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New version 90mm f4 (11670)

DMJ

By DMJ
in Leica M Lenses

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agencal

agencal

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I am considering buying the 'new' version of the 90mm f4 (would get the macro adaptor too). Has anyone on here used one of these on the M240 & what is you opinion?

 

Martin

 

 

I am using the new 90mm macro with m240.It is sharp center to corner from wide open but a little short in contrast even using with the hood.So i add some contrast at post process.I have 50mm apo and 24mm elmar on my set and both are contrasty lenses.Maybe i feel that way becouse of them.

Macro adapter is great but you will need evf also.

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Three Legged Cat

Three Legged Cat

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I bought the new 90 Elmar & Macro adapter in June, never having previously owned any 90mm lens, nor shot Macro. As a someone relatively new to photography and to Leica I thought this would 'complete' my lens collection beyond my 21 SEM/35 Cron/50 Lux/75 Cron, and to explore whether Macro photography might be an interest for me with the M240.

 

I was initially attracted to it's small size and it's big reputation as a 'Pocket Rocket' in its previous incarnation, and so I favoured it over other 90mm lenses for this reason. After several month's use I can honestly say it may in fact be my favourite lens. I actually do a lot of street photography with it, and I would says it renders 'crisply', rather than with the 'high contrast' look of my 50 & 75 - but this is actually quite pleasing, and sometimes makes a welcome change from the more 'clinical' Leica look. The collapsing lens design locks snugly in place when extended, it is very discrete, and often I find myself marvelling at it's output. I should say that I don't use it's largish hood at all when I'm in the street with it, and it is quite prone to flare as a consequence; however I'm happy to make this compromise in order to retain such a compact camera/lens combination - without the hood it really is tiny when collapsed on the camera, and so easy to just slip into a pocket and carry around as a secondary lens. I believe that the hood on the the previous version folded over the lens for storage, whereas this version does not; I do consider this a bit of a design flaw, although I understand the reasons why this is the case.

 

I haven't used it much for Macro due to time constraints, but I remember how amazed I was at the output I was getting when just fiddling around in the garden photographing bugs and flowers one sunny day; I even had the confidence to enter one of these 'test shots' in a local competition with very little post-processing; so good was the output 'straight out of the box' that with little experience I was delighted to get something halfway-decent so quickly.

 

I know the other current 90mm Leica lenses are highly regarded, but I'm very glad I made the choice I did. Perhaps if I didn't already own a 75 Cron the choice would have been a tad harder re. the 90 Cron, but that is still a big lens by comparison. I have few regrets buying the 90 Elmar, as I feel it complements my set-up perfectly. Initially I was concerned about the limitation of having only an 'f4' lens, but in practice this hasn't been an issue given the reasonable ISO performance of the M240.

 

I was surprised at how little mention is made of this miniature marvel on release, so I'm very glad to get a chance to "sing its praises" here. I hope these comments help you with your decision.

 

With Best Regards.

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  • 3 years later...
JDFlood

JDFlood

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Posted

I use 24mm to 50 primarily, sometime 75mm. I really wanted a 90mm but had not seen this little lens until a few weeks ago. Wow, complete surprise. What a wonderful lens! Allows me to do some  close work (I have not gone for the adapter yet... may not) and 90mm, really light, small and sharp... what a gem. Don't know how I missed it, but this is a wonderful lens. JD

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lct

lct

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I did some time ago but i don't recall him referring to different optical versions. To me the optical design of 90/4 macro v1 and v2 is exactly the same (pic) but i may be wrong.  

 

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Guest

Guest

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His compendium and the listing above does not address the v2 90/4 macro ... only talks about updates from the 1973 version of the 90.

So no help there and your pictures look like identical elements.

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jrp

jrp

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Jono Slack notes that the only differences between the old and the new are:

  • Firstly, the aperture ring is larger, and easier to hold.
  • Secondly, the lens clicks firmly into place both when extended and when retracted, finally,
  • with the new version, the aperture ring stays in the correct place when the lens is fully retracted.

https://ipameet.com/2014/07/29/the-leica-90mm-macro-elmar-and-the-macro-adapter-m-by-jono-slack/

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