Bingley
Veteran
Re: Xray's first post above, there is, ahem, a very nice Rokkor-M 90/4.0 in Classifieds...
Just sayin' ;-)
Just sayin' ;-)
Which 90mm for my M3
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ChrisLivsey
Veteran
My choice Elmarit-M 90mm
With hood in it is only a fraction smaller than my new 35mm f1.4 Zeiss Distagon
This on M8 with studio flash and radio trigger, that was fun.
mcfingon
Western Australia
The 90 lens for me that fits best with the Leica ideal of portable quality is the Elmar-C 90 f4, or like the one I have, a Minolta M-Rokkor f4. Tiny but excellent contrast and sharpness from wide open and focuses down to a meter. This shot on M3 and Delta 100 film:
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
FWIW, I always get the lens or lenses that would have come with the camera when it was new.
Luke 5:36
"No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better."
Regards, David
FWIW, I always get the lens or lenses that would have come with the camera when it was new.
Luke 5:36
"No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better."
Regards, David
mcfingon
Western Australia
Nice quote David, but there was nothing about "watcheth for the haze" 🙂
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
90 mm has always been one of Leica's strengths. I do not think that there ever has been one unfortunate design on the market. So basically there is only one answer to the original question: any Leitz/Leica 90 mm will suit. You cannot go wrong.
x-ray
Veteran
The little Elmar C (Minolta cle version) is very modern looking and unlike the old Elmar it's tack sharp at f4.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
I'm a big fan of the fat Tele-Elmarit (mine is at DAG, getting lubricated, and I miss it). I prefer the handling and balance of the fat to the thin, and I'm really fond of that hazy Mandler look.
My all-time favorite at this focal length is the Canon 100mm f/2, but it is HUGE. But it renders really beautifully.
My all-time favorite at this focal length is the Canon 100mm f/2, but it is HUGE. But it renders really beautifully.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Huss,
The chrome lens is killer and it matches my 50 Lux ASPH which is also chrome. To make the GAS worse I found a black paint MP with 0.85 finder. Only the best for me. LOL.
Back on topic: I found my chrome 90 Macro Elmar at B&H for only $1800.00 boxed. Somehow it was mispriced. This happens to me often becuse I live in NYC and I have a boring day-job so I spend a lot of time data mining.
Hope we are still friends. LOL.
Cal
raid
Dad Photographer
I had a Canon 100/2 briefly, but then I sold it after getting a 75/1.4 Lux.
DominikDUK
Well-known
I have a soft spot for the original Elmar 4/90 wide open nice somewhat softer rendering for portraits stopped down one to two stop very good sharpness and contrast across the frame. The Elmar is not a tele design and doesn't suffer the shortcomings of tele designs.
Bingley
Veteran
The lens for sale in Classifieds is badged "Rokkor-M" instead of Elmar-C, but it was made by Leitz in Germany. There is some inconsistent info on the web about whether this version was made for the Minolta CL or the Minolta CLE. It has the standard focusing cam for Leica M cameras. It has a 40.5 filter thread.
x-ray
Veteran
I can't remember if the one I have is marked Rokkor or not but it's the one designed by Minolta and made for the CLE. It's my understanding it's a different design than the Leica designed Elmar C but I can't confirm that. I don't know whether the focusing cam was for the CL or a regular M but I've never had a problem with accuracy or mating correctly with the RF. From what I've read the story that the CL lenses MAY NOT FOCUS CORRECTLY on a regular M is of no concern. I seem to remember a survey once asking whether anyone had ever had a focus problem with a CL cammed lens on a regular M and no one had.
The CL/CLE Elmar is a much better lens IMO than the old Elmar. I've owned two or three of the old ones and never cared for them. They're too soft at 4 and 5.6 and prone to flare. Many have haze as well.
IMO the C-Elmar and Minolta version are a real bargain. The Minolta version is multicoated if that's important and the leica version is not. Lens hoods are no problem in 40.5mm and are a big problem in series 5.5 as are filters.
