28mm and 90mm to compliment 50mm 'Cron v5?

[james.liam]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, 105012 said:

Small point: I believe this lens is an f/4.0 (at least, I’ve not heard of a 2.8 variation). 

My error. You are correct.

[tedd]

Thanks for all the great replies here, it really gave me a lot to think about! I eventually decided on an Elmarit 90 and a v4 Elmarit 28mm. I've yet to pull the trigger on a 28mm, but did buy a 90mm. Unfortunately, I didn't do as much research as I should have and got an example from about 1970 (thinking there was only one). It's not arrived yet, but hopefully it's up to scratch. If not, I'll sell it and grab a '90s example. 

[Pyrogallol]

I just bought two more 90’s. The classic Elmarit is a nice lens to use and there are lots of them around.

The other Leica lens is a Leitz New York Wollensak Velostigmat 90mm from the immediate post war period when Leitz could not source lenses from Germany and got Wollensak to provide the optics.

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!

 

[a.noctilux]

2 hours ago, tedd said:

Thanks for all the great replies here, it really gave me a lot to think about! I eventually decided on an Elmarit 90 and a v4 Elmarit 28mm. I've yet to pull the trigger on a 28mm, but did buy a 90mm. Unfortunately, I didn't do as much research as I should have and got an example from about 1970 (thinking there was only one). It's not arrived yet, but hopefully it's up to scratch. If not, I'll sell it and grab a '90s example. 

90mm Elmarit or Tele-Elmarit in many models with different sizes and fingerprints...

any can give good results if we learn to know their "flaws" 😉

 

You can go to Wiki, like here, Elmarit 90mm

or FAT Tele-Elmarit 90mm

or Thin Tele-Elmarit 90mm

as side note,

Comparing their sizes here, Elmarit 90, then thin Tele-Elmarit 90 with newer Summarit-M 2.5/75mm

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!

 

[tedd]

Glad to hear that I'll still get good results! Even this old one was over a weeks pay for me (before rent, food and bills!), but I sold my Rolleiflex recently and got good money so I'm hoping to find a good deal on a 28mm and it'll hopefully cover both. Then sell my 5D and trio of L glass to buy the M262. It feels like a big risk moving all this great gear to invest fully in Leica, but I grab the M6 every chance I can and the photos I make on it are better than any of my other systems, so I'm optimistic that it'll pay off. Thanks!

[rsolomon]

Just my opinion......I would say to consider the 24 elmar. Small, light, excellent lens. 

[a.noctilux]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Tedd,

Leitz/Leica gear need some sacrifices.

Some decades ago, to fund my first Leica M4 (second hand, in the 1970's) I had to fund with six months credit.

No lens for M4 during those six months (we can hardly imagine having the nice M4 camera but no lens, by now 😇 ),

then after that came Summicron III 50mm (at that time no version "III" of course but it was the last version by then), second hand.

The best of story is this Summicron (from the 70's) is still used from time to time with pleasure and gives very nice results, it never had to go for maintenance.

Body is another story, I don't have the first M4 anymore, replaced long ago with M5/M6/MP/M-A successively.

 

Second thing that I learned, there are out there so many nice lenses in M or LTM mount.

I have over time some 28mm (and other focals) in many brands, the best value for money now is ...

the Konica M-Hexanon 2.8/28mm which is second to none in results, but cheap for what it is,

a bit big (about same size as Elmarit-M version IV ), very good mechanic (smooth focus), heavy brass parts made and optics at top IQ.

even if one person has problem with it

we have more infos here

to have an idea how it looks like, image from KR site this link

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!

Edited February 23, 2020 by a.noctilux

[ktmrider2]

Am really surprised that there is only one mention of non Leica lenses.  You are doing yourself a disservice if you don't look at lenses from both Zeiss and Voightlander.  Honestly, Zeiss makes a 35 that blows anything Leica makes out of the water for $850.  That said Voightlander is no slouch.  I cannot comment of specific 28mm lenses because I don't own that focal length instead using a 25 and 35 combo (both Zeiss by the way).

Edited February 24, 2020 by ktmrider2

[adan]

2 hours ago, ktmrider2 said:

Am really surprised that there is only one mention of non Leica lenses. 

