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Tele Elmarit M 2,8/90mm- fat or thin- which one is better/differences?


pcdikran

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I'm just wondering why prices for the old 5-lens Tele-Elmarit-M 2,8/90mm (fat version) are higher than of the thin 4-lens type? Is the old one the better one? In any case it is much lighter but I love the old style design of the other one! Any differences in performance, sharpness etc.? Thanks! Peter

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It may be that the earlier thin TEs had a 5-10% chance of etching inside the rear sealed pair of lenses. Or perhaps that the lens has a propensity to flare. I have only used the thin TE and IMHO it is a wonderful little lens. A bit soft wide open but so what? It's very small and light and perfect for travel. I've posted a couple of examples from mine below:

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The fat Tele Elmarit seems to be a bit of a collector's item. Where I live silver versions sell for around twice the price of the more common black ones. I have a black one which I use occasionally, but it is a bit soft and you really have to watch out for lighting situations that might result in flare ... because it will flare at the slightest provocation. But it does deliver images that have a nice look, and the compact size is a real advantage for traveling.

 

But I will add that it is the only Leica lens I own that I have ever considered selling. Haven't been able to bring myself to actually part with it though.

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This is the old Elmarit I bought 4 weeks ago...nice vintage look and very good performer...and quite cheap today..;)

 

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regards,

 

Jan

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I just recently purchased the TE in excellent condition.

 

Main reasons were size weight and excellent quality...for what I need.A really good 'take everywhere' lens.

Here a quick example.

 

I don't know the differences in the Fat one sorry.

andy

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I bought the 90mm 'FAT' and it arrived yesterday. It handles really nicely, has good colour rendition, contrast and sharpness to my eyes.

 

Here's a couple of samples I shot yesterday.

 

Graeme

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I don't know the differences in the Fat one sorry.

andy

 

Andy, here are the variations of the Tele-Elmarit-M 2,8/90mm:

 

TE fat in black (1966 - 1974) and silver (1964 - 1974) with 5 lenses, TE slim only in black (1974 - ?) with 4 lenses.

 

I'm not shure, but difference in weight is about 100g.

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  • 8 months later...

Just bumping up this thread to remind some of you that by the time you install that gigundo lens hood on the thin Tele-Elmarit, it makes your outfit pretty darn large. So, yes, it's slim and compact but you need the hood and that makes the thing as long as a 90 'Cron!

 

Over and out!

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I have been shooting with the Fat Chrome TE for about 30 years and I can say that the Fat Lady really sings in B&W or colour.

 

GaryB

I have only just discovered this thread and found it interesting that an old lens still generates discussion. I bought mine new in 1966 and could never bring myself to upgrade it, either to a later version or to the faster Summicron. It handles brilliantly on my M3, less so on my M6/.58 where the frame is rather small, but workable.

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I had a 90/2 in chrome...to big and heavy, quite soft opened-up...sold.

 

90/2.8 Thin...very sharp, very small and light...developed etching, useless in daylight...sold.

 

90/2.8 vintage Elmarit, came as part of a kit, nice lens/vintage look, had 75/1.4 and 90/2 at the same time...sold.

 

90/2.8 current, too sharp, but won't sell it. It's in storage while I travel.

 

90/2.8 Black Fat is with me at the moment, delivers the goods, vintage look/pop.

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  • 1 year later...

Unless you do it by feel a lot, I'd steal wife's nail varnish instead, some of the red dots vanish overnight... There must be an 'elephant's grave yard' for them somewheres.

 

Oh and I got a fat and the two long CVs = 75 and 90, all are reasonably small and light.

 

Noel

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