Re: [Leica] 90mm M 2.8 question. Should I buy?

[Gabe <egabe@ix.netcom.com>]

It's an older Elmarit 2.8 and I'm taking your advice.  Thank you for the
help.  I really needed it.

CapsTeeth wrote:

> In a message dated 98-01-14 15:58:11 EST, you write:
>
> > Hello all.
> >
> >  Yesterday I met someone who wanted to downsize his equipment and
> was
> >  selling a few Leica pieces.  He had what appeared to be an almost
> Mint on
> >  the outside 90mm Elmarit 2.8 M lens which I was interested in.  I
> then
> >  looked at the glass.  There were no external scratches on either
> side but I
> >  saw 2 tiny lens separation marks.  He told me that he brought it to
> someone
> >  that said that I would never notice these marks in my pictures at
> all and
> >  it's a sharp lens.  I always worry about buying things like that.
> Can
> >  anyone help me out?  The price was amazing though...I
> think...$300.00 with
> >  caps.   Let me know any thoughts.
> >
> >  Gabe
>                          You don't specify if this is a latest-version
> Elmarit
> (E46 filter, pull-out lenshood) or the early one from 1959-74, or
> perhaps even
> a 90 Tele-Elmarit.  If it's either of the earlier versions I'd
> personally take
> a pass because the price isn't all that much less than an
> optically-perfect
> copy can be had for.  If it's the latest 90 2.8, I'd buy it with a
> 14-day MBG
> and take it or send it 2nd-day air to a qualified Leica technician for
> an
> expert opinion.  Or, you could shoot a test roll and scrutinize it
> under an 8x
> loupe...but even if the slides look fine, if elements have a
> separation
> happening you must be certain it's not going to get worse and for that
> I'd
> still want an expert to look at it.  Of course $300 is a good price
> for a new-
> version 90 that shoots perfectly...but very expensive for a
> paperweight!