Re: [Leica] leica 90 mm elmar BM

[Dennis Painter <dpainter@bigfoot.com>]

john wrote:
> 
> Dennis Painter wrote:
> >
> > JZa1058168@aol.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Can anyone help me with the info necessary to identify the so-called
> > > "parallel" Elmar 90MM, BM. Serial number range and any identifying
> > > characteristics? A friend thinks he has one and says they have greater value
> > > that other Elmar 90's. j zarick cinn ohio. e mail: jza1058168@aol.com
> >
> > The scalloped knurl on the focus mount would be the best ID. Make the
> > lenshead is engraved f/4.0 as the Elmarit f/2.8 has a similar scalloped
> > knurling. Of course it is also engraved Elmarit.
> >
> > Also, the collapsable Elmar 90mm f/4.0 has a scalloped knurl but that is
> > not what is sometimes called the 'parallel' Elmar.
> >
> > If he has one it has much greater value than the regular Elmar.
> >
> > Dennis
> Is the parallel Elmar 90 the same as we call the three element Elmar? If so it
> is worth a great deal more than the regular Emar.  The three element was
> developed at the same time as the 2.8 50mm Elmar and the 2.8 35mm Summaron I
> think.  A new development in glass allowed Leitz to remove elements and
> improve performance. I owned one of these three element Elmars for several
> years and it performed admirable though I seldom used it at f4.
> John

Hi John,

Yes, it is the 3 element Elmar. The focussing mount has a parallel
movement instead of rotating, very useful if using polarizers of course.

I have always wondered if the reduced air/glass surfaces would give it
better contrast than the ordinary Elmar. I have never used one though.

Dennis