FrozenInTime Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share #21 Posted February 8, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why is it so expensive? Because it's so good . Regarding lens flare, I've not had the same problems as you. I agree that the original hood is too big and I use it only occasionally. Following a suggestion from another Forum member I bought the screw on hood for the 2.8/50 Elmar-M. Very compact and effective in most situations. Thanks - I have one of those hoods I will give it a go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Hi FrozenInTime, Take a look here 90mm Macro Elmar - why so expensive ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
menos I M6 Posted February 8, 2015 Share #22 Posted February 8, 2015 As there was a weather window today, between storm fronts ( it seems storm is the Californian term for any amount of rain ) , I went for a walk from Sausalito across the Golden Gate Bridge and on to San Francisco.I had an hour to kill before the ferry back, so went to the SF Leica Store. They had a nice used 90mm Macro Elmar M that was not bundled with the goggles. First time I'd actually handled one ; it certainly is very compact. The price was reasonable - so it's now mine Thanks for all for the words of praise you gave the lens. I can see it will get carried a lot more frequently because of that. Guess it's time to sell the Zeiss 85/4 Congrats! Great find. Please don't sell that Zeiss yet - you owe us a thorough comparison between the two in all aspects ;-) Seriously, I would be very interested how you find they compare. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share #23 Posted February 8, 2015 Please don't sell that Zeiss yet - you owe us a thorough comparison between the two in all aspects ;-) Seriously, I would be very interested how you find they compare. Sure, give me a few weeks. There certainly seems to be very little written about the Zeiss lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 8, 2015 Share #24 Posted February 8, 2015 The 90 Macro Elmar is always with me when traveling. It is just an amazing lens. F4.0 is plenty fast enough during the day. Separation at 90mm makes for a nice look even at f4.0. I just can't imagine carrying the big 90 Summicron Asph just to gain 2-stops when most of my shooting is at 5.6. I paid $2,499 about 4 years ago for a new version with goggles and right angle finder. They are $3,900 for the set now at B&H. I see a mint copy on eBay for $2,800. That seems like relatively good value compared to everything else Leica. I'd say a good used copy is still a great deal. New, prices are much more, but not expensive for the set. I would not buy the new lens without the goggles. It is too difficult to focus this lens in macro mode without the goggles. If, you are serious about the macro ability of this lens you are going to want the goggles so you can use the RF. In conclusion, this is a fantastic lens and combined with the goggles it seems pretty reasonable for the best 90mm lens in the Leica catalog... plus you get some limited macro ability. Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 8, 2015 Share #25 Posted February 8, 2015 I would not buy the new lens without the goggles. It is too difficult to focus this lens in macro mode without the goggles. If, you are serious about the macro ability of this lens you are going to want the goggles so you can use the RF. Of course folks should be aware that the new set includes the macro adapter, not goggles, and that has no RF linkage (requires M240 LV/EVF). With current discount, it's just over $4k for the set. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 8, 2015 Share #26 Posted February 8, 2015 Of course folks should be aware that the new set includes the macro adapter, not goggles, and that has no RF linkage (requires M240 LV/EVF). With current discount, it's just over $4k for the set. Jeff Of course, the new lens has the new macro adaptor. But, like you say, the new adaptor is not coupled to the RF for near macro use and for many macro shooting situations the new adaptor (with LV) is not as easily focused accurately as the goggles. I would not suggest buying the new lens without the goggles. Mostly, the adaptor is has a few advantages (smaller and can be used for distance and macro) but, it is a compromise compared to the elegant original design of the lens + goggles. Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2015 Share #27 Posted February 8, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) In the last few years this lens has been cheaper in euros than in US$: almost two years ago I paid €2,424 after VAT rebate for the version with the goggle adapter. Although some posts that I read some time ago said the opposite, it makes a good portrait lens. As I wanted DOF to extent from the cat's whiskers to the woman's ears, I shot the following picture at f/8.0 (the focus was on the cat's further ear at a distance of less than 0.7 metres): M-Monochrom | Leica Macro-Elmar-M 90mm f/4 | ISO 1250 | f/8.0 | 1/125 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 8, 2015 Share #28 Posted February 8, 2015 I would not suggest buying the new lens without the goggles. Frankly I never thought of pairing the new lens with goggles instead of the new adapter. Does the lack of a separate macro focus scale on the new lens create issues with the goggles? Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share #29 Posted February 8, 2015 The 90 Macro Elmar is always with me when traveling. ... I would not buy the new lens without the goggles. It is too difficult to focus this lens in macro mode without the goggles. If, you are serious about the macro ability of this lens you are going to want the goggles so you can use the RF. I could also have bought goggles, they had some, but passed - deciding they would be the first thing I left at home when traveling or even walking around town. For home use, I do have an OUFRO/16469Y and BEOON tucked away somewhere, so will try the lens at macro and see how it goes - but most likely mounted on my GXR-M Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 8, 2015 Share #30 Posted February 8, 2015 Frankly I never thought of pairing the new lens with goggles instead of the new adapter. Does the lack of a separate macro focus scale on the new lens create issues with the goggles? Jeff Not really. I do like the idea of the new adaptor. I'm just not sure why a person wouldn't want both LV and RF focus ability of the previous set? