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Macro-Elmar-M owners opinion wanted


skinnfell

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I am toying with getting a Macro-Elmar-M 90/4 for my Monochrom. I know it is a super sharp lens, and I usually shoot at f4-8 so the speed is fine with me. I love the tiny size.

 

However, I am wondering how it handles in "macro mode".

Can anyone who owns, or have extended exprience with this lens please offer some insight on this lens?

 

Such as

- Handling

- Ease of mounting/unmounting the adapter/finder

- Framing

- Focusing

 

Thanks!

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I guess that you already know that it is optically excellent.

Very compact to carry on its own of course when collapsed.

When using the macro adapter you mount it to the camera first and then the lens is mounted upside down. Nothing hard, just align and rotate. It has a second set of markings on the bottom. Upside down it uses a separate cam surface for the different focus range.

It is not a true macro (1:1). Without the macro adapter the magnification is not a lot higher than that of the APO 75 at minimum focus distance.

The lens is sometimes seen used on its own but I think only sold new now as a set?

I recommend the angle finder (which adds some magnification) And had no trouble focusing or framing with that on a tripod.

http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/122535441

 

Callistemon photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com

 

did I mention that it is optically excellent ;)

Hedge Grasshopper in my garden photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com

this is a 1:1 crop

Edited by hoppyman
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It's a very fine lens; I bring it with me almost wherever I go.

 

- Handling: No problem

- Ease of mounting/unmounting the adapter/finder: No problem

- Framing: Some framing adjustments might be required when the adapter is used, particularly for vertical photos. I usually make a test shot or two, checking the screen for fine-tuning/confirming the framing

- Focusing: Easy and smooth, but the focus zone is rather thin at f4 with the adapter, as expected

 

Downside: Some purple fringing (not that annoying on the Monochrome, though...).

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I own many 90's, but this lens is first in the bag for travel. At 22" it is not much of a macro, but it works and is sharp as a tack on any Leica M, Monochrom included.

Agreed, I find it to be a very sharp lens on my Monochrom which always surprises me with its stunning quality, given its tiny size and somewhat quirky looks when extended. With the close-up adapter in place just take a test image and adjust the taking position slightly for the final viewpoint, as needed.

 

Nick

Edited by Nick_S
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Yes, Jeff, I sold the lens after testing on a tripod and focusing very carefully.

 

I liked this lens on my M9-P but after I got the M noticed that some lenses that worked well on the M9 did not seem to perform as well on the M (this 90 macro was one of them) and even more curiously some lenses that I did not think performed all that well on the M 9 performed very satisfactorily on the M (my 90 mm Elmarit-M in particular). I had been thinking of selling the 90 Elmarit-M as I don't need (and can't comfortably afford) two very similar lenses, but instead I kept the 90 Elmarit-M and sold the 90 macro. Very perplexing, actually, as I never would have expected the change in bodies to reveal different levels in lens performance.

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I'm surprised with the introduction of the M240 and liveview that Leica don't offer this as a stand-alone lens rather than as a 3 piece set including the macro adapter and anglefinder.

 

I understand what you are saying but, even with an EVF or LV, to get macro capabilities you still need the macro adapter or a plain extension tube of some kind. I think many M system users more generally would like to buy just the lens as it makes for a very compact 'normal' 90. I bought it on that basis when it first came out for a very reasonable £750 or thereabouts. I have since sold it (which I regret) and would probably buy another if it didn't now only come as a kit priced nearer £3000.

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I understand what you are saying but, even with an EVF or LV, to get macro capabilities you still need the macro adapter or a plain extension tube of some kind. I think many M system users more generally would like to buy just the lens as it makes for a very compact 'normal' 90. I bought it on that basis when it first came out for a very reasonable £750 or thereabouts. I have since sold it (which I regret) and would probably buy another if it didn't now only come as a kit priced nearer £3000.

 

Yes, I'm certainly considering it as a compact tele with close-up rather than macro capability but I'm baulking at the 3 piece kit price.

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The £699 Zeiss Tele Tessar 85mm F4 ZM is another option for that role, Keith but there is something particularly sweet about the size of the collapsed Macro-Elmar when it is put in the bag as a "just in case I need it" kind of lens. The Leica lens also takes 39mm filters which can be handy.

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Tobey

It is exactly for the reasons you state that I picked up the collapsable 50/2.8 to compliment other E39 lenses although I must say the APO50 with E39 filter size fits the bill rather nicely too. Add the 28/2.8 and you just might have the ultimate small/light lens kit=28+35+50+90.

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I'm surprised with the introduction of the M240 and liveview that Leica don't offer this as a stand-alone lens rather than as a 3 piece set including the macro adapter and anglefinder.

 

Keith the focus range is no different on the M (Type 240) though. You could use it without the angle finder/magnifier which I guess is what you meant? I baulked at the bundle price too and ended up buying the lens on its own second hand..... and then the macro adapter and magnifier separately :o.

I found that it was fun to experiment with the closer range but it really constituted only a small portion of my photography. I can get nearly the same coverage (when minus the macro adapter)for flowers and the like with the APO 75 and I have the Elmarit M 90 as well.

I ended up reselling the Elmar to help fund MORE Leica stuff ;)

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Keith the focus range is no different on the M (Type 240) though. You could use it without the angle finder/magnifier which I guess is what you meant? I baulked at the bundle price too and ended up buying the lens on its own second hand..... and then the macro adapter and magnifier separately :o.

I found that it was fun to experiment with the closer range but it really constituted only a small portion of my photography. I can get nearly the same coverage (when minus the macro adapter)for flowers and the like with the APO 75 and I have the Elmarit M 90 as well.

I ended up reselling the Elmar to help fund MORE Leica stuff ;)

 

Geoff, thanks, yes, the lens would primarily be used as a lightweight and compact tele with close focus rather than macro capability. If the MTF charts are to be believed the Macro-Elmar looks to be very sharp at distance.

 

I'm also looking at the 75 and 90 Elmarit lenses.

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I'm surprised that some people found this lens to not be sharp enough on the M240.

 

I've noticed no problems with reduced sharpness from what Puts claimed to be one of Leica's all-time best performing M-lenses. If anything, most of its attributes have been enhanced on the M240 & Monochrom and I use it more than I did on the M9.

 

However, there is an issue worth commenting on - one would recall that the files from the M240 and Monochrom are flatter than those from the M9 and need more PP work. Using a lower contrast lens such as the 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar exacerbates this so the files may appear softer than on the M9 due to reduced contrast, and may require more work in PP depending on the image.

Edited by MarkP
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