kind of flare sometimes).
I read somewhere that this kind of lens was manufactured in large amounts. Besides, their being relatively slow when compared to other Leica staple-lenses probably turns the market on our favor. Since your Bessa has only framelines for 35, 50 and 75, you may want to consider one and get a separate viewfinder... although another strategy is to use the 50mm frame and simply imagine the covering angle as approximately half of that of the 50 frames. Or use the 75mm frame.
In any case, Joe, if you can lay your hands on one, don't hesitate. Just be aware of a couple of things:
The outer ring size is very small in many cases (36mm).
Some lenses are uncoated; great for b&w but not as great for color. Brian will tell you they may be a bit warm, but mine turned out the opposite.
The front of this lens turns as you focus.
The focusing ring can be a bit hard to handle (this depends on the lens shape). The fstop numbers can be the old-fashioned kind, not the usual f4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 but something as weird as f4, 6.7, 9.5, 10.8 and the like.
On the bright side, you won't need an adapter!
Let us know what you get in the Leica forum about these lenses!
I read somewhere that this kind of lens was manufactured in large amounts. Besides, their being relatively slow when compared to other Leica staple-lenses probably turns the market on our favor. Since your Bessa has only framelines for 35, 50 and 75, you may want to consider one and get a separate viewfinder... although another strategy is to use the 50mm frame and simply imagine the covering angle as approximately half of that of the 50 frames. Or use the 75mm frame.
In any case, Joe, if you can lay your hands on one, don't hesitate. Just be aware of a couple of things:
The outer ring size is very small in many cases (36mm).
Some lenses are uncoated; great for b&w but not as great for color. Brian will tell you they may be a bit warm, but mine turned out the opposite.
The front of this lens turns as you focus.
The focusing ring can be a bit hard to handle (this depends on the lens shape). The fstop numbers can be the old-fashioned kind, not the usual f4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 but something as weird as f4, 6.7, 9.5, 10.8 and the like.
On the bright side, you won't need an adapter!
Let us know what you get in the Leica forum about these lenses!
Joe, look in Francisco's gallery, he has some very nice shots taken with his 90. Also, there is a comprehensive Leica Lens guide on the Cameraquest site (where else would it be). I am sure Steve Gandy has a comment or two about this lens.
Fortunately too, the Bessa does have 90mm framelines. Francisco, it is the 28mm lines that are missing.
Fortunately too, the Bessa does have 90mm framelines. Francisco, it is the 28mm lines that are missing.
9cm F4 Elmar; pretty close to wide-open; on the M3.
No change in the color balance; maybe turned up the Saturation a little as the Epson 3170 scans are not as Saturated as the 5x7 prints; but no more than 10%. I find that to be true with all of my scans; 10% to 15% saturation increase to come close to the 5x7 prints from Qualex.
Our prior Discussion Thread on Uncoated Optics
Cold day at the Playground.
No change in the color balance; maybe turned up the Saturation a little as the Epson 3170 scans are not as Saturated as the 5x7 prints; but no more than 10%. I find that to be true with all of my scans; 10% to 15% saturation increase to come close to the 5x7 prints from Qualex.
Our prior Discussion Thread on Uncoated Optics
Cold day at the Playground.
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back alley
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i've been reading over at the leica forum archives, in the ltm section. this lens gets mixed but mostly positive reviews.
i had a rokkor 90/4 when i had the cle and the speed was never a factor for me. i'm fine with high speed film. as i rarely shoot colour film that also is not a factor as far as the coating/non coating is concerned. it seems if i can get a 'newer' one it might be coated and the filter size goes to 39 also.
i will most likely get one off ebay eventually.
i have been warned that older lenses in good shape are harder to come by and that many of the cheaper ones have lots of cleaning marks (something to be said for leaving a uv or yellow filter on all the time). someone offered me one that was supposed to be in nice shape but he wanted almost 350 american for it.
i've seen them in the 'buy it now' section on ebay for 100-130-150 bucks american.
i see this lens in my future.
joe
i had a rokkor 90/4 when i had the cle and the speed was never a factor for me. i'm fine with high speed film. as i rarely shoot colour film that also is not a factor as far as the coating/non coating is concerned. it seems if i can get a 'newer' one it might be coated and the filter size goes to 39 also.
i will most likely get one off ebay eventually.
i have been warned that older lenses in good shape are harder to come by and that many of the cheaper ones have lots of cleaning marks (something to be said for leaving a uv or yellow filter on all the time). someone offered me one that was supposed to be in nice shape but he wanted almost 350 american for it.
i've seen them in the 'buy it now' section on ebay for 100-130-150 bucks american.
i see this lens in my future.
joe
GeneW
Veteran
Joe, this lens may not be on your radar, but the CV APO Lanthar 90/3.5 is one of the nicest lenses I've owned. Very sharp and extremely resistant to flare. I use one on my Leica CL which has a 90mm frame built in.
Gene
Gene
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i'd love one!
but new they go for about 500 cdn.
(i'd have to eat kraft dinner for months!! lol)
i did however, just put a used one on my 'watch list' on ebay.
some of those ebay prices are just nuts!
there is a 35/2.5 cv lens for a 'buy it now' price of 380 cdn. - that's more than i paid for it new at the local pro camera shop.
i'm in no hurry and will wait for a good deal.
thanks gene,
joe
but new they go for about 500 cdn.
(i'd have to eat kraft dinner for months!! lol)
i did however, just put a used one on my 'watch list' on ebay.
some of those ebay prices are just nuts!
there is a 35/2.5 cv lens for a 'buy it now' price of 380 cdn. - that's more than i paid for it new at the local pro camera shop.
i'm in no hurry and will wait for a good deal.
thanks gene,
joe
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
Rover, your memory never ceases to amaze me!
Joe, you've got PMs!
Joe, you've got PMs!
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francisco,
your mail box is full - time for spring cleaning! lol
joe
your mail box is full - time for spring cleaning! lol
joe
jdos2
Well-known
Is anyone selling one?
Joe has me looking too. There are a couple on Ebay. The way I see things though, there is no need to be in a rush, there will always be a couple available when I really want one.
jdos2
Well-known
If not the 90mm, then the 135. They are really cheap too, and would make a decent portrait lens for the .85 and .9 finders on my cameras.
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rover,
i'm pretty much feeling the same way - there always seems to be a couple on ebay, so no real rush.
i have a 35/50/75 combo now so the next lens is a toss up between the 90 and i think a 28.
but for now i just need to shoot more!!
joe
i'm pretty much feeling the same way - there always seems to be a couple on ebay, so no real rush.
i have a 35/50/75 combo now so the next lens is a toss up between the 90 and i think a 28.
but for now i just need to shoot more!!
joe