Experience 90 Elmarit-M vs 90 Summarit vs 90 Summicron-M III

[Scarlet]

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I am interested in real-world performance differences between these theree lenses. The reason I am not including the current Summicron is that it is simply too heavy.

 

Thanks in advance

/s

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[algrove]

Just to be clear from my end, the Summicron you mention and the current 90 Summicron are not too far part in weight.

My Elmarit-M sharp as a tack.

My 90 Summi v3 sharp as a tack

My 90 Summi latest version sharper than a tack.

My TeleElmarit the least sharp of my 90's

My 90/4.0 Elmar sharper than a tack plus has macro capabilities to a point.

[bocaburger]

I owned the Elmarit-M (e46) and Summicron-M (e55) simultaneously. As you said you are interested in real-world performance differences, in my experience there were none at all apertures they have in common. The Summicron has the benefit of an extra stop, at which it is extremely flattering for portraiture (unlike the APO version, which I also owned). I did not find the Elmarit-M compellingly smaller or lighter than the Summicron-M (I also have the thin Tele-Elmarit, which is my travel 90 and is really small and light). I sold the Elmarit-M with no regrets.

[algrove]

I owned the Elmarit-M (e46) and Summicron-M (e55) simultaneously. As you said you are interested in real-world performance differences, in my experience there were none at all apertures they have in common. The Summicron has the benefit of an extra stop, at which it is extremely flattering for portraiture (unlike the APO version, which I also owned). I did not find the Elmarit-M compellingly smaller or lighter than the Summicron-M (I also have the thin Tele-Elmarit, which is my travel 90 and is really small and light). I sold the Elmarit-M with no regrets.

 

How do you rate the sharpness of your current Tele-Elmarit versus the other 90's you had in the past? Agree it is probably the best travel 90 other than the 90/4 Elmar Macro. I must say though that the extra stop for the TE has its advantages.

[bocaburger]

How do you rate the sharpness of your current Tele-Elmarit versus the other 90's you had in the past? Agree it is probably the best travel 90 other than the 90/4 Elmar Macro. I must say though that the extra stop for the TE has its advantages.

 

I find the Tele-Elmarit as sharp and contrasty as I could ever want. Agree about the 90 Not-Quite-Macro, but I missed my chance to get one when they were reasonably priced, and I won't buy one at their current bloated cost. As Austin Powers would say, sadly that train has sailed.

[Scarlet]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Just to be clear from my end, the Summicron you mention and the current 90 Summicron are not too far part in weight.

 

Perception of weight is always relative of course but, to me, 660g vs 475g is quite a difference.

 

Would it make sense on any level to substitute an Elmarit-M for a Summarit?

[jaapv]

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I find the Elmarit-M an excellent little lens, it was the best 90 ever until the Apo-Summicron 90 asph came out - I " downgraded " from the Summicron 90 AA to the Elmarit-M (mainly because of the weight difference) and never regretted it. Many M photographers don't use the 90 too often, so it makes little sense imo to keep the superquality of the AA for just the occasional shot, especially as the quality of the "lesser" lens is so close.

I think Leica has never built a 90 mm that was not outstanding, so you can hardly go wrong in this focal length, whatever your choice.

[bocaburger]

Thanks for the replies.

 

 

 

Perception of weight is always relative of course but, to me, 660g vs 475g is quite a difference.

 

Would it make sense on any level to substitute an Elmarit-M for a Summarit?

 

Officially the Summicron APO-ASPH weighs 510g (660 is the silver silver-on-brass finish), the Summicron e55 pre-ASPH 500g, the Elmarit-M 410g and the "thin" T-E 225g hence why to me it made the difference between the Cron and Elmarit-M seem rather insignificant.

[akiralx]

Jaap is right, you can't go wrong with any of these lenses.

 

90 Summarit wideopen:

 

 

 

90 Macro-Elmar wideopen:

 

 

 

Both are excellent, the Summarit perhaps showing more contrast as a more modern design. For travel I would take the Macro-Elmar owing to the performance in a tiny package.

[bocaburger]

I think Leica has never built a 90 mm that was not outstanding, so you can hardly go wrong in this focal length, whatever your choice.

 

+1! I have a screwmount 90 Elmar from 1956 which performs remarkably on the M9. Seems to me the breadth of improvements from generation to generation gets narrower along with the FOV of the lens. With the wide lenses there are improvements in sharpness, flare-control, vignetting, coma, and other aberrations. By the time you get to the 90s and 135s it's predominantly just a matter of contrast.

[tobey bilek]

Have a v3 Summicron from new with little use. Have the 90 4.0 for about7 years. 4.0 is sharper at distance, smaller, lighter, and close focus performance is way better.

 

the last 902.8 will be softish up close as will be the ASPH. distance matches the 4.0