Re: Leica M 90mm

[Steven Blutter <sblutter@worldnet.att.net>]

Paul Schliesser wrote:
> 
> >Does anyone have any comments about the comparative subjective qualities of
> >the f/2.8 Leica-M lenses (not Rokkors or any made for CLs).  I'm looking for
> >a lightweight, very high quality lens for use with B&W film.  Thoughts?
> >Price is not an issue but I'm not interested in paying a premium for a
> >collectible.  TIA
> 
> Curt,
> 
> Take a look at the 4-element f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit. It is about the size of
> a 50mm Summicron, only slightly longer. This lens was made from about
> 1974-1990; as far as I know, they are all black and all Canadian. They
> don't get any smaller than this. It should be the least expensive of the
> f/2.8 90mm lenses, since it's realatively recent (but not current), not
> too old and not especially rare.
> 
> I traded one of these when I got a recent 90mm Summicon. I love the
> Summicron, but sometimes I miss the small size and light weight of the
> older lens. I was always very happy with the quality of this lens; I used
> it for about 15 years.
> 
> I was surprised at Leica's new f/2.8 90mm Elmarit-M; the Tele-Elmarit
> offered a very different alternative to the Summicron if you didn't want
> the speed; the new lens is almost the same size and nearly as heavy, so
> between new 90mm lenses the only real issue is price.
> 
> The 90mm Tele-Elmarit uses the same lens hood as the older-mount f/4 135
> Elmarit and Tele-Elmarit do; if you use 35mm and 50mm Summicrons, the
> 90mm Tele-Elmarit and one of the f/4 135 lenses, you can share filters
> between them all and only need two lens hoods between the four of them
> (12575 for the 90mm and 135mm, 12585 for the 35mm and 50mm).
> 
> There was an older, 5-element version of this lens, normally referred to
> as the "fat" Tele-Elmarit. This is not considered to be as good as the
> 4-element version, and is somewhat bigger and heavier and is more
> expensive because of collector interest. This lens looks kind of like an
> elongated 50mm Summilux in shape; it's a fat cylinder that tapers at the
> end. The "fat" lens had a removeable lens head; the 4-element lens has a
> fixed head.
> 
> The 1960s f/2.8 90mm Elmarit is also a pretty good lens; I have been
> using the lens head of one on a Visoflex. It's quite a bit longer than
> the Tele versions, however. There is also the older collapsable f/4 90mm
> lens; this lens has a good reputation, but I don't know anything about it
> first hand.
> 
> - Paul

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I love my f;4 colaps. 90.  i promairly use 50's but when the need is
there, so is that handy beauty - it's just so convenient on the road and
results are fine.  used for portraits mostly...  Bonus: they are
availalble and relativly cheap.
sb