Tom's take on 90mm M lenses

jmooney

jmooney

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I'm looking to add a 90 to my M6 kit (preferably Leica branded). I don't use 90's that often so I don't want to spend a lot and I'll be buying used for sure. I was hoping you could give me a run down on what's out there and some recommendations.

Thanks!

Jim
 
Tom wrote a nice article on the 90mm Summicron SOOZI lens for the LHSA's Viewfinder magazine that compared the SOOZI with some other 90's. It's been a while since I looked at it though. I did notice that he had quite a nice collection of 90's.
 
I recently got to try out a original 90mm Elmarit (from the 1960's I believe). It really shocked me to see that it was that good. I do own the Voigtlander 90mm, but I really liked the Elmarit better.

Also, the latest Elmarit seems to be a very nice lens.
 
small, reasonable priced, very good building quality and excellent image quality, even wide open - Konica M-Hexanon 2,8/90
 
I can recommend the current 4/90 collapsible Macro-Elmar as well. It is a superb performer, very small and takes the same M39 filters as the 35 'crons and it can be used as a macro as well, if you dare/want. Also, if you want a new Leica lens, it is one of their cheapest (together with the 50 Elmar).
I have never really found the f4 to be limiting.

Regards,

Michael
 
I am not a big user of 90's anymore. Used to have stacks of them, including the SOOZI 90f2 - never needed an exercise clas with this lens - it is HEAVY!
I do still have some left, the Apo-Lanthar 90f3.5 from VC and a couple of 90f4 Elmars (collapsible version) and probably some more in the camera cabinet.
It all depends what you are going to be using it for, low light and "soft" portraiture - the older Big Bertha 90f2 Summicron is actually a very good lens. The later version of this lens (1980's) was not as good in my opinion and then came the 90f2 Apo-Asph. Markedly better and bigger, but somehow I never got along with it.
The Elmarit M 90f2.8 is a good, lightweight lens, soft enough at 2.8 to be useful for portraits, but very sharp stopped down. The earlier version, the Elmarit 90f2.8 is almost as good, but a bit prone to flare and "fungus" between the elments. The light weight Tele Elmarits 90f2.8 (small and compact) but these you have to check as they tend to have serious fungus between the elements and it is a bit soft wide open. However, it is small and compact and if you find a good one, they work well.
The C Elmar is somewhat of an unsung hero. Very good performer and very compact. Check that your camera and the lens is matched for focus though. It was made for the Leica CL and the focussing cam on the CL and the rest of the M's has a slightly different curve, particularly in close focus. However, it is a f4 lens and that gives it some latitude for focus shift.
 
Thanks Tom. I don't use 90's much either. The 35 seems to work for just about everything for me. It'll be used for some portraits, to get closer at my daughter's dance recitals, and maybe isolate some architectural features if I'm out and about in the city. The fact that it's good and light are the best features for me as it'll certainly be carried more than used.

Now to find a CV 15 and my M kit will be complete!
 
Here are two shot with the 90mm Konica M Hexanon on the M8. I don't think you can get much better. First was @ f2.8, Second @ f4, I think. The lens is not coded, so no data.

2913276126_0c55ba4c04_b.jpg


2905173059_94a8a5397e_o.jpg
 
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Lewis, thanks for your pictures. I was reading the thread as I am thinking of a 90mm too and got intrigued when reminded about the Konika one. In my opinion, the background is softer with a current Elmarit (which I owned in the pas) and the CV Apo Lanthar, of which I saw pictures. Those softer backgrounds are more to my taste.
 
Tom A said:
It all depends what you are going to be using it for, low light and "soft" portraiture - the older Big Bertha 90f2 Summicron is actually a very good lens. The later version of this lens (1980's) was not as good in my opinion and then came the 90f2 Apo-Asph. Markedly better and bigger, but somehow I never got along with it.
Click to expand...

Hi, Tom. I ran across this old thread and was curious about this comment. What was it about the 80s cron that you didn't like as much as the larger original version?
 
FWIW, I'm a big fan of the 90mm F2 Summicron. One of my favorite and most-used lenses. For me, the perfect short telephoto for shooting in low light & still coming back with some hot images.

Mine is not the latest ASPH model--ser # indicates it was made in the 80s, but it does good work anyhow. Heavy? Doesn't seem that way after you've wrestled a 35-100mm F2 DSLR zoom lens around a few times....
 
jmooney said:
Thanks for the link to that thread I feel better now about my impulse purchase :cool:

I made a low ball offer on an Elmar-C and the seller accepted:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=310088696894&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=021

Should do the trick nicely!

Jim
Click to expand...

jim i do think you will enjoy the elmar-c. i literally just returned from my morning walk with that lens attached to my ep2. i really like how the lens renders, great colors, good contrast and reasonable sharpness. for the price--i paid less than $400usd-- its hard to imagine a better 90 m mount. congrats, and hope to see some pictures soon.
tony
 
Michael Tyler said:
Hi, Tom. I ran across this old thread and was curious about this comment. What was it about the 80s cron that you didn't like as much as the larger original version?
Click to expand...

I had several of these - including the 1 st version where the hood kept collapsing over the aperture ring! I went as far as drilling a hold and tapping it and locking the hood in pulled out position! There was something about that Summicrons "rendering" that did not appeal to me. I actually prefer the "Big Bertha" - slightly soft edges at f2 but plent sharp in the center.
This said. my "come along" 90 is the light weight VC Apo Lanthar 90/3.5. Small enough to fit a pocket.
I do dearly love the Elmar 90f4 collapsible - not so much for the performance - a bit low contrast etc - but for the construction and "mechanics" of it. Stopped down it is good too.
I did have the Apo-Asph 90f2 - but did not use it very much and in the end traded it off for something else (can't remember what).
 
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