90mm, keep or sell?

[M11 for me]

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I'd prefer a 21 before I have a 90mm (assuming I have the 75mm)

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[xrogers]

I had a recent vintage Summicron for several years. It has that amazing sharpness with razor-thin DOF look, but is big and heavy, and quite difficult to nail focus wide open (better stopped down to 2.8, and reliable focus at f4). Capable of fantastic results, but so many slight focus misses that I never really had fun using it.

I still have a 90 tele-elmarit which has lovely rendering, is far smaller and lighter, but needs to be stopped down for sharp edges (f4 again...), and is flare-prone. I like the f2.8 rendering for portraits---center sharp, with a gentle softening in the edges. An underrated lens, IMO.

A while ago I came across a used 90 macro, and it is nearly perfect, IMO. Very small, light, focuses close, has great rendering (better than the Summicron IMO), and is sharp at all apertures. It's easy to nail focus wide open, and still gives enough lovely subject separation in portraits. The most pure fun in a 90 I've ever had.

Sell the 90 Summicron and try either the 90 TE or macro elmar. You lose the ultra-narrow DOF look, but gain a tiny package worth carrying, with a hugely better focus hit rate.

[pippy]

8 minutes ago, xrogers said:

I had a recent vintage Summicron for several years. It has that amazing sharpness with razor-thin DOF look, but is big and heavy, and quite difficult to nail focus wide open (better stopped down to 2.8, and reliable focus at f4). Capable of fantastic results, but so many slight focus misses that I never really had fun using it....I still have a 90 tele-elmarit which has lovely rendering, is far smaller and lighter, but needs to be stopped down for sharp edges (f4 again...), and is flare-prone. I like the f2.8 rendering for portraits---center sharp, with a gentle softening in the edges. An underrated lens, IMO...

I agree with your observations. If stopping-down to f2.8 - f4 is required to nail focus reliably then there's no point in choosing a Summicron.

I, too, still have my (1974-'90) Tele-Elmarit and it is a wonderful little lens and, at a mere 225g, is hardly going to break one's back after a day out in the field. However after trying out the Summarit I can't say I've ever taken it out again. The Summarit is sharper and faster - both optically and in the hand - and is less prone to the flare you mention into the bargain.

If the T-E is an underrated lens then so, too, is the Summarit.

IMHO, of course.

Philip.

[LocalHero1953]

2 hours ago, wattsy said:

Have you got shot of your Thambar-M, Paul? I still have mine but use it so infrequently that I have largely forgotten I even own it.

Addressing the OP's question, I use a 90 a lot but only for a very specific need – "macro". I use the 90 Macro Elmar-M a lot for photographing butterflies (and, to a lesser extent, flowers) but, beyond that, I really struggle to find a use for the focal length. For non-macro photography, I find a 50mm plenty long enough – in fact, I can get by with my 28mm Summaron-M for 95% of that photography.

!!!!

I had also forgotten I'd still got the Thambar! And I have used it in the last few months, for portraits.

[Shameetman]

2 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

A 90 is a great portrait lens - my preferred length. I've had a number of them, but just the Summicron-SL 90 now.

But if you don't do much portrait work and are unlikely to in future, why not sell it and spend the proceeds on something more useful?

For similar reasons I don't have a camera or long lens which is useful for wildlife. I have the 90-280 zoom for the SL, but I use it almost entirely indoors for events, concerts, drama, dance.

The focal length is also a thing. I mostly do street photography, and if I do portraits I mostly grab the 50. I just mounted the 90 on my M4, it balances much better than on my M9(p). Soon I will finish a roll and make up my mind!

[Fedro]

I have had and enjoyed several 90mm lenses over the years (Apo summicron, Elmarit and Tele Elmarit thin) but I always eventually end up selling them as I prefer using shorter lenses on a rangefinder (especially WAs). I do, like Paul, have and really enjoy the SL 90 but that is another story

[Peter Kilmister]

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Photo below was taken on a walk yesterday using 90mm Summarit-M f/2.5, a 6-bit coded lens bought for under GBP900.

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[Rick in CO]

33 minutes ago, xrogers said:

I had a recent vintage Summicron for several years. It has that amazing sharpness with razor-thin DOF look, but is big and heavy, and quite difficult to nail focus wide open (better stopped down to 2.8, and reliable focus at f4). Capable of fantastic results, but so many slight focus misses that I never really had fun using it.

I still have a 90 tele-elmarit which has lovely rendering, is far smaller and lighter, but needs to be stopped down for sharp edges (f4 again...), and is flare-prone. I like the f2.8 rendering for portraits---center sharp, with a gentle softening in the edges. An underrated lens, IMO.

A while ago I came across a used 90 macro, and it is nearly perfect, IMO. Very small, light, focuses close, has great rendering (better than the Summicron IMO), and is sharp at all apertures. It's easy to nail focus wide open, and still gives enough lovely subject separation in portraits. The most pure fun in a 90 I've ever had.

Sell the 90 Summicron and try either the 90 TE or macro elmar. You lose the ultra-narrow DOF look, but gain a tiny package worth carrying, with a hugely better focus hit rate.

