Elmar 4/90mm or Elmarit 2.8/90mm

[tommaso_tabet]

Hi, It's time to buy a 90mm lens, but I do not know which one to choose.
The ASPH is far too expensive, and I'm struggling between the Elmarit 2.8 and the Elmar 4.

I do like the idea of a small, light and lens, ideal for close up portrait and macro photo, and I wonder how “bad” is the Elmar 4 outside macro photography. In fact, I will mainly using it for closing up photography (I have a new born baby!) and travel photography, and I’m looking for a good compromise. Anyone some experience with this lens? By the way, I do already have a 2/28mm which is great!

[leica_mage]

Originally Posted by tommaso_tabet

Hi, It's time to buy a 90mm lens, but I do not know which one to choose.
The ASPH is far too expensive, and I'm struggling between the Elmarit 2.8 and the Elmar 4.

I do like the idea of a small, light and lens, ideal for close up portrait and macro photo, and I wonder how “bad” is the Elmar 4 outside macro photography. In fact, I will mainly using it for closing up photography (I have a new born baby!) and travel photography, and I’m looking for a good compromise. Anyone some experience with this lens? By the way, I do already have a 2/28mm which is great!

I'll let others with direct experience praise the Elmar, but I can assure you that the Elmarit (II) treads a very elegant line between the very factual images rendered by the AA 'cron and the softer ones of the non-ASPH 'cron. In fact its fingerprint is very similar to that of the 50mm 'cron (IV).

For those who find the Elmarit (II) too contrasty, the Elmarit (I) is a beautiful lens also. Again, with more stunning results than the non-ASPH 'cron, in my opinion.

Cheers,

[wizard]

Originally Posted by tommaso_tabet

I do like the idea of a small, light and lens, ideal for close up portrait and macro photo, and I wonder how “bad” is the Elmar 4 outside macro photography. In fact, I will mainly using it for closing up photography (I have a new born baby!) and travel photography, and I’m looking for a good compromise.

First of all, welcome to this forum!

In response to your question, you give almost all reasons for buying the Macro-Elmar-M 4/90 in your above quote: That lens is ideal for close up portrait work (its near focus limit is 0.77m as opposed to 1m for the 2.8/90 Elmarit), for macro work you could later buy the additional extender (although I'd prefer a SLR for true macro work!), and the Macro-Elmar-M 4/90 is great for travel photography. It isn't bad at all outside macro photography, instead it is a truly universal lens of this focal length, image quality is as good as it can get. The only compromise is that it is only f4.

The (latest) 2.8/90 Elmarit is very good, too, I use it a lot, but it lacks the near focussing capabilities of the Elmar. If that is what you want, go for the Elmar, you will not be disappointed.

Cheers,

Andy

[lct]

I would be happy to praise my dear old Elmar 90/4 but something tells me it is not the one you're talking about...

[asmith]

The macro Elmar is a superb general purpose lens if you can accept the limitation of its maximum aperture. I find no problem with this but I also have the new 75 mm Summicron. There will be a minor problem with the M8 as you must not collapse the lens into the body.
Alwyn

[frc]

Hi Tommaso,


I own and regularly use the Elmarit 90 for portrait and relative close-up-photography.
It performs very well in therms of colour-rendition and sharpness.
My lens is silver ( made of brass ) and therefor heavy, I like that for its stability when using long exposurtimes.
My gess is that the newer f 4 macro will be a bit more contrasty, as the newer lenses are.
So the choice in depiction is a somewhat different fingerprint.
As for weight and size, for travel i'd pick the macro.
If I were to buy a 90 now it may well be the macro. ( chrome'd be my choice ) Still light.
Black ( aluminum ) is lighter.


kind regards.

[wizard]

Originally Posted by lct

I would be happy to praise my dear old Elmar 90/4 but something tells me it is not the one you're talking about...

Congratulations LCT, your old Elmar looks like fresh out of the box! Do you happen to know, if this lens was ever made in screw mount? I for one have never seen one, but suspect there might be some having been made...

[lct]

It's not mine alas.
Mine is so ugly that i dare not show it here but it is sharper than both my Elmarit 1 and thin Tele-Elmarit and i bought it for less than $50 20 years ago...
Screw mount? I don't know sorry.

