tele-elmarit 90mm (fat version)

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I've had the lens as well. I can tell you from experience that the early chrome version is quite a bit sharper and contrastier (sp) than the black version. The chrome one used a different element (lanthanum, I believe) than the later black ones. They only made the chrome ones for the first year and it is difficult and pricier to get the rarer and better chrome version.

Hope this helps,

Joel

Is this actually true? I wasn't able to find any other references to this difference in sharpness and contrast...I know the chrome ones are rarer, but are they really better?