WarriorJazz Posted January 24, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 24, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Currently I'm looking into buying a 90mm portrait lens to use on my M8. It is going to be my first 90mm so I need some advice. ;-) My budget is a bit limited and I have two options: a black 90mm Summicron (canada 1980) or a 90mm Tele-elmarit. I walked around with and Tele-elmarit of a friend of mine and I love that it was very compact and small. But I noticed that I tend to flair really quick. And some of the shots I made had a very low contrast. Or is this something that all lenses have from that period? Now I have never had the opportunity actually to hold an old 90mm Summicron in my hands but they look really big and heavy. But does the image quality make up for this? Is it worth to walk around with such a big monster? ;-) Image quality and character in an image is more important to me than if it is compact. I will be using my new lens for portraiture mostly. Does anyone have any sample shots taken with these lenses on a m8? Regards, -Eelco Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 Hi WarriorJazz, Take a look here 90mm Summicron or Tele-Elmarit. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted January 24, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 24, 2011 For the best price/size/quality have a look at the Elmarit-M.It is one of the best 90mm lenses ever built, surpassed only by the 90 AA (and not by that much either),is light,small and not that expensive. Personally I am not a fan of the pre-asph Summicron, but that is a matter of taste. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted January 24, 2011 Thanks for your reply Jaap! Do you mean this version? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redridge Posted January 24, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 24, 2011 I believe he means this one Leica Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 Ver.II Int. Hood w/ Packing - eBay (item 200562650185 end time Feb-05-11 22:42:52 PST) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted January 24, 2011 I love that lens, but it a bit out of my current budget. ;-) If I had that amount of money to spend right now I would look at other second hand lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest malland Posted January 24, 2011 Share #6 Posted January 24, 2011 (edited) While the Elmarit-90 is technically a very good lens, I never took to it and prefer the way the the much smaller Tele-Elmarit-90 draws. The latter is the lens I bought new back in 1988, which succumbed to the fungus which that lens was subject to, owing to, if I remember correctly the glue used to cement the lens element together. Lenses subject to this fungus were unrepairable and Leica offered me, despite the fact that the guarantee had already lapsed, a large discount on the Elmarit-90, which I eventually sold and bought, rather cheaply, a used 1913-83 anniversary edition of the Tele-Elmarit-90. I understand that the Tele-Elmarit-90s that have not been subject to fungus are not likely to develop fungus in the future. Although I've never used the Tele-Elmarit-90 much, I did like it for portraits at full aperture. I don't recall the Tele-Elmarit-90 being particularly subject to flare or to low contrast when using a lens hood, although I prefer a metal one than the collapsible rubber one supplied with that lens. —Mitch/Bangkok Paris au rythme de Basquiat (WIP) Edited January 24, 2011 by malland Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted January 24, 2011 Share #7 Posted January 24, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) +1 for the Elmarit 90/2.8. I had the chance to use both, the Elmarit and the Summicron and because of the weight, the size and the sharpness, I sold the Summicron and use the Elmarit. It is a gorgeous lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 24, 2011 Share #8 Posted January 24, 2011 Thanks for your reply Jaap!Do you mean this version? no Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted January 24, 2011 Share #9 Posted January 24, 2011 (edited) I have both the Tele-Elmarit and a chrome 90mm Summicron. I agree that the Tele-Elmarit can flare and has relatively low contrast. For that reason it's important to use the correct 1275 or 1275N long hoods with that lens. Also the inside of the rear element of some lenses can be prone to haze and since it's a "rolled in" mount very difficult if not impossible to get cleaned, so check well before purchase. I don't think Leica have ever really identified the cause - there's plenty of theories. The chrome Summicron is heavy (all brass construction) and if you need light weight get the black version if you decide on the lens. I happen to like images from that lens, a Walther Mandler design. At full aperture it's sharp enough for portraits with a slightly hazy surround to details. Stopped down it's quite sharp, but as always it's personal preferences and I'd suggest trying before you buy if possible. However Japp's advice about the Elmarit-M 90mm Ver.II is very good if you don't need the Summicron speed or little extra separation of the subject from the background that the Summicron can give. Remember on the M8 the 90mm behaves more like a 135mm with attendant shake and focus difficulties. Bob. Edited January 24, 2011 by gravastar Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted January 24, 2011 Share #10 Posted January 24, 2011 I walked around with and Tele-elmarit of a friend of mine and I love that it was very compact and small. But I noticed that I tend to flair really quick. And some of the shots I made had a very low contrast. Or is this something that all lenses have from that period? Does anyone have any sample shots taken with these lenses on a m8? Regards, -Eelco I have found that the Tele-Elmarit at times gave very low contrast shots. Not sure if it was flare or what but in the end I sold the 2 I had and bought a current version Elmarit. Great lens. Mine was just like new, in the original box with all packing, paperwork and pouch. Actually I really thing it had never been used or even taken out of the box. