SeanMPuckett Posted January 25, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 25, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've got the CV 15, 28/2 and 50/1.1 and am very happy with their quality, despite a little RF inaccuracy... which I can cope with mostly. I am now trying to fill the 90mm gap and am ready to reach out to the CV 90/3.5 with a screw mount adapter, but have just found an opportunity for a used early 70s Elmarit 90/2.8 in silver. I don't have the serial number yet, and before I deal with the hassle of going to see it I wanted to get the forum impressions. Note that I cannot test the CV before I buy it, there are no local dealers. The Elmarit is $450 and reportedly excellent. The CV with adapter is $430. I'll mostly be shooting headshot portraits with this focal length from 6-8 feet away as it's for a year-long project, but of course the lens will be in my bag and used for other things as well, possibly some repro though I usually use a DSLR for that. Thanks for any guidance. ETA: The project photos are like these, which were taken with the CV 50 and cropped down to quarter frame (which is why I need a 90 or so). http://www.photi.ca/People/KWLT/KWLT-Winter-2010-One-Acts/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Hi SeanMPuckett, Take a look here 90: CV or old Elmarit. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Mauribix Posted January 26, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 26, 2011 The Elmarit is $450 and reportedly excellent. Which Elmarit are you talking about? Elmarit-M Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Or Tele-Elmarit? There's huge "fingerprint" and price difference in between. If you can find an Elmarit-M for as low as 450bucks, go and buy it. It's more or less half the price of actual market value. If it's the tele-elmarit... well, be sure you like it. It's a nice lens, but not a "modern" one. That should be a matter of taste. That's great too, don't get me wrong, but since I owned both, I liked the Elmarit-M the most, and I found it practical and good for any situation. If you make a research on the forum, you may find tons of posts and comparisons. Hope this helped. Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Or Tele-Elmarit? There's huge "fingerprint" and price difference in between. If you can find an Elmarit-M for as low as 450bucks, go and buy it. It's more or less half the price of actual market value. If it's the tele-elmarit... well, be sure you like it. It's a nice lens, but not a "modern" one. That should be a matter of taste. That's great too, don't get me wrong, but since I owned both, I liked the Elmarit-M the most, and I found it practical and good for any situation. If you make a research on the forum, you may find tons of posts and comparisons. Hope this helped. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/142520-90-cv-or-old-elmarit/?do=findComment&comment=1569480'>More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted January 26, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 26, 2011 Oh well, I forgot to mention the "fat" tele-elmarit. This is mostly a collector's item. That's a great lens. Less flare resistant, and with low contrast. Some are just crazy in love with it... anyway that wouldn't be my first choice. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/142520-90-cv-or-old-elmarit/?do=findComment&comment=1569481'>More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted January 26, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 26, 2011 As said above, if it is the Elmarit-M, snatch it up immediately- I actually use mine far more than a 90 ASPH I own. If it is the Tele-elmarit, make sure the glass is clean, for I have had 2 that had various amounts of haze on the rear elements, which is a common problem. It is a fabulous, tiny 90, slightly less sharp at the edges at 2.8, but a fantastic, small lens. Even though it is not as sharp as modern Leicas, it will be sharper than almost all the DSLR lenses, such as the Nikon 85/1.4. Sorry, but don't know much about the Fat Tele-Elmarit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted January 26, 2011 Share #5 Posted January 26, 2011 Strikes me that when the OP said " early 70s Elmarit 90/2.8 in silver" that is exactly what he meant. It can't have been the Elmarit-M which wasn't around then, and we should do him the courtesy of assuming that if he'd meant Tele-Elmarit he'd have said so. This was an excellent lens by the standards of its day (introduced IIRC about 1958), better performing overall than the Tele-Elmarits, but well below the standard of the much more recent Elmarit-M. It's also the only one of the three whose lens head can be unscrewed for use on a Visoflex or SLR. $450 sounds reasonable for a good one. It's a long long time since I've owned one of these, and I've never used the Voigtlander 90. At a guess there wouldn't be much to choose between them optically (assuming both are clean) at f/4 or smaller. The Elmarit is 2/3rds stop faster than the Voigtlander, which could be useful - but if performance at f/2.8 is a major factor for you, either the Elmarit-M or the 90mm Summarit will be superior (not to mention the far more expensive Summicron AA). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted January 26, 2011 Share #6 Posted January 26, 2011 Strikes me that when the OP said " early 70s Elmarit 90/2.8 in silver" that is exactly what he meant. It can't have been the Elmarit-M which wasn't around then, and we should do him the courtesy of assuming that if he'd meant Tele-Elmarit he'd have said so. I just missed that, there's no lack of respect as you seem to point out with "the courtesy of assuming that...". Anyway, as a matter of fact, in the early 70's two lenses called elmarit were produced. the first one, code ELRIM/11129 prod.1959-1974, it was a 5lenses in 3groups design, made both in black and silver finish (and screw and M mount too) The second one, code 11800 prod. 1964-1974, it was a 5lenses in 5 groups tele design (the so-called "FAT") and it was made in black and silver finish too. So, apart for my misreading, I still need the OP to specify which lens is that. 450bucks for a silver Tele-Elmarit "FAT" 90 could be one of the best deals I've ever seen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanMPuckett Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted January 26, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have not yet received the serial number from the seller to verify which Elmarit is meant. Hopefully I will have that in an hour or two. I am working on the theory that based on provided information (no photo yet either), that it is the non-Tele, non-M, non-fat Elmarit, just a regular long Elmarit from near the end of its 1959-1974 product cycle. The $450 price is perhaps the best indicator of this as the seller has quite a few Leica lenses on offer and certainly wouldn't underprice a sought-after lens. It's a little odd the seller didn't say 9cm as that is the inscription but maybe he didn't want to "confuse" someone with a cm measurement. Once I have the serial number in hand I can look things up in Erwin's book and then check the wiki. I am leaning towards the CV mostly because I am a bit dubious of the flare potential of the older lens. The extra half stop might be useful once or twice but I won't base a purchase on it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted January 26, 2011 Share #8 Posted January 26, 2011 I'd ask for a picture of the lens. Serial numbers of the models I've described lately are in the same league for the early 70's. