Jump to content

90mm R question...


Ted W

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I'm trying to get the various versions sorted. Were there two E55s of this lens? Neither one aspheric, but one of them APO? And with different extending hoods? And then the only E60 is both aspheric and APO? Do I have this correct? Thanks.

 

One more: whatever the answers are, do they apply also to the M version(s) of this focal length?

Link to post
Share on other sites

90 Summicron R - two versions in total.

 

The first, E55 (and possibly series filters early on) produced 1970 until replaced with the APO version in the early 2000s. Never APO, never ASPH.

 

The APO version is also ASPH - there was no version that was APO but not ASPH (or vice-versa). E60.

___________

 

The APO-Summicron-R 90mm f/2 ASPH is optically identical to the APO-Summicron-M 90 f/2 ASPH - same glass, different metal (except the edges of the fourth element were tweaked where they meet the metal for mounting - no optical effect).

 

The non-APO R lens is similar to, but not exactly the same as, the E55 non-APO M lens produced 1980-1998. Same basic layout, but some differences in the thickness of the elements, and modest differences in fingerprint.

 

There were two earlier 90 Summicron M versions prior to 1980 - neither is anything like any R lens. Big old stovepipes with non-"telephoto" designs.

Link to post
Share on other sites

As I recall, there was a small body modification to the non APO ASPH late in its life, but I may be wrong. As Adan points out, the APO ASPH has always been E60 in the R-version.

 

I see the 90 APO ASPH is offered for around $4000 on eBay. I am not sure if it is Leica users or Canon/Nikon users who buy it. Some may even want an equivalent to 2/180 on an M43 body.

Link to post
Share on other sites

According to Erwin Puts' Leica Compendium, the 90mm R 'Cron is closely related to the 3rd version for the M.

 

I have this 90mm R and it is a great lens. Slightly soft wide open, but sharp by 5.6 and beyond. The 90mm AA which I have in M mount is sharper wide open and has higher contrast. The AA version has that crystal clarity look of the Leica aspherical design.

 

N.S. Ng

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...