Re: [Leica] Tele-Elmarit

[Christer Almqvist <chris@almqvist.net>]

>All--
>I'm fairly new to LUG, but occasionally throw in my 2-cents worth. 
>That's about all it's ever worth.
>In the 1970's I bought a new 90mm Tele-Elmarit. At the time it was 
>described as a be-all and end-all since it was 90mm, very light 
>weight and just a bit bigger than a 50mm f2.
>I've used it a few times and for longer distant photographs it's 
>fine. But the last time I shot portraits with it at f2.8 it was not 
>satisfactory. I remember it as soft or out-of-focus. I just assumed 
>it was me, or my focusing. I also assumed that the 90mm was just 
>"too long" for the M.
>I dealt with this simply by not using the lens much. It still has 
>that "new" stiffness to the focus and the f-stops have a real strong 
>"click" to them. This lens is as new.
>On LUG I've noticed that if the Tele-Elmarit is mentioned, it is not 
>referred to in glowing terms, so I assume that this lens isn't one 
>of Leica's better efforts.
>Do I assume correctly that I would be much happier with one of the 
>current 90mm lenses?

No, not unless you want to shoot at 2.8 - or 2.0 and in the latter 
case you do need another lens.
For travelling I would prefer the thin Tele-Elmarit. For cash flow too.

I sold my Tele-Elmarit and bought the APO-Asph 90. I also changed my 
21mm and my 35mm Summicron to ASPH. With hindsight, in the case of 
the Tele-Elmarit I do not think the change was worthwhile; with the 
other two lenses it was.

>[(slight) disclaimer: I don't "need" this lens focal length. I'm a 
>have a set of N*kons for portraits, close-ups, telephotos and other 
>stuff you "need" reflex cameras for. I like the 90mm for traveling 
>when I leave the Nik*ns at home (what a relief THAT is).]
>All the best,
>John Fulton
>Fort Worth
>--
>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html


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Christer Almqvist
D 20255 Hamburg and / or
F 50590 Regnéville sur Mer
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