Perhaps because the original poster specified....

Quote

I was going to buy a used, modern 28mm Elmarit but I have read a lot of people say that they border on clinical. I'd really love to keep the same feel between all three lenses if possible.

As some have noted, not even all Leitz/Leica lenses have "the same feel," let alone wandering off into other brands.

Which can mean either/both how they draw, and the physical feel. Which is why I recommended the two lenses closest to the 50 Summicron v.4/5 in era and look.

[tedd]

I've actually had five Zeiss ZM lenses over the last two years but I'm not sure I'd get another one. Three of those had a really bad wobble around the focus ring, one of which was so bad it hardly worked (the first of two 35/2's I tried - the second was fine). I liked them with colour neg as they had a bit more pop, but for bnw (and even slide) I *much* prefer the Summicron. The 85/4 I particularly didn't like the rendering of (reminded me of my modern Canon glass that I don't love after getting into Leica) but the 28/2.8 was pretty good and my favourite of the bunch.

 

a.noctilux - Thanks for the story, makes me feel a lot less crazy for doing what I'm doing! Everyone I know who is into cameras thinks that I'm mad.

adan - you seem very knowledgable on the old Mandler designs, do you think the v1 Elmarit that I bought will fit in for the time being?

 

[a.noctilux]

Tedd, thanks.

I use (always take it out from time to time) Elmarit 2.8/90mm and mounting on M6/MP/M-A it's good enough for most subject, b&w, color negative or slides.

Almost nothing to complain,  if only it's long lens.

Mounted on digital M, the feeling, handling is much better than 'thin' Tele-Elmarit 90, with the Elmarit's very large focus ring and long focus throw for precise focussing at 2-5 meter.

I mean digital Ms (M240/262/246) which are thicker in hand than film M.

 

Meanwhile, no need to code it as the results are great and sometimes I use the optical cell on Visoflex  optical or EVF, so coding is not relevant here.

 

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!

 

also seen here

 

 

Don't worry, when you have it, use the Elmarit 90 for a while then decide if you need another more modern 90mm

(in this case, if I need another 90mm, as fan of Summarit-M lens line since two years, I would take the Summarit-M 2.5/90 second hand ! )

Edited February 24, 2020 by a.noctilux

[ktmrider2]

Feel?  Must be missing something.  I always thought the optical properties were more important.  

[adan]

Ennh - ergonomics count for something, don't they?  That is one kind of feel. Heavy, bulky, compact, light, balanced, front-heavy, stiff, loose, no focus tab, focus tab, shape of the focus tab ....(Leica has made all of those).

But optical properties also add up to a feeling (or if you like, a way of drawing, or a look).

Do pictures with this lens feel: clinical, romantic, precise, crisp, smooth, soft, glamorous, retro, modern, post-modern? (Leica has made all of those, too.)

[tedd]

20 hours ago, ktmrider2 said:

Feel?  Must be missing something.  I always thought the optical properties were more important.  

As mentioned, I've had five M-mount Zeiss lenses (across four models) and generally prefer the rendering of the Leica glass. I have also tried an old LTM Canon 50mm 1.4 that was highly praised but not my cup of tea. The images from the Leica were a real eye opener for me and I want the occasional shot I make at the longer/shorter end to match the same images I make with my 50 as best they can. 

I'm surprised that the tactile experience needs justifying on a Leica forum though, if that didn't count for something wouldn't we all just shoot a Bessa or even SLR?

[tedd]

I just purchased a 28mm Elmarit v4. Plenty of info on this one and I'm sure that I'll be very happy with it as a great compliment to my Summicron 50mm v5. The 90mm Elmarit v1 I am still a little concerned about, but it looks like stopped down to 5.6 or so and it should be more than sharp enough while also giving me a "character" lens for portraits. I may end up moving it on, but I'm positive that it will be my least used focal length by far so it also may just do me. My Rolleiflex kit was close enough to covering most of these two lenses for me to be happy - now to sell my 5D3/L glass to fund the M262!

[ktmrider2]

There is a Zeiss 28f2.8 Biogon (chrome) for sale on rangefinderforum right now for $650.  It has all the accessories and according to the seller is 9+ condition.  No relation to seller but looks like a hell of a deal.