[ejd]

Originally Posted by tommaso_tabet

In fact, I will mainly using it for closing up photography (I have a new born baby!) and travel photography, and I’m looking for a good compromise.

I don't know how it does with babies, but it works fine with cats
http://www.leica-camera-user.com/nat...html#post46751
When travelling around I have tended to take this one rather than any other 90. The fact that it's light and small is the main thing. The small aperture is obviously a restriction from time to time, but on balance.... Actually the close focussing is also a real attraction.

[cbretteville]

Very happy with my 90mm Elmarit-M (11807). The lens compact and light weight enough to be a part of my travel kit. Here is a babysnap at close range (my youngest at two weeks)

51231423.M4P00021_31_web.jpg

M4P, 1/30sec, f2.8 on Fuiji Acros EI80 souped in Paterson FX39

- Carl

[wbesz]

The current 90-M Elmarit is incredibly good and I will not sell mine even though I don't use it a lot.
Performance wise, I understand the Elmar is just as good, except for f4, and the shorter close focusing (0.77m compared to 1.0m).

The Macro-Elmar is cheaper, smaller, lighter, uses a smaller filter (E39), so I would consider this lens if you don't need f2.8.

[lloyd_chan]

I agree with Andreas' and John's comments about the Macro Elmar M. It weight(lessness) and short focus throw makes it a great walkabout lens.

[lambroving]

Originally Posted by tommaso_tabet

Hi, It's time to buy a 90mm lens, but I do not know which one to choose.
The ASPH is far too expensive, and I'm struggling between the Elmarit 2.8 and the Elmar 4.

I do like the idea of a small, light and lens, ideal for close up portrait and macro photo, and I wonder how “bad” is the Elmar 4 outside macro photography. In fact, I will mainly using it for closing up photography (I have a new born baby!) and travel photography, and I’m looking for a good compromise. Anyone some experience with this lens? By the way, I do already have a 2/28mm which is great!

You like your 28/2. You want a compact, similarly stunning lens? 75/2 for your purpose is the answer. Next case...

[tommaso_tabet]

OK, thank you everyone,

I truly think I’ll go for the Elmar 4/90 mm and you already set up all the arguments to go for it!

It’s lighter and smaller, a bit less expensive, perfect for close up photography, but it’s only f4 … and I don’t think I would be able to afford a M8 in the next 20 years, so I do not really care if I would not be able to collapse the lens in the M8 body., my M6 is working just perfectly as it meant to do.

Well, let’s intake the bank account!


Tommaso

[ejd]

Actually, Tommaso, I don't think you would have any problem collapsing an MEM90F4 mounted on an M8 because the tube does not protrude from the rear of the lens mount when it is collapsed. It takes the same rear lens cap as any ordinary M lens, for example, and goes onto it fully retracted. I can't see how there could be any problem. (If there is, perhaps someone can explain.)

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by lambroving

You like your 28/2. You want a compact, similarly stunning lens? 75/2 for your purpose is the answer. Next case...

If the 90 Summicron is too expensive, I can't imagine the 75 being a viable solution :-)

I had a 90mm Elmar and it wasn't a bad lens. In the end I sold it and bought a CV 90mm. The Elmar has a very long focus throw which makes for more accurate focussing, but slows the process down more than I liked. The CV lens is excellent, although the black paint one is prone to losing paint from the milled focussing ring.

Optically I've found the CV to be the better lens.

[leica_mage]

Originally Posted by stunsworth

[...] Optically I've found the CV to be the better lens.

Totally impossible!!!

[lambroving]

Originally Posted by stunsworth

If the 90 Summicron is too expensive, I can't imagine the 75 being a viable solution :-)

Expensive IS as expensive DOES. I guess he won't listen, but the 75/2 is perfect for his mission. Same $$$ range as his 28/2, come to that. Bit long for me, but many would consider this the perfect travel kit as well.

[leica_mage]

Originally Posted by lambroving

[..] the 75/2 is perfect for his mission. [...]

In fact it's absolutely perfect!...

[wizard]

Originally Posted by stunsworth

If Optically I've found the CV to be the better lens.

Steve, I trust you are referring to the old collapsible Elmar 4/90 from the sixties? I simply cannot believe the CV 90mm topping the new Macro-Elmar-M 4/90.

Cheers,

Andy