Leica Macro-Elmar-M 4.0/90mm

[Ivar B]

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I have this lens but as I hardly ever use it now that I have migrated into the SL system, I plan on selling it. One thing crossed my mind - I recall that this lens came in a new version not long ago. Optically I believe nothing has changed, but was it so that only the new version could be used with the new extension ring or Macro-Adapter-M? Not that it matters much I guess, I bought this lens as a compact and optically superb 90mm lens and not a macro lens. 

[lct]

Both versions can be used with the Macro-Adapter-M. The latter and the old version make a great combo on my A7s mod. Should work fine on the SL as well but i have no experience with it.

[anickpick]

I can confirm that both versions work flawlessly on the SL.

The 90 macro Elmar is a great lens for light traveling.

I would not sell it...

[otto.f]

I don't know what your last words exactly imply Ivar, but I sold mine too because it turned out that cropping captures from the APO Summicron 90 gave sharper results than macro-captures with the Elmar on FF. So i did not find many surplusvalue in that lens, which is not cheap either for just a 4.0 that normally go for half its price

[lct]

The 90/2 apo is not the sharper lens on closeups so i don't think it can compete with the 90/4 macro in any way with or without macro adapter. Now i have never used the macro adapter with this lens to be honest so YMMV.

 

[tobey bilek]

I have this lens but as I hardly ever use it now that I have migrated into the SL system, I plan on selling it. One thing crossed my mind - I recall that this lens came in a new version not long ago. Optically I believe nothing has changed, but was it so that only the new version could be used with the new extension ring or Macro-Adapter-M? Not that it matters much I guess, I bought this lens as a compact and optically superb 90mm lens and not a macro lens. 

 

Same and Ivar 100% correct.

[microview]

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One mechanical improvement with the newer version was that, when collapsed it no longer slid open of its own accord (and I believe the 'upside down' markings were removed).

[lct]

+1. My old 90/4 macro does not slide on its own but i was tempted by a feature of the new lens whose aperture ring can be turned normally when it is collapsed on the macro adapter. Too bad the 12575 hood cannot be reversed on the new lens for transportation.

[graphlex]

The Macro-Elmar turns out to be a good portrait lens. Lower contrast makes it gentler than the 90 Apo.

 

 

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[graphlex]

+1. My old 90/4 macro does not slide on its own but i was tempted by a feature of the new lens whose aperture ring can be turned normally when it is collapsed on the macro adapter. Too bad the 12575 hood cannot be reversed on the new lens for transportation.

The hood for the collapsible 50 would be much less fiddly than the 12575. But I wonder how effective it is vs flare.

[lct]

The hood for the collapsible 50 would be much less fiddly than the 12575. But I wonder how effective it is vs flare.

 

Totally ineffective i'm afraid. Too small for that.

[UliWer]

The 90/2 apo is not the sharper lens on closeups so i don't think it can compete with the 90/4 macro in any way with or without macro adapter. Now i have never used the macro adapter with this lens to be honest so YMMV.

 

 

Comparison with the Macro Adapter and different 90mm lenses is not so easy as I thought:

 

The 90mm Summicron Apo-Asph has a real focal length of 90.90mm. Surprisingly the Leica specs don't give the real focal length for the Macro Elmar - though I assume it is 90.00 mm. These 0.90mm do matter if you use the MacroAdapter: if you focus with both lenses on infinity and the Macro Adapter on maxinmum extension, the focus for the Macro Elmar doesn't fit the Apo Asph. So you have to move the object, which may cause irregular results for your compariosn.

 

First example 90mm Macro Elmar, second  90mm Summicron Apo Asph with Macro adapter at maximum extension and both lenses at infinity and f/4:

 

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[UliWer]

... and now a third lens - same settings as before:

 

 

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[UliWer]

Now the same with all lenses set at 1m - Macro Adapter at max. extension f/4:

 

 

Macro Elmar:

 

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Summicron Apo Asph:

 

[UliWer]

... and again the third lens - same settings:

 

 

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[pedaes]

..and the third lens is...

[UliWer]

One may differ, but my assessment is that differences are very small - I assume mostly caused by the necessity to move the object due to different focal lengthes.

 

Most astonishing I find the "third lens". This is the 1:4/90 Elmar with three elements - a 50 years old lens design. 

 

You can unscrew the lens head and use it with many different extensions - it is at least as variable as the Macro-Elmar. Only it's limit to 1 m (Macro-Elmar 0.80 m) is a set back.