[Leica] 90mm M Lenses: Which is Most Resistant to Flare & Reflection?

[jbcollier at shaw.ca (John Collier)]

I have only used three 90s: the 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit-M "thin" version,  
the current 90/2.8 Elmarit-M and the current 90/2 APO-Summicron Asph.

Both the current lenses are tack sharp wide open with strong  
resistance to flare. Very impressive lenses fully useable at any  
aperture with no compromise except for depth of field. I would highly  
recommend both of them but particularly the Summicron if you find  
yourself shooting indoors much.

The Tele-Elmarit-M is a mixed bag. At the very least performance can  
vary considerably from sample to sample. Many complaints of internal  
fogging which is impossible to fix. Check out any lens carefully  
before you buy. Mine was clear and clean with performance typical for  
a long focus lens of the day: mostly pretty sharp except for  
noticeably softening when focused wide open and close. Unfortunately  
mine had a propensity to flare at the least provocation. Heck a  
bright blue sky in the frame, never-mind an actual point light  
source, would cause it to flare: very, very, very annoying. Others  
say their samples are fine; and, the person I sold mine to,  
inexpensively with full disclose and right of return, was happy with  
it. Go figure.

John Collier

On 29-May-05, at 7:04 AM, John O. Newell wrote:

> I'm interested in your experience and opinions on how the various  
> 90mm Leica M lenses perform in terms of flare and internal  
> reflections.  Some of my favorite shots have been taken with a  
> 100mm 2.8 APO Macro against the light, and the 100mm AME performs  
> extremely well under those circumstances.  I'm interested in  
> comparative feedback on which 90mm lens(es) perform best when  
> pointed toward light sources?