rramesh Posted March 18, 2012 Share #1 Posted March 18, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am in the market for a longer lens to my 35mm Summicron. I have been looking at the Summarit 75 which is quite nice and which has had good reviews (except from Ken Rockwell). I have recently been offered a mint condition Elmarit-M 90 which is the same price as a used Summarit also in mint. Unfortunately I am unable to borrow and try the Elmarit though I have tried the Summarit. Need to understand if the Elmarit-M would be a better buy even though its slightly longer than the Summarit. Any thoughts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 18, 2012 Posted March 18, 2012 Hi rramesh, Take a look here Summarit 75 f/2.5 vs Elmarit-M 90 f/2.8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
haroldp Posted March 18, 2012 Share #2 Posted March 18, 2012 I do not have the summarit, but I do have and use the 90 elmarit-m, 90 Summicron, 90 elmar-c F4, and a 75 summicron asph. 80% of the time, when something longer than 50 is used, it is the elmarit-m. Performance is excellent even wide open, 2.8 is fast enough for almost anything I do, It is much smaller and lighter than the summicron (which I mostly use for portraits at F2), and for me, 75 is usually not long enough on an M9, I got it for the M8, and the 75 cron is also an excellent portrait lens. I keep them all because Leica lenses have out-performed my portfolio. If I could only keep one, it would be the elmarit-m. Regards ... H Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted March 18, 2012 Share #3 Posted March 18, 2012 The 75 Summarit and the 90 Elmarit-M (version with built-in shade) are very similar in fingerprint - almost astonishingly so. Realistically, you can assume the image quality will be virtually identical (a tad contrasty, with crisp edge contrast right from the largest aperture), and just worry about things like size, weight (the 75), tightest framing (the 90), the advantage (or not) of the built-in shade vs. a screw-on shade. And simply the slightly different framing of 75 vs. 90. Some find the 75/50 frameline combo confusing, but I don't, probably because I never use a 50 and use both a 75 Summilux (for fast and close) and the 75 Summarit (for small and light) all the time. The 90 Summarit, by comparison, is more like the pre-APO 90 Summicron. More color aberrations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted March 18, 2012 Share #4 Posted March 18, 2012 I have owned the Summarit. I do own the Elmarit. But the reason why I sold one and bought the other was simply focal lengths: I sold my M8 and bought a M9, and I have no use for a 75mm lens on a 24x36 camera (I do often use a 50mm lens). So after the change of cameras, the 90mm lens was more appropriate. But while I had the Summarit, I loved it. Very well built. Very good IQ. Very good flare resistance. Better balanced focusing throw than the Elmarit. The only thing I did not like much was the screw-on hood. LB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michali Posted March 18, 2012 Share #5 Posted March 18, 2012 I'm more or less repeating what Andy's mentioned above; in my experience both lenses are similar in their rendering and both deliver excellent results. I sold the 75mm Summarit when I purchased a 75mm Summicron, I still have the 90mm Elmarit. It's really a question of which focal length suits your style of shooting. Once you've worked that out, you can't go wrong with either one of these lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted March 18, 2012 Share #6 Posted March 18, 2012 I was looking to fill the gap between my 90mm Elmarit M and 50mm lenses and I got a 75mm CV Heliar after Sean Reid's review said it was as good as the 75mm Summarit, the difference being in subtle rendering nuances (and the price). And I can't grumble, it is a super lens and well built, but it doesn't have the same magic as the Elmarit M, and besides which I decided I don't like the 75mm focal length much (it is neither here nor there). The Elmarit M is a lens to buy and keep forever, even if I don't use it much I am glad its there when I do. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted March 18, 2012 Share #7 Posted March 18, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have owned and compared the 75 Summarit and 90 Elmarit M I chose the 90 Elmarit to keep on my M8 mainly on the 75/50 lines that are more confusing to frame than the 90/28 especially as the 75 are miles away from actual framed picture. But I did some comparisons to check focus shift on my 90 and used the 75 as a comparison and found the following subjective results : The 90 looks a little denser in its 'painting' the 75 looks a little finer and lighter with detail, resolution there was little in it. Possibly the 75 had the edge, but the strokes looked somehow a little more oil on canvas if you know what I mean with the 90. It was noticeable on pictures of music notes at 45 degrees to test back focus. I wasn't looking for it ! The OOF is smoother and to my eyes a little nicer on the 90 as well, it is a little more broken on the 75, the 75 also seems to be more modern (like the 50 lux asph, 35 lux asph II) in its transition from in focus to out. Both actually have ver nice Bokeh, I personally thing the 90 Elmarit is really very, very good. I preferred the painting of the 90 slightly, but sold primarily on the M8 view finding. Both very nice lenses, just slightly different fingerprints. Some also prefer the rubber grip on the Summarit's I prefer the metal of the 90 Elmarit, I suspect as this is familiarity. The 75 is a wonderful size, the 90 just a little long to be perfect IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted March 18, 2012 Share #8 Posted March 18, 2012 I've been very happy with both of them. For me the only reason to choose one over the other is the field of view, so I'd want the Elmarit on a "full-frame" camera and the Summarit 75 on the M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosophos Posted March 18, 2012 Share #9 Posted March 18, 2012 I've owned