Re: [Leica] 90mm M Lens opinions?

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

Lens choices are never easy for me to make myself, much less recommend for
someone else, not knowing what you want to use them for, but here goes:

If I had unlimited funds, the choice would have been easy, and the 90
Summicron would have been my choice. If you are shooting available light
with 400 or slower film, you won't like the relatively slower f2.8 speed of
either the Tele-Elmarit or the Elmarit-M. As a compact, sharp lens, the last
Tele-Elmarit is hard to beat, but the current Elmarit-M, the one I own, is a
very sharp, contrasty lens. there were some problems with a later batch of
Tele-Elmarits, so be sure any you look at is not one of those. For outdoor
shooting in good and even fairly low light, and with flash indoors the
current Elmarit-M is a very good choice, but if you need the extra stop and
are willing to go second-hand for now, I'd get a later pre-APO 90 Summicron.

- -----Original Message-----
From: Skip Williams [mailto:skipwilliams@pobox.com]
Sent: Monday, November 01, 1999 7:48 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us; leica@topica.com
Subject: [Leica] 90mm M Lens opinions?


I know this might stir up some controversy, but I'd like to get an opinion 
from the group.  I'm trying to decide on what 90 to buy for my M6.
><Snip> 
Skip

My 90 Elmarit has show the amazing quality to agree with Erwins high assessments.
I'd previously been used to such optics as Nikon 105 2.5's or 2.8's, and 85 f2's
or the 80-200 f4AF.
The speed of the Elmarit at 2.8 was not a shock, I rarely cursed it.
The new APO beckons for it's edge in quality, not speed.
Mark Rabiner