Jump to content

In Praise of the 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar M


MarkP

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 70
  • Created
  • Last Reply
What's not to like; small, better performance at near, great color and contrast, don't care that it isn't f2.o0 because I mostly use it outdoors during the day. And, Mark's photo's are probably the best demonstration of lens performance I've ever seen demo's. Mark: Steve Huff has nothing on you!

 

Thanks Rick, but I'll stick to my day job....

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Hi Everyone

I am really interested in macro photography and I am a bit shy(re. wimp) when it comes to street photography and plus other things like portraiture the Macro-elmar looks a great lens for this job but the question is do I need the macro adaptor and winkelsucher :D (angle finder) or can I do lots without the adaptor, of course you can do lots but how many people carry around the adaptor in their bag? should I save myself some money buy the lens, maybe get a mag x1.25 or keep saving till I can get the whole kit because now you cant buy them separately there will be an ever decreasing amount available second hand.

p.s. this is for my Monochrom

Link to post
Share on other sites

Matter of tastes and budget. I don't use much my adaptor personally but i bring it often in my bag. I don't use an angle finder though. As you said it is possible that the adaptor becomes difficult to find out second hand so i would buy the whole package if i had the money. Otherwise, the macro 90/4 alone would remain my favorite 90 anyway even if i'm lucky enough to have latest and earlier 90/2 and 90/2.8 as well.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The MEM is my best lens for the M9 and Nex-7 (the Apo-Telyt-R 1:3.4/180 is pretty good too on the Nex). As a 4 lens design it is has very good contrast and less flare than any other lens I own. The only restrictions I found that at scales larger than 0.5 it starts loosing its exceptional IQ - so not a real macro lens.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

90 MEM and a 35 Summicron saves my photography this summer. I have serious neck problems this is just the limit what I can carry. So thank you God and Leica for these lenses.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Link to post
Share on other sites

This is one of two lenses I am interested in, the 18mm for the occasions where. My 21 is not tight enough. For example some internal shots and the 90 macro when I need a good close up of something, the best I have is my old GF1 or my 75 lux

 

I wish it was cheaper !

Link to post
Share on other sites

I bought mine as a set (se my OP in this thread). If I didn't have the macro-adapter I probably wouldn't miss it, but I don't have any regrets buying it as a set.

 

I use the lens regularly but have only used the macro-adapter once (to demonstrate it in this post). However, I hope that with the arrival of my M240 I'll use it more (?).

 

I should add that although I have my share of very fast lenses I do not at all miss not having had a faster 90mm lens. This one is spectacular. Puts rates it as one of the all-time best Leica M lenses.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Highly recommended as a general 90mm due to it's sharpness and ease of carry and as a Macro with the adapter and a general purpose travel lens.

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

I don't own one, but it sure does look great.

However surely this is one lens that is long overdue for an update. I can't see too many M owners wanting to pull out and attach a clunky adapter to switch to Macro. And even then the magnification is still only 1:3 or something.

I know I'm not the only one waiting for a genuine M 1:1 or 1:2 lens update that doesn't require any adapter... Come on Leica!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh I so disagree with you! :)

 

Short of producing the 4.0/90mm equivalent of the 2.0/50 APO-Summicron there is no point.

The advantage of this lens is its extraordinary IQ and compact size.

 

The adapter is necessary by definition, partly because of the problems of using a rangefinder at such close distances, the macro optical cell, and to keep a very compact unit except for when macro is required.

 

Things may change with the M240 for which I assume a number of macro lenses could be used.

Link to post
Share on other sites

also my favorite lens, here on the MM:

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

Highly recommended as a general 90mm due to it's sharpness and ease of carry and as a Macro with the adapter and a general purpose travel lens.

 

Agree. It's so small and light, it seldom stays home.

 

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

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

My brand-new one will lock, but it will also unlock by itself sometimes if you turn the aperture ring. And it wasn't properly adjusted for focus. Looking forward to trying it out when I get it back.

 

I had that too, from brand new it got worse, and at Solms (on a visit) I showed how the turret was too loose. The service gentleman was so kind to take my lens, walk away with it and ten minutes later he had fastened the head so it would not let loose by itself.

From what he said I understood it does not happen too often, as he said "I found out that the fastening works with the same screw as in the older retractable 50 mm lenses". So he had to sort this out. Could then not be a day to day issue.

Anyway, great service as always there, and never had a problem of the head getting loose when focussing again.

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...