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 8, 2015 Share #31 Posted February 8, 2015 I could also have bought goggles, they had some, but passed - deciding they would be the first thing I left at home when traveling or even walking around town. For home use, I do have an OUFRO/16469Y and BEOON tucked away somewhere, so will try the lens at macro and see how it goes - but most likely mounted on my GXR-M I understand the new adaptor is a little more compact and it allows for both distance (normal use) and macro without having to switch back and forth. But, when traveling (just me) I'm in normal mode and I am not even thinking about macro photography. If, I see something that requires macro, which isn't often as I'm not a birds & bugs shooter, I load the goggles on the camera. The googles aren't that much bigger than the new adaptor. I also have the OUFRO and it is well used with the LV capabilities of the M240. But, it is not a substitute for the new adaptor. Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 8, 2015 Share #32 Posted February 8, 2015 The lens itself is not prone to flare when light sources are into the frame but it does flare when same sources are just outside the frame like most Leica lenses including the 50/2 apo. Compared to my other 90mm lenses, the 90/4 macro is not the best from this viewpoint but it is not the worst either by far. Agree. The lens does improve in contrast with a hood under many situations. Although, I don't particularly like it, I have learned to use it when a shot is of importance to me. Of course, hoods are just a part of good practices. It's why those movie cinematographers have huge box hoods around their movie camera lenses. They can't afford to miss a scene because of flare. The 90 MA hood is excellent (on the left). Here is another that also fits on the 90 ME. It is not as good, but it is smaller. Rick 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 Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/240583-90mm-macro-elmar-why-so-expensive/?do=findComment&comment=2761211'>More sharing options...
lct Posted February 8, 2015 Share #33 Posted February 8, 2015 +1. What i don't understand is the new design of the lens which prevents from reversing the 12575 hood on it contrary to all E39 90mm Leica lenses since the sixties at least. 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 Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/240583-90mm-macro-elmar-why-so-expensive/?do=findComment&comment=2761287'>More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share #34 Posted February 8, 2015 Time to design a new hood with a squarer neck and save face over the design oversight. I see Popflash has three mint- copies of the new variant of lens for sale.; quite a high number for a just released lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted February 8, 2015 Share #35 Posted February 8, 2015 I went for a walk from Sausalito across the Golden Gate Bridge and on to San Francisco.I had an hour to kill before the ferry back, so went to the SF Leica Store. You make me sick. s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted February 13, 2015 Share #36 Posted February 13, 2015 This should be close to a Summarit in price - a simple slow 4 element lens - yet costs almost the same as a APO Summicron. Just ignore it as I did. The lens is not even a real macro lens. I think it will drop down in price quickly in the next years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 13, 2015 Share #37 Posted February 13, 2015 Just ignore it as I did. The lens is not even a real macro lens.I think it will drop down in price quickly in the next years. More negative posts? Oh Cheshire, be positive. Dance into the light. This is a wonderful little lens. A diamond in the rough. One of Leica's best. And, I will guarantee it will not come down in price quickly in the next year. Anyone with any knowledge of Leica lenses knows this is just not going to happen. Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen.w Posted February 13, 2015 Share #38 Posted February 13, 2015 A simple slow 4 elements lens which is one of the very best 90s ever made and has no competitor in its size category.This is true also of the 50mm Elmar-M (at its focal length), which was never so crazily expensive. Although maybe it would be if it were still in the catalogue? I would like a nice, compact 90mm lens, as a bookend at the longer end of the focal length spectrum, for the few times that I want to use anything longer than 50mm. This lens would be ideal for me, but not at the current price. I've looked at the Zeiss 85/4, and may just go for that, especially with the more forgiving framing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 13, 2015 Share #39 Posted February 13, 2015 Supply and demand ruling i guess... I would have paid more for the Elmar 50/2.8 v2 certainly. I have no experience with the Zeiss 85 but there is a lot of choice besides the Macro-Elmar 90/4. Summarit 90/2.4 & 90/2.5, Tele-Elmarit "thin" 90/2.8 (left) and Elmar-C 90/4 spring to mind of course but i would not overlook the Japan-made M-Rokkor 90/4 for Minolta CLE (right) which shows less flare than the "thin" Tele-Elmarit and is as sharp as the latter. 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 Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/240583-90mm-macro-elmar-why-so-expensive/?do=findComment&comment=2763882'>More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 13, 2015 Share #40 Posted February 13, 2015 The new 90 Summarit with 0.9m close focussing for £1500 (or the older F2.5 with 1m close focussing for £1100) looks like a decent alternative to the 90 macro if you don't need the "macro" capabilities. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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