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90mm Elmarit M difference


Mylek

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Hello,

 

i owned a 90mm summicron the latest pre-ASPH and a 75mm summicron.

I'm tempted by a 90mm Elmarit-M, it might be a GAS!

 

From the specs, weight and size are almost the same as the others but is there big difference in rendering between it and the above lenses. Wide open and at f/5.6.

I will use it for portraiture and landscape.

 

Regards!

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The 90 mm Elmarit M is a wonderful lens. The latest 90 Apo Summicron is just a hair sharper in the field at 2.8. I doubt you will ever see the difference in real life but you will appreciate the difference in weight and price.

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I owned both the Elmarit-M and E55 Summicron pre-Asph overlapping about a year before selling the Elmarit. I found the Summicron at f/2 the best lens for portraiture I have ever used (includes the 75 Summilux). From f/2.8 neither I nor anyone could tell it from the Elmarit, and though the Cron is about 5mm more in radius, together with the length and weight wasn't that much more to carry than the Elmarit, especially by comparison to the "thin" Tele-Elmarit which is my preferred travel 90.

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I currently own all 3 and the 90 Elmarit-M is very slim when compared to the others and is the lightest to touch. But that makes sense as it is a 2.8 while the other s are 2.0. Do you need me to weigh them? For most of us the 2.8 is more than enough.

Agree with Bocaburger and also have the Tele-Elmarit which is such big a punch in such a small package. Thank you Herr Mandler wherever you may be.

 

All the lenses mentioned here can be 6 bit coded if wanted.

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I'm a big fan of the 90 Elmarit-M and feel that for the size and weight it's an absolute winner. It's a little soft wide open at f/2.8 (which is actually nice for portraits), but sharpens up by f/4. Again, not a major lens IQ issue, just a characteristic of this older design. My version is silver chrome, and the lens hood is a little more solid feeling than the black anodized, but both are essentially identical lenses. I had the lens 6 bit coded by Leica NJ.

 

A wonderful 90, and the only one (at present) in my bag.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/nature-wildlife/224650-ahhhhhhh-pandas.html

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Note that there is a bit of confusion in the market between the Tele-Elmarit-M and the Elmarit-M. The latter has the integral hood. I purchased an 90 Elmarit-M a couple of months ago. It's an absolutely fantastic lens. Solid and sharp. Get it 6-bit coded (This is not necessary but you do get the lens calibrated by Leica).

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I disagree with any comments on lack of contrast at f2.8, I have not seen any lack of contrast wide open, the MTF's support the same

 

http://www.rglewis.co.uk/PDF/LEICA/M_Lenses/Elmarit-M_90mm_Technical_Data_en.pdf

 

I would be interesting in views of rendering in comparison. I think the Elmarit paints beautifully, with superb bokeh. A much more charismatic lens than the 75 summarit for example IMO

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In turn I would to ask what your judgment regarding the 75 Summarit is based on. I hear people talk about the different character of lenses and it seems to be fashionable to call recent lenses sterile, modern, clinical and all that.

 

I ended up buying an Elmarit-M and agree with you that it is a very fine lens, but I also tested the 75 Summarit and came to the conclusion that it, too, is a very fine lens, virtually flare-free. Although I am happy with my Elmarit-M, I would recommend the Summarit without hesitation.

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The MTF charts are at infinity. A friend and I did a control test last year using two M9 bodies and three examples of the 90 Elmarit-M at ranges from 1.5m-3m (normal portrait range) using static targets, tripods and timed release. Our results definitely indicated that micro contrast was definitely improved from f/2.8 to f/4. After that there was a slight improvement from f/4 to f/5.6 and then the difference was basically imperceptible. YMMV.

 

And I agree with the comments about the Summarit, although I did not care for the rubber band over the focus ring and the lack of a metal slide out hood.

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