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Marisa · 04/30/08, 03:08 AM

This lens has humbled me. I do not understand the focussing mechanism. Is it a fixed focal length and I should just be happy with the image that matches up in the rangefinder or am I missing something? If I push the silver button on the side, I can adjust from 300 feet to infinity. Should I not be able to use the rest of the range from 20 to 150 feet?
Marisa

luigi bertolotti · 04/30/08, 07:30 AM

Can you give some more detail on the lens and the camera you're trying to use ? From your post, I suppose is some Leitz lens mounted on a Leica Rangefinder body; usually, the silver button on the side unlocks the movement of the focus helicoid, that in 90 mm lenses usually has a range from 3 feet to infinity : looking into the Viewfinder/rangefinder you must match the double image at the center of the view: when they are coindident, the subject is in focus.
But I don't remember of a 90 mm Leitz lens that has the silver button... they are typical of shorter focals like 50-35... how is the engraving on the front ring of the lens you are speaking of ?

Lotw · 04/30/08, 09:54 AM

Never let yourself humble by a Leica lens!

spydrxx · 04/30/08, 09:50 PM

Marissa - please give us some more information to work with. Specifically, which Leitz lens is this...it should say on the front of the lens. Is it a collapsible lens or a rigid mounted lens?

joewehry · 04/30/08, 11:58 PM

I have the Elmar 90mm f/4 lens (chrome, long, not collapsible.)
If you are talking about the silver button on the camera by the side of the lens, do you mean the lens locking mechanism on the M ? That is for locking and unlocking the lens when you want to change it, not focusing it.

If that is not what you mean, but are wondering more on focusing, on my model, with the focus point set on infinity, that is the point which will be most in focus. (on my model, somewhere around 300+ feet) The balance of the picture (from the 20 ft up to infinity that you gave as an example) may be in acceptable focus only if the aperture is set to f/32 (on my model). If you have it set on a more open aperture, say f/5.6 with focus set to infinity, the area of acceptable focus may only be between 100-300 ft, not 20-300 ft.

If you "google" the phraes "download leica manual" you can sometimes find a pdf link with illustrations that can better explain with images what I'm talking about, and how to use the depth of field of a lens, the aperture and the rangefinder patch to more precisely focus.

brianv · 05/01/08, 12:41 AM

My 1954 9cm F4 Elmar has the button on the side, it is the collapsible lens. To me used properly, the lens has to be extended and the button pressed to focus.

If that sounds like what you have, post back. If it's still confusing (it was to me!), I can post some pictures.

luigi bertolotti · 05/01/08, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianv

My 1954 9cm F4 Elmar has the button on the side, it is the collapsible lens. To me used properly, the lens has to be extended and the button pressed to focus.

If that sounds like what you have, post back. If it's still confusing (it was to me!), I can post some pictures.

Right... I forgot there is ONE 90 with a unlocking button...

Marisa · 05/02/08, 06:33 PM

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I'll try to be more helpful by disclosing greater detail about my lovely lens. It's an Ernst Leitz, Elmar 90mm collapsable lens, f=9cm, 1:4. It is equipped with the silver locking button on the side. I have an M6. I just got this camera and I was using a 50mm lens happily, thoughtlessly matching up images in the range finder and producing some very pleasing pictures. But with the 90 mm, I don't see the two images so I am a little baffled, not to mention a bit intimidated. Any advice is appreciated.
Marisa

luigi bertolotti · 05/02/08, 07:11 PM

OK, you have the only 90mm lens which is a little complicated to manage... is a collapsible lens, and you must EXTRACT it to be able to focus; to be precise, extract and turn it to secure the lens "tube", and you must do this with the lens at infinity (button "locked"). When the lens is correctly extracted, you can push the button and freely focus it as usual. The lens extracted is like this :

elmar-90_collapsible.jpg

The same applies when you want to collapse the lens : must be set at infinity, button "clickes", ok to turn & collapse the tube.

fotografr · 05/02/08, 07:49 PM

Nice looking lens you have there, Luigi.

Marisa · 05/02/08, 10:05 PM

dear Luigi,
that is a nice lens. it looks just like mine. OK, after a little twisting the tube so the F-stop numbers face up, it worked. Oh so nice to feel it smoothly focus. Thank you so much. I can't wait to try it out.
Marisa

spydrxx · 05/02/08, 11:42 PM

Marisa - you'll love the output from that lens. I used one to photograph my family throughout the 1980-90's and still marvel at the results.

luigi bertolotti · 05/03/08, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotografr

Nice looking lens you have there, Luigi.