both and like both very much. I find the 75mm Summarit has more "bite" and crispness than the 90/2.8, with impressive microcontrast. In the end, it depends on what you want... if you take mostly portraits like I do, the 90/2.8 is more forgiving and gentler in its rendering, the 70/2.5 gives you a more edgy look. I do appreciate that the 75/2.5 is lighter as well. I posted a write-up on the 75mm Summarit a while ago. If you're interested in reading it, please see here: The Leica 75mm Summarit f/2.5. Regards, Peter. P r o s o p h o s Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted March 18, 2012 Share #10 Posted March 18, 2012 I own both; both are superb. But which camera body do you own? M8 + 75 is a nice combination. Either would work well with an M9 or film M body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share #11 Posted March 18, 2012 An M9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted March 18, 2012 Share #12 Posted March 18, 2012 The whole discussion is entirely pointless. The first thing to do is to make up one's mind whether a 75 mm or a 90 mm is wanted. Both are fine lenses but if a 90 mm lens is what you need then the Summarit-M 75 mm won't do, no matter how good it is ... and if you need a 75 mm lens then the Elmarit-M 90 mm won't do. The Elmarit-M 90 mm is very good and discontinued, hence scarce, hence sought-after. The more people want it, the more people want it. The Summarit-M 90 mm is just as good (if not even better), but it's a current-production lens, so it's boring and people don't care for it. Discontinue production, and prices in the used market will skyrocket. I have the Summarit-M 90 mm, I like it very much, and I tried an Elmarit-M 90 mm the other day to see if I'm missing something. The two 90 mm lenses are not equal, each has its own subtle character—but they are very much on the same level of performance overall. The most obvious difference (upon pixel-peeping) is the colours of the lateral chromatic aberrations. The Summarit's are of the green-magenta kind, the Elmarit's are blue-yellow ... but the amounts (width and brightness of fringes) are pretty much the same. I did not purchase the Elmarit but kept my Summarit. I like it better for the slightly higher lens speed (1:2.5 rather than 1:2.8), smaller size, and better hood. The Elmarit's built-in hood might be more compact but the Summarit's is more effective. Who needs an ineffective hood? I don't. Have a slightly bigger bag and leave the Summarit's hood on all the time—then actually it's the most convenient hood to use; just don't always screw it on and off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted March 18, 2012 Share #13 Posted March 18, 2012 ...Have a slightly bigger bag and leave the Summarit's hood on all the time—then actually it's the most convenient hood to use; just don't always screw it on and off. If compactness is desired, the hood reverses over the lens, but I would not do this for frequent usage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted March 20, 2012 Author Share #14 Posted March 20, 2012 Finally got my hands on the Elmarit-M 90. Initial thoughts: Can't detect any difference in rendering between the 75 and the 90. Both are definitely very nice lenses. Like the 90 frame lines better than the 75. Lens not coded so need to use presets. Like the built-in hood. The build seems more solid than the Summarit 75. Maybe due to the lens lens being heavier. The 90 focal length seems more interesting but more test photos needed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted March 20, 2012 Share #15 Posted March 20, 2012 The Summarit-M 90 mm is just as good (if not even better)... FWIW, Erwin Puts prefers the 90 Summarit (compared to the Elmarit) as well, not just for speed, but for "smoother handling." He also likes it as a general use lens, but still considers the 90 APO an optically superior lens with better definition resulting from aberration control. I agree that the Summarits deserve more respect, although many seem to have figured out that the 35 in particular is a great little lens. Puts rates it slightly higher than the 35 Summicron asph. I've had a 35 Summicron asph for years, but if I were just building a kit, I wouldn't hesitate to get it. I've never gotten along with 75 frame lines, and the 90 FOV is only infrequently needed. But if I had an M9 (M8.2 currently), I'd go for the 90 Summarit...optically and ergonomically sound, with new warranty. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted March 20, 2012 Share #16 Posted March 20, 2012 Finally got my hands on the Elmarit-M 90. Initial thoughts: Can't detect any difference in rendering between the 75 and the 90. Both are definitely very nice lenses. Like the 90 frame lines better than the 75. Lens not coded so need to use presets. Like the built-in hood. The build seems more solid than the Summarit 75. Maybe due to the lens lens being heavier. The 90 focal length seems more interesting but more test photos needed. I just got my 90 Elmarit-M back from Leica and am glad I 6 bit coded it. Plus they checked it (calibration and all) out for the same price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share #17 Posted March 21, 2012 Plus they checked it (calibration and all) out for the same price. I suppose calibration would be needed once the mount plate has been replaced for 6-bit coding. It makes me wonder how DIY mount replacement would be effective without calibration as after all for calibration sophisticated equipment would be required. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share #18 Posted March 25, 2012 Purchased a mint-condition Elmarit-M 90. Am enjoying it now. Self-coded now, but may send to Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted March 25, 2012 Share #19 Posted March 25, 2012 Purchased a mint-condition Elmarit-M 90. Am enjoying it now. Self-coded now, but may send to Leica. I think you have made a good choice, I love the out of focus rendering of this lens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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