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted January 24, 2011 Share #11 Posted January 24, 2011 I love that lens, but it a bit out of my current budget. ;-)If I had that amount of money to spend right now I would look at other second hand lenses. You can get a current version Elmarit for around $600. For that price, or even a little more, you can't beat this lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted January 24, 2011 You can get a current version Elmarit for around $600. For that price, or even a little more, you can't beat this lens. Really? I had a look around but most of them are arround 1200 usd (900 euro). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted January 24, 2011 Share #13 Posted January 24, 2011 Since alternative options have been floated, Might I suggest the 75mm Summarit which is equivalent to 100mm on the M8 and perfect for portraiture as well as other subjects. Re the Tele-Elmarit, you must use the recommended deep lens hood to avoid flare. It adds to the bulk, but is necessary. I would seek a good 90mm Elmarit-M which will also stand you in good stead if/when you upgrade to M9 body. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted January 24, 2011 The chrome Summicron is heavy (all brass construction) and if you need light weight get the black version if you decide on the lens. I happen to like images from that lens, a Walther Mandler design. At full aperture it's sharp enough for portraits with a slightly hazy surround to details. Stopped down it's quite sharp, but as always it's personal preferences and I'd suggest trying before you buy if possible. ... Remember on the M8 the 90mm behaves more like a 135mm with attendant shake and focus difficulties. Thanks for your information Bob! The summicron I'm looking at is actually a black one. It is being offered to me, not by a store but by another enthusiast. I own a 35mm summicron ASPH and I know that this lens is much sharper than this dinosaur but personally I love it when portraits are not extremely sharp. I had some troubles focussing with the Tele-elmarit on my m8. Have you ever tried one of the magnifiers? Is this worth the money? Do you have any photo's made by this lens made with a m8? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted January 24, 2011 Share #15 Posted January 24, 2011 If one scrutinizes on the Net, is easy to notice that GOOD items of the various 90 2,8 be Elmarit, Tele Elmarit(-s 2 versions...), Elmarit M, are not too far as prices, with a certain premium on the last one, which is well worth; as for compactness,, the old "nano" Tele Elmarit is unbeatable, and is still a pleasant lens : I used one for years and years, but when in 2010 I added an Elmarit M... it was definitely a "WOW !" as image quality. Also the Summicron M are in the same price range, and imho the Elmarit M is definitely to prefer... the only Summicrons that stay lower in price are the very old ones ("not -M"), but those are really bulky and often worn in finishing. And, once again, even the Summarit 2,5 is not so far from a good used Elmarit-M... probably (never tested one) the IQ is up to the Elmarit M, with lighter construction an smaller size (without the hood... I have the 75, and with the hood on, it's roughly equivalent to the Elmarit M). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted January 24, 2011 Share #16 Posted January 24, 2011 I am wondering if the 90mm lenses made for the Leitz/Minolta CL and CLE would be an option for this Poster? Could someone Comment? Thx Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share #17 Posted January 24, 2011 I am wondering if the 90mm lenses made for the Leitz/Minolta CL and CLE would be an option for this Poster?Could someone Comment? Thx I thought of that. Are these better than the Tele-elmarit and Summicron? By the way, the seller of the summicron 90mm typ2 just send me an email that he wants to sell it to me for 450 euro's (almost mint black version). I checked out the Tele-elmarit Nano and the output looks great! Much more signature than the Tele-elmarit type 2. To bad most of them on sale are around 950 euro's and more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knomad Posted January 24, 2011 Share #18 Posted January 24, 2011 (edited) Since alternative options have been floated, Might I suggest the 75mm Summarit which is equivalent to 100mm on the M8 and perfect for portraiture as well as other subjects. Re the Tele-Elmarit, you must use the recommended deep lens hood to avoid flare. It adds to the bulk, but is necessary. I would seek a good 90mm Elmarit-M which will also stand you in good stead if/when you upgrade to M9 body. I rarely use anything longer than a 50 for portraits with my M8, but if I wanted something a little longer I'd go with the 75 as mentioned above. It's compact, and modestly priced (by Leica standards). I own a 90mm Summicron pre-aspherical that I bought years ago for use with an M6 0.85x, and it works quite nicely with that particular camera/viewfinder combo. It's a little bulkier than I would like, but I do shoot in low light a lot so that's a necessary tradeoff. But I rarely use the 90 on my M8. The 90mm framelines on the M8 viewfinder are tiny, to the point that I find it difficult to compose effectively. Shooting wide open I also find the depth of field too narrow for my taste, to the point that important parts of the subject can be unsharp, I have not had that happen with the same lens on my M6. Why carry the bulk and weight of the faster lens if that extra stop is hard to use in practice? Edited January 24, 2011 by Knomad Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 24, 2011 Share #19 Posted January 24, 2011 Completely agree on recommendations for 90/2.8 Elmarit-M. Everything going for it - small size, convenient built in hood, superb performance, reasonable price. On my one, the performance is much better than my 75mm Summarit. Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobeyone Posted January 24, 2011 Share #20 Posted January 24, 2011 I am finding the 90 Elmarit M difficult to focus on the M8? any tips? I am even using the mag but its always soft or out of focus? Have a 50 and 35mm lens both of which are super sharp. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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