Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/07/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The 4/90 Collapsible Elmar, ILNOO/11631 (meters) and 11131 (feet) was manufactured between 1954 and 1968; 25,188 were made in M mount, and a "few" (4? 5?) were made in LTM between 1939 and 1954, two of which are on display at Solms. The lens head is non-removeable for Visoflex use. The lens is of the traditional four-element design, with the diaphragm between the second and third elements, though former LUG'er Randy Hooper encountered a long LTM version twenty years back (and probably bought it, the gluttonous soul that he is!) which, oddly, has the diaphragm between the first two elements. This is one fine lens and is highly recommended. It has retained a fairly high value on the collector market, unfortunately, as it is a superb user lens. I have one, along with a current 2/90 non-ASPH Summicron and a current 2.8/90 Elmarit, and I use the collapsible Elmar a good deal -- it is light, slight, compact, and quite nice. Marc