Yea, pity it isn't collapsible on M8... but my best Elmar 90 on M8 is the three elements version: absolutely fantastic, and also the one with the most precise focusing.

And, Marisa.. don't abandon this forum after having solved your little problem: there are too few women here: post some pics soon !!!

gvaliquette · 05/03/08, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luigi bertolotti

[...] but my best Elmar 90 on M8 is the three elements version: absolutely fantastic, and also the one with the most precise focusing.

Luigi:

I have heard good things about this lens, and am looking for one. How common/rare are they. Distinguishing features? Approximate price range? Any help you can provide will be appreciated.

Grazie.

Guy

luigi bertolotti · 05/03/08, 08:00 PM

Guy, the 3 elements is the best of Elmars 90, definitely (keep this for sure,, they are a specific passion for me... I have 7 all different

). For me, better also than the Elmar C for CL : it's compact, light, robust, good for macro (lenshead is removable for Visoflex use) : the BM version (which I have) isn't so rare... at the moment, a quick look at Schouten and Beimeister reveals 3 for sale ranging 400 to 750 Euros (this last, imho, is a sort of top price for a very fine item), the SM version (which I haven't) is much rarer but, for me , the 3 elem. is above all a usable little tele for film Ms and M8... the SM is a piece for collecting (Schouten has also for sale a super rare 3 elements with a strange, pre-series mount... stellar price)
Has a std. E39 filter size, so no problem with UVIR, and also the lens hood (IUFOO/12575) is easy to find.

brianv · 05/06/08, 01:20 AM

I've been favoring the collapsible Elmar lately. The rendition of the lens with color film is wonderful. It preserves shadow detail and refuses to blow highlights. It gave me a series of wonderful portraits in full sunlight. And- collapsed it fits into my M3's ever-ready case with the top cover closed. I was using it last month when a professional photographer, a Photo-editor for the town newspaper, walked over to admire it. Told me he'd much rather be using film over digital.

04/30/08, 03:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Marisa Neuer Benutzer Join Date: 04/30/08 Posts: 3	ernst leitz 90mm lens This lens has humbled me. I do not understand the focussing mechanism. Is it a fixed focal length and I should just be happy with the image that matches up in the rangefinder or am I missing something? If I push the silver button on the side, I can adjust from 300 feet to infinity. Should I not be able to use the rest of the range from 20 to 150 feet? Marisa

04/30/08, 07:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
luigi bertolotti Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 01/24/07 Location: Brescia Posts: 2,471	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens Can you give some more detail on the lens and the camera you're trying to use ? From your post, I suppose is some Leitz lens mounted on a Leica Rangefinder body; usually, the silver button on the side unlocks the movement of the focus helicoid, that in 90 mm lenses usually has a range from 3 feet to infinity : looking into the Viewfinder/rangefinder you must match the double image at the center of the view: when they are coindident, the subject is in focus. But I don't remember of a 90 mm Leitz lens that has the silver button... they are typical of shorter focals like 50-35... how is the engraving on the front ring of the lens you are speaking of ?

04/30/08, 09:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Lotw Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 01/06/07 Location: Niederlande Posts: 467	AW: Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens Never let yourself humble by a Leica lens! __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/lot-w/show/

04/30/08, 09:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
spydrxx Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 04/20/05 Location: McHenry Posts: 135	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens Marissa - please give us some more information to work with. Specifically, which Leitz lens is this...it should say on the front of the lens. Is it a collapsible lens or a rigid mounted lens?

