Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/02

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Ancient Elmarit vs. Summicron, 90 mm
From: John Hicks <jbh@magicnet.net>
Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 01:51:33 -0400

At 01:12 PM 6/2/01 -0700, you wrote:
>I need a bit of advice on 90 mm lenses

  Early on there was the 90mm f2.8 Elmarit; it was a long-focus lens, not a
telephoto design, and the lens head unscrews and can be used on the
Visoflex etc. To the best of my recollection, one I had about 25 years ago
had a 39mm filter size.
  Next (and concurrently for a while) was the "fat" Tele-Elmarit. This is a
true telephoto design, is shorter than the Elmarit, larger in diameter and
is _heavy_. Then came the "thin" Tele-Elmarit, which is quite a bit
lighter. Both take 39mm filters.
  I compared the Elmarit and "thin" Tele-Elmarit and found that the Elmarit
was perhaps somewhat better at wide apertures at close range but it wasn't
a tremendous difference. My comparison was done back then by shooting
"real" photos on Tri-X to be developed in Rodinal 1:75, so probably only
gross differences would show up.
  The upshot was that since I wanted to use the lens on a CL the Elmarit
obscured too much finder view so I sold it and kept the Tele. I also had a
90 Summicron for use on the M4s; that lens was a real honey. I'm not sure
it was any better than the Elmarit or the Tele, but it had a really nice
look, today we'd call it good bokeh.
  Lately I've seen mentioned a few problems apparently fairly common to one
or both versions of the Tele-Elmarit; those are coating flaking and
something happening to the rear element. I believe I've seen stated that
it's _corrosion_ of all things.
  Today I have the current 90 Elmarit; it's mighty good.
  At any rate, if I wanted to buy one of the old lenses and didn't care
about the speed I'd look for the plain old 90mm Elmarit.

John Hicks

jbh@magicnet.net