Mystery 90mm Tele-Elmarit (-M sorta) ... what is it?

[bjorke]

I've had this lens for a while, it was a cheapish lens for a length I rarely use. It's fine for the job -- but I tried to register it on the Leica-camera site tonight and... it doesn't exist!

The serial number is in the right range for a 1973 "thin" - and while the focus ring matches a "thin" Tele-Emarit-M, this lens has a front bezel and DoF scale laid-out as a "Fat" Tele-Elmarit.

It's a perfectly usable optic, I like it for those occasional 90mm situations, but... what? Leica says there was no such lens with that number.

Feels... special.

 

[Pál_K]

Could it be this,

https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/90mm-f28-tele.htm

with the “90” rubbed off? I’ve seen older Leica R lenses where the focal length designation as well as the other orange numbers are wearing off; this M lens is of the same vintage as those.

 

[bjorke]

That's what I've thought I have.... a Tele-Elmarit-M "thin" 90... and as time goes by I think I do have one, despite the differences between mine and what Ken Rockwell shows.

The "90" can't rub off, it's engraved. But this writer's review also shows his 1976 edition with the serial # on the front & a screw hole in place of the "90" -- just like mine. Oddities! Maybe the refactored engraving came later.

A double-check against Erwin Puts's big list shows my serial number is in the right range, so now I'm just stumped as to why Leica says there's no such beast (it does list the lens type, just not this serial number). If it was an expensive collectible lens, I could imagine it being forged... but a 1970's Elmarit?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

It looks like the first batch of thin Tele-Elmarits. Yours produced in Canada. Like any first-run product, you can expect changes in the cosmetics in later batches.

One for example: Most Nikon F2 bodies have Plastic wind tips. The first 1600 used metal tips. I have two, Many other cosmetic differences of the first batch. These things happen, and 50 years later- changes were not documented and after 50 years, no one at the company knows about it.

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica...Tele-Elmarit-M

Edit- looked on Ebay, another lens in the same batch as yours looks identical. SO- consider yours as the First Run lens.

 

[Rob-F]

It looks just like my thin Tele-Elmarit, except that mine is slightly later in serial number, starting with 283, while yours start with 258. My Hove reference guide says the first thin TE was number 2,585,501, so yours is an early one indeed. Mine has no "90" engraving on the barrel, either. I think they started that later. Rest assured, your lens exists, whether Leica thinks so, or not!

 

[Gid]

Looks like mine - 2586072. There is no 90 on the barrel but 05 is engraved vertically to the right of the "Feet" marker. I have a box that says 11800 but has a drawing of the fat version. Very good performer BTW.

 

[raydm6]

Looks like mine - 2586072. There is no 90 on the barrel but 05 is engraved vertically to the right of the "Feet" marker. I have a box that says 11800 but has a drawing of the fat version. Very good performer BTW.

In case you are curious, your lens is a 90.5 focal length. Discussed here:
http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-...?msg_id=005cTt

And a bit deeper explanation: http://nemeng.com/leica/039b.shtml

 

[Gid]

In case you are curious, your lens is a 90.5 focal length. Discussed here:
http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-...?msg_id=005cTt

And a bit deeper explanation: http://nemeng.com/leica/039b.shtml

Thanks. Now you mention it I do remember this coming up before.

 

[bjorke]

Well, Leica changed their mind! My lens is now considered legit by the Big L C AG