04/30/08, 11:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
joewehry Benutzer Join Date: 11/24/07 Posts: 31	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens I have the Elmar 90mm f/4 lens (chrome, long, not collapsible.) If you are talking about the silver button on the camera by the side of the lens, do you mean the lens locking mechanism on the M ? That is for locking and unlocking the lens when you want to change it, not focusing it. If that is not what you mean, but are wondering more on focusing, on my model, with the focus point set on infinity, that is the point which will be most in focus. (on my model, somewhere around 300+ feet) The balance of the picture (from the 20 ft up to infinity that you gave as an example) may be in acceptable focus only if the aperture is set to f/32 (on my model). If you have it set on a more open aperture, say f/5.6 with focus set to infinity, the area of acceptable focus may only be between 100-300 ft, not 20-300 ft. If you "google" the phraes "download leica manual" you can sometimes find a pdf link with illustrations that can better explain with images what I'm talking about, and how to use the depth of field of a lens, the aperture and the rangefinder patch to more precisely focus. __________________ Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves. --Dorothy Parker

05/01/08, 12:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
brianv Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 03/30/06 Posts: 154	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens My 1954 9cm F4 Elmar has the button on the side, it is the collapsible lens. To me used properly, the lens has to be extended and the button pressed to focus. If that sounds like what you have, post back. If it's still confusing (it was to me!), I can post some pictures.

05/02/08, 06:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
Marisa Neuer Benutzer Join Date: 04/30/08 Posts: 3	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens Thanks for all the helpful replies. I'll try to be more helpful by disclosing greater detail about my lovely lens. It's an Ernst Leitz, Elmar 90mm collapsable lens, f=9cm, 1:4. It is equipped with the silver locking button on the side. I have an M6. I just got this camera and I was using a 50mm lens happily, thoughtlessly matching up images in the range finder and producing some very pleasing pictures. But with the 90 mm, I don't see the two images so I am a little baffled, not to mention a bit intimidated. Any advice is appreciated. Marisa

05/02/08, 07:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
luigi bertolotti Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 01/24/07 Location: Brescia Posts: 2,471	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens OK, you have the only 90mm lens which is a little complicated to manage... is a collapsible lens, and you must EXTRACT it to be able to focus; to be precise, extract and turn it to secure the lens "tube", and you must do this with the lens at infinity (button "locked"). When the lens is correctly extracted, you can push the button and freely focus it as usual. The lens extracted is like this : elmar-90_collapsible.jpg The same applies when you want to collapse the lens : must be set at infinity, button "clickes", ok to turn & collapse the tube.

05/02/08, 07:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
fotografr Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 12/25/03 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 3,311	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens Nice looking lens you have there, Luigi. __________________ Brent http://www.shutterfreaks.com/brentnicastrophotography/

05/02/08, 10:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Marisa Neuer Benutzer Join Date: 04/30/08 Posts: 3	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens dear Luigi, that is a nice lens. it looks just like mine. OK, after a little twisting the tube so the F-stop numbers face up, it worked. Oh so nice to feel it smoothly focus. Thank you so much. I can't wait to try it out. Marisa

05/02/08, 11:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
spydrxx Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 04/20/05 Location: McHenry Posts: 135	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens Marisa - you'll love the output from that lens. I used one to photograph my family throughout the 1980-90's and still marvel at the results.

05/03/08, 08:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
luigi bertolotti Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 01/24/07 Location: Brescia Posts: 2,471	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens Guy, the 3 elements is the best of Elmars 90, definitely (keep this for sure,, they are a specific passion for me... I have 7 all different ). For me, better also than the Elmar C for CL : it's compact, light, robust, good for macro (lenshead is removable for Visoflex use) : the BM version (which I have) isn't so rare... at the moment, a quick look at Schouten and Beimeister reveals 3 for sale ranging 400 to 750 Euros (this last, imho, is a sort of top price for a very fine item), the SM version (which I haven't) is much rarer but, for me , the 3 elem. is above all a usable little tele for film Ms and M8... the SM is a piece for collecting (Schouten has also for sale a super rare 3 elements with a strange, pre-series mount... stellar price) Has a std. E39 filter size, so no problem with UVIR, and also the lens hood (IUFOO/12575) is easy to find. Last edited by luigi bertolotti : 05/03/08 at 08:07 PM.

05/06/08, 01:20 AM	#16 (permalink)
brianv Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 03/30/06 Posts: 154	Re: ernst leitz 90mm lens I've been favoring the collapsible Elmar lately. The rendition of the lens with color film is wonderful. It preserves shadow detail and refuses to blow highlights. It gave me a series of wonderful portraits in full sunlight. And- collapsed it fits into my M3's ever-ready case with the top cover closed. I was using it last month when a professional photographer, a Photo-editor for the town newspaper, walked over to admire it. Told me he'd much rather be using film over digital.

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