Leica 90mm f2.5 or 90mm f2.8 M ?

[colonel]

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Unbelievably, I don't have a 90mm !!

 

I want to buy a 90mm, mostly for portrait work

 

The summarit 2.5 and 2.8 M are around the same price second hand

 

I wonder if anyone who has had both can comment ?

 

The elmarit seems better made but the optics in the 2.5 are newer.

Not sure if either makes any difference

 

An outside is the Zeiss 85mm f4. Slower but good by all accounts

 

What do you guys/girls think ?

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[smkoush]

I was in between those two when I found a Macro-Elmar-M for $400 more than the aforementioned lenses. Got it and I'm in shock about how stunningly good and small and easy to carry is!  (sorry I didn't answer your question). 

[Gregm61]

I have both a 90mm f2.8 Elmarit-M and 90mm f2 pre-APO Summicron. The Elmarit is built to the same standards as the Summicron and is really a nice, sharp lens.

 

Optically, I don't think there's enough of a difference to sway you one way or the other. Build quality and a built-in hood vs. a separate hood, and the Elmarit could be a non-coded lens, if it matters at all. The one I picked up had been converted to the six bit mount. Those to me are the main differences between the two examples you are looking at.

[LucisPictor]

I like my Tele-Elmarit 2.8/90, but I just love the velvety character of my Summicron 2.0/90.

[otho]

Before AA 90 I had a Summarit 90 f/2.5. Very sharp, high level of resolving power, creamy, nice bokeh, modern Leica look. Lighter, good balanced and easier to focus than AA 90. My vote for Summarit 90, but 90 f/2.8 also very good. Summarit have rubber-covered focus ring... Hard to decide...

[tsleica]

Is there a really bad 90...? I think it all comes down to speed vs size..

[pgk]

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The 90mm Elmarit-M is a superb lens and a highly capable/competent performer. About the only flaw is very marginal chroma wide open which can be fully dealt with by software. Other than this more or less non-issue, I can't see any downsides. And build quality is superb too. For the current prices being asked (it seems to have dropped by around 20% over the last couple of years) I reckon that its a bargain in Leica lens terms anyway. I've used the 75 (not 90) Summarit which was very good too, but I prefer the ergonomics of the all-metal Elmarit-M myself as it simply feels sturdy and workmanlike.

[otho]

Is there a really bad 90...? I think it all comes down to speed vs size..

Of course... Only Thambar is a different story

[ibramr]

Before AA 90 I had a Summarit 90 f/2.5. Very sharp, high level of resolving power, creamy, nice bokeh, modern Leica look. Lighter, good balanced and easier to focus than AA 90. My vote for Summarit 90, but 90 f/2.8 also very good. Summarit have rubber-covered focus ring... Hard to decide...

 

 

Otho,

 

As much as I tried to like the 90mm Summarit, I found its output vis-a-vis the Elmarit "alien" to mainstream Leica look, particularly in color.   Of course, maybe I am not a good photographer.  

 

However, rather than going back to the Elmarit for a good coded sample, I ended up with the current Summicron 75mm--and really never looked back.  Maybe Colonel would consider this route too.    Good luck in your decision and enjoy in good health.  

[drew.saunders]

Unbelievably, I don't have a 90mm !!

 

I want to buy a 90mm, mostly for portrait work

 

 

Unbelievably, I have three! I have a 90/4 Elmar rigid in LTM, a 90/2.8 TEM "fat" and an early 90/2 (this version http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Summicron_(I)_f%3D_9_cm_1:2). It doesn't have a serial number, but I think it's from about 1960 or so. I wonder how many Leica lenses went out without serial numbers? Maybe mine is super rare and worth huge amounts of money? Not likely...

 

The "fat" version of the Tele-Elmarit (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/90mm_f/2.8_Tele-Elmarit) doesn't get as much respect as the "thin" that replaced it (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/90mm_f/2.8_Tele-Elmarit-M), but I've always been happy with the results, especially for portrait work. Any of the 90/2.8 lenses should work for you just fine, even one as old as mine.

 

 

For "gentle focus" (not soft focus) portrait work, the 90/2 that I own is definitely softer than the 90/2.8. If you don't mind the weight, an older pre-AA 90/2 might be a good choice. I mostly bought it to take the optical assembly out for use with a Visoflex bellows for macro work, and it works quite well for that purpose. If the 90/2.8 Elmarit-M or 90/2.5 are in your price range, then a last-generation pre-AA 90/2 might be within your price range too.

[colonel]

Unbelievably, I have three! I have a 90/4 Elmar rigid in LTM, a 90/2.8 TEM "fat" and an early 90/2 (this version http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Summicron_(I)_f%3D_9_cm_1:2). It doesn't have a serial number, but I think it's from about 1960 or so. I wonder how many Leica lenses went out without serial numbers? Maybe mine is super rare and worth huge amounts of money? Not likely...