I agree.  For a travel lens that is occasionally used, it complements my most often used 24 & 35 without taking up much space or weight.  I have contemplated a couple of times selling my 90 macro Elmar, but when I use it I am blown away by its sharpness and contrast wide open at f4.   I found the 75 not quite long enough when I wanted that extra reach.  Although tempted by the 75 Summicron, it is just too big and heavy for the occasional travel use it would see.  

[Arrow]

Years ago, I was also "completing" my selection of M lenses with a 90 Elmarit. A splendid lens. However, I only used it once on my M8. I liked the results, but I did not like using it with the rangefinder. Years later, I sent it in for checkup and calibration together with the MM 246 and other lenses. It came back and I never used it ever since. With the advent of the SL, 90mm became my preferred focal lengths next to 50mm. The funny thing is, I added other 90mm lenses, but still the Elmarit M is sleeping in its pouch. 🤪

I assume, you are an M shooter. In case you consider going for an SL, keep the 90. 

Edited April 8, 2020 by Arrow

[AndreasG]

Around 30 years ago I bought a Tele-Elmarit M and I also keep a Summicron-R 90mm, which occasionally I use via an L-R Adapter. To be honest, I do not need either, 90mm is not my favorite and never was, I really prefer short focal lengths. I coukd sell both lenses, but, what do get for them - maybe around 300-400$ each? Not even sufficient for a downpayment for another Leica lens....

[stephan54]

For a few years I had a Summarit 90, which refused to cooperate with my M10 (even after two visits to Wetzlar). I mainly use 28 and 50 lenses and sold the 90 and bought a Telyt 135 instead. The idea was to create as much focal length difference with the 50 as possible. Found the 135 a very versatile lens, that I use quite a lot.

[Jeff S]

These are very personal decisions.  I limit my M use to the 28-50 FL range, RF only. I like the 75mm FL, but not the frame lines, and only flirted with 90 M lenses over the years, eventually selling.  But I’m really enjoying longer (and wider) lenses with the SL2 and native SL lenses; a totally different shooting experience.  Whatever floats your boat.

Jeff

[luigi bertolotti]

9 hours ago, pippy said:

Ah! My Summicron was the slightly earlier version (from '79 IIRC) and, having checked, that weighed-in at 610g and 102mm - so considerably different from the V3 (and nearly double the weight & length of the Summarit!). It also had quite pronounced focus-shift but that, as they say, is something else again...

Philip.

EDIT : According to the figures I've just checked my 75 and 90 Summarits together only weigh 80g more than my old Summicron did on its own!

My Summicron v3 (very last) is indeed 77mm (flange to top) but I love too much silver... 😁 which means 690g !!  My Summarit 75 2,5 feels indeed a lightweight in comparision, though I prefer to keep its hood always screwed on which makes it longer than the Summicron : the hood can be kept on reversed, even accepting the cap, but isn't a brilliant design : f stop ring not usable  in such situation, and the thread of the hood is rather long to screw-on / screw-off.

Edited April 8, 2020 by luigi bertolotti

[pippy]

1 hour ago, luigi bertolotti said:

...the hood can be kept on reversed, even accepting the cap, but isn't a brilliant design : f stop ring not usable  in such situation, and the thread of the hood is rather long to screw-on / screw-off.

I know what you mean, Luigi.

When I take either the 75 or 90 Summarit out I just put the hood on and leave it there for the duration. I've never, since my earliest days, been particularly fond of fold-back-rubber or retractable hoods (don't know why Pt. 1) and in any case even with the hood on the Summarit lenses are still easily short enough, narrow enough and light enough to fit in a fairly small pocket.

In an odd way I even like the way the hood reverses (don't know why Pt. 2)...

And yes; the silver lenses are sexy!

Take care and I hope you are all fine!

Philip.

Edited April 8, 2020 by pippy

[luigi bertolotti]

7 hours ago, pippy said:

 

In an odd way I even like the way the hood reverses (don't know why Pt. 2)...

 

We share similar feelings... 😉... me too someway like it...though not so comfortable for use, gives a fine look... something like the Summarex with cap reversed ( not to speak of the well known "hood as a box" of the Hektor 12,5... 😄)

Edited April 9, 2020 by luigi bertolotti

[Ouroboros]

I have a 90mm elmarit-m f2.8.  On the infrequent occasions  I do use it, I am reminded how good it is. 

[rnl]

it is a surprisingly good landscape lens; 90mm apo

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Edited April 10, 2020 by rnl

[Gobert]

I replaced the heavy and big pre-asph Summicron 90 for a retractable Light and small Makro Elmar 90. Sofar, I did not regret it. 
For portraits, I prefer my Summicron 75.

Edited April 11, 2020 by Gobert

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[otto.f]

11 hours ago, rnl said:

is a surprisingly good landscape lens; 90mm apo

Yes but we were talking about the pre-apo here. 
coming back to the OP: if you haven’t touched your 90 at all since you bought it, this is definitely a sign. Otherwise I would have suggested to consider the apo, but now it seems that a 90 is not your thing, at least on your M. A Summarit 75 might be something for you, stands much closer to a 50, lightweight

[lct]

Never sell a Leica lens . The Summicron 90/2 v3 is not perfect but it is one of the best lenses available for portraits. Unless you want to show the pores and skin imperfections of your models of course, in which case a more modern lens like the 90/2 apo is the way to go. BTW a good way of rekindling the love for an RF lens is to use it with an EVF. FWIW.

Edited April 11, 2020 by lct