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
2 Corinthians 5:17 ... old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
pepeguitarra
Well-known
I just got this lens, it is amazing!!
Brian Legge
Veteran
While we're praising all 90mm lenses, I'll throw the Voigtlander 90/3.5 in the mix.
Its small, relatively easy to find in good condition... I've had opportunities to 'upgrade' at reasonable prices but haven't really found a need to do it. Closer focus would be nice but it isn't worth it for me at the expense of a larger, heavier lens.
Its small, relatively easy to find in good condition... I've had opportunities to 'upgrade' at reasonable prices but haven't really found a need to do it. Closer focus would be nice but it isn't worth it for me at the expense of a larger, heavier lens.
drew.saunders
Well-known
Somehow, over the years, I've ended up with three 90mm Leica lenses.
I started out with a 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit "fat," which is from about 1972 according to the serial number. It's still the 90 that I carry in my bag with my M6TTL, and would be the one I keep if I had to have only one. In theory, the "thin" Tele-Elmarit that followed it in 1973 is a better lens, and is certainly more collectable, but I've never been unhappy with the results of my "Fat" lens.
When I got a Visoflex and bellows, I picked up a 90/4 Elmar in LTM (the "II" version according to http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Elmar_(II)_f=_9_cm_1:4) to be able to remove the lens head and use with the bellows. I then found a 90/2 Summicron II without a serial number, in the scalloped version, which puts it at c. 1965-1970. I prefer to use it on the bellows, so the 90/4 doesn't get a lot of use, but I've used both the 90/4 and 90/2 on the M6ttl, and they both work fine. The 90/4 is flare prone, and the 90/2 isn't very sharp wide open, so neither is my regular use lens. At the same apertures, the 90/2.8 "Fat" is much better than the other two, so it's always in the bag.
For your M3 and your needs, I'd say get a 90/2.8 of any vintage and you should be all set.
I started out with a 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit "fat," which is from about 1972 according to the serial number. It's still the 90 that I carry in my bag with my M6TTL, and would be the one I keep if I had to have only one. In theory, the "thin" Tele-Elmarit that followed it in 1973 is a better lens, and is certainly more collectable, but I've never been unhappy with the results of my "Fat" lens.
When I got a Visoflex and bellows, I picked up a 90/4 Elmar in LTM (the "II" version according to http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Elmar_(II)_f=_9_cm_1:4) to be able to remove the lens head and use with the bellows. I then found a 90/2 Summicron II without a serial number, in the scalloped version, which puts it at c. 1965-1970. I prefer to use it on the bellows, so the 90/4 doesn't get a lot of use, but I've used both the 90/4 and 90/2 on the M6ttl, and they both work fine. The 90/4 is flare prone, and the 90/2 isn't very sharp wide open, so neither is my regular use lens. At the same apertures, the 90/2.8 "Fat" is much better than the other two, so it's always in the bag.
For your M3 and your needs, I'd say get a 90/2.8 of any vintage and you should be all set.
raid
Dad Photographer
It is my loss that I sold mine! On the other hand, how many 85mm-90mm-100mm-105mm lenses can I use?! I already have too many lenses.
I used to also own a Canon 85/1.9, which I sold. The Lux is an awesome lens, so I did not flinch when I sold my Canon 100/2.
Vics
Veteran
Buy my Elmar-C.
Mabelton Elmar-C 90mm by Vic Stewart, on Flickr
McDonald house Elmar-C 90mm by Vic Stewart, on Flickr
Mabelton Elmar-C 90mm by Vic Stewart, on FlickrMcDonald house Elmar-C 90mm by Vic Stewart, on Flickrpresspass
filmshooter
Of the ones I have, I use the thin Tele-Elmarit the most and like it best. It's fast enough for all but coal mine shots, small and light, and, at least my sample, tack sharp in the center when it's wide-open and at the closest focusing distance. I have others, but the Tele-Elmarit is the go-to lens unless I need more speed. Then it's the pre-Asph Summicron.