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanMPuckett Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted January 26, 2011 As the seller is remaining slow to respond, and I have an assignment on Friday, I have elected to pass on the Elmarit and order the CV 90. If he does respond I will update this thread based on the specifics and if someone else is interested in the lens I will happily pass on the seller's contact information. I'll also post any thoughts about the CV that seem to stand out after I have a few weeks use. Thank you all for your thoughts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanMPuckett Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted January 28, 2011 Hi. The seller got back to me with photos, and also put a listing up on Kijiji, here: Leica Elmarit 90mm f2.8 Chrome (old style) - Kitchener / Waterloo Cameras For Sale - Kijiji Kitchener / Waterloo Canada. He mentioned that the lens has a small smudge on it, which further cements my decision of not purchasing it. I did order the Voigtlander 90mm APO with M adapter ring and received it a short while ago. Preliminary testing reveals its rangefinder coupling is as perfect as I could wish, and it is stunningly sharp with very good colour, even wide open. The DOF is just about perfect for portraits; if the lens was any faster it would simply be heavier and harder to focus with not much gain for my purposes. (If I want that really dreamy look I'll just put the Nocton on and crop down.) Should put in another note of happiness with Jean at CamTec in Montreal -- top drawer vendor, very responsive, shipped the lens and adapter same day as the order in plenty of time for my project to begin tomorrow. Thanks again for your help. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pklein Posted January 28, 2011 Share #11 Posted January 28, 2011 I have both the old silver Elmarit and the 90/3.5 CV. The Elmarit was fine on film, but doesn't focus quite right on my M8. (This is often a problem with 90mm lenses, they may be "within tolerance," but the digital sensor is less forgiving than film). The Elmarit is a great portrait lens, and its close-up performance is better than the Tele-Elmarits. Its performance at f/2.8 is OK, but not great by modern standards. By f/5.6 it's great, and it has that rounder, classic look, well-matched to a DR or Rigid 50 Summicron. The 90/3.5 CV is a super lens. It's a little less contrasty than the latest Leica Elmarit, but it's very sharp, and it performs beautifully from wide-open through f/11, where you start to see diffraction. It's small and light, a great travel lens. If I had to choose between it and the old Elmarit, I would probably choose the CV for almost all purposes, unless I wanted a lens to give me a classic portrait look. --Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephgalilee Posted February 11, 2011 Share #12 Posted February 11, 2011 It's not true that the Tele Elmarit "fat" version is less flare resistant. The "thin" version is prone to flare, the "fat" version not have this issue. So, if you find an "fat" one, in good condition "go with the tango" and get it. Cheers folks Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted February 11, 2011 Share #13 Posted February 11, 2011 The old silver one (mine is a 1959 version) is an excellent portrait lens even if it does look a little dorky on the camera body. Wide open it is slightly soft around the edges, and it sharpens up across the field by 5.6. I use it (the lens head) more often on my DSLRs via the Visoflex focus mount (16464) and adapters, or with the bellows for macro work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted February 11, 2011 Share #14 Posted February 11, 2011 The Elmarit is $450 and reportedly excellent. The CV with adapter is $430. ] I paid 400 euros for my Elmarit-M. It is the best of the 90mm Leicas I have owned. Ranging from f/4 C to the APO ASPH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted February 12, 2011 Share #15 Posted February 12, 2011 It's not true that the Tele Elmarit "fat" version is less flare resistant.The "thin" version is prone to flare, the "fat" version not have this issue. Are you sure about that? Both the "fat" and "thin" version are known for being much prone to flare (veiling flare). Most probably the "fat" one is less prone to flare than the "thin" version. But that's not enough to put the "fat" 90 in the league of the flare resistant lenses. Please, try to take a portrait with the sun on the back of your subject, in front of your camera, that's where the flare is. FWIW only the Elmarit-M 90 may be considered a flare resistant lens. P.S. please, may you not use such huge characters when posting? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted February 12, 2011 Share #16 Posted February 12, 2011 It's not true that the Tele Elmarit "fat" version ... There's no need to shout. We can hear you quite well. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhild Posted February 12, 2011 Share #17 Posted February 12, 2011 I use the CV 90 on my IIIG, it´s a very sharp lens even fully open. I had to shim it as it was not quite right but now it´s perfect. It´s definitely better as the older Leica lenses. The Elmarit M is a different story, some say it´s to sharp but that´s something I can´t understand. In summary, the CV is a good buy! Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted February 13, 2011 Share #18 Posted February 13, 2011 I've been using that original 2.8 90 with the detachable head for 40+ years, and not been tempted to change it for newer 2.8, which are generaly different rather than'better'. And I can useit on viso and nikon too. In spite of its size its fairly light Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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