 

The "fat" version of the Tele-Elmarit (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/90mm_f/2.8_Tele-Elmarit) doesn't get as much respect as the "thin" that replaced it (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/90mm_f/2.8_Tele-Elmarit-M), but I've always been happy with the results, especially for portrait work. Any of the 90/2.8 lenses should work for you just fine, even one as old as mine.

 

 

For "gentle focus" (not soft focus) portrait work, the 90/2 that I own is definitely softer than the 90/2.8. If you don't mind the weight, an older pre-AA 90/2 might be a good choice. I mostly bought it to take the optical assembly out for use with a Visoflex bellows for macro work, and it works quite well for that purpose. If the 90/2.8 Elmarit-M or 90/2.5 are in your price range, then a last-generation pre-AA 90/2 might be within your price range too.

 

thanks I prefer sharper for now

 

I did hear some good things about the tele-elmarit which is good value now. Ken Rockwell reckons its quite sharp (for what's its worth), be interested in your take on the sharpness of the tele-elmarit vs the Elmarit M f2.8 and the summarit 2.5

[drew.saunders]

thanks I prefer sharper for now

 

I did hear some good things about the tele-elmarit which is good value now. Ken Rockwell reckons its quite sharp (for what's its worth), be interested in your take on the sharpness of the tele-elmarit vs the Elmarit M f2.8 and the summarit 2.5

 

I only have my old 90/2.8, I've not tried either modern lens, and I use it on an M6TTL, which is less picky than a digital M. I've used it on my Fuji X-E1 and it's quite sharp on that camera, definitely sharper than the old 90/2. I have long zooms for the Fuji that are much more convenient if I need that focal length, so I haven't used the Leica lenses all that much on it.

[uhoh7]

The Elmarit is really good, one of the best 90s, but I, like Erwin Puts, will take the Summarit any day. They cost about the same used, if anything the Summarit is cheaper.

 

It's also shorter, lighter and better, both in terms of sharpness (very slightly), and color (very rich colors). Handling is no comparison. In terms of build the Summarit is better except no onboard hood, and if you don't like rubber on your focus ring.

 

I tried them both and sent the elmarit back, without hesitation.

 

The 90 APO is better yet, for sure, above F/4, but very heavy in comparison.

[lct]

The "thin" Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 is a great little lens but it flares a lot. My travel 90 is the 90/4 macro now but i miss f/2.8 sometimes. Any info about flare resistance of 90/2.5 or 90/2.4 Summarits folks?

[eibenbaum]

The "thin" Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 is a great little lens but it flares a lot. My travel 90 is the 90/4 macro now but i miss f/2.8 sometimes. Any info about flare resistance of 90/2.5 or 90/2.4 Summarits folks?

Hallo

The Summarit 2,5/90 is absolute resistent against Flare.I always use it without Shade.For the 2,4 version I am not so sure,because coatings seems to be different.

[lct]

Thanks for sharing. Did you try to shoot against the light when a strong light source such as the sun is outside the frame?

[IWC Doppel]

I'd vote for the 90 2.8 Elmarit. Wonderfully built still small and a much nicer broken and look the the 75 Summarit I had at the time

 

I only sold as I shoot 50 and below. If I wanted another 90 I'd happily buy another copy and have it coded

[Carduelis]

I have owned both lenses and think they are both very good in terms of sharpness with the Elmarit perhaps showing more natural rendering.  However, I opted for the 90 mm Summarit f2.5 as my telephoto lens on the grounds of its smaller size (which I can comfortably carry in a coat pocket) and also its lower weight.  As Leica M telephoto lenses do not have Auto Focus and Image Stabilisation, I feel that the weight and ergonomics of using these lenses becomes important in obtaining satisfactory images.    

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[ibramr]

I have owned both lenses and think they are both very..............  However, I opted for the 90 mm Summarit f2.5 as my telephoto lens on the grounds of its smaller size (which I can comfortably carry in a coat pocket) and also its lower weight.  ........, I feel that the weight and ergonomics of using these lenses becomes important in obtaining satisfactory images.    

 

 

Caruelis,

 

Valid points no question, but the weight difference between the 90 Summarit f2.5 with the additional hood and the 90 Elmarit with the built-in hood is small.  And the same goes for the 75 mm Summarit f2.5 (with the hood) and the Summicron 75mm Apo.  In this context, the advantage of the Summarits 75 and 90 f2.5 is that the use of their hoods is optional, thus can maintain their lower weight characterstics.  Regards.      

[ramarren]

For an M-mount 90mm, I use an M-Rokkor 90mm f/4 (identical lens to the Elmar-C 90mm f/4; mine's an early one so made in Wetzlar just like the Elmar-C). It's a beautifully made, extremely small lens that performs very very well, and cost me all of $300 in as new condition with hood and caps. 

 

But I use a Summarit-M 75mm f/2.4 more of the time nowadays—I prefer the shorter focal length.