Julius Bjornsson Posted September 18, 2007 Share #1 Posted September 18, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all, I am looking for a 90 mm lens for my M8 and am open for either a new one (Elmarit or Summarit when they get here) or a good used one. Coming from the world of Nikon I have gotten used to some variability in even new lenses. Is this something I can forget with Leica lenses? Hopefully! If I find some used ones what are the things I should be looking for? Does anyone have a simple checklist available. Advance thanks for your help. JKB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 18, 2007 Posted September 18, 2007 Hi Julius Bjornsson, Take a look here New lens variability. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted September 18, 2007 Share #2 Posted September 18, 2007 Very simple -there is not one to be avoided in the entire list. Best quality Summicron 20/90 Apo Asph, Nearly the same quality, but a steal when bought used: 2.8/90 Limited Macro possibilities 90/4.0 macro Sein Reid has a VERY informative comparative review on his website. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 18, 2007 Share #3 Posted September 18, 2007 90mm is such a classical and historical focal for Leica, and so many types were produced, that if you look also at the used market you have literally the choice to find a GOOD one from 200 (some Elmar f4, many available) to 2000 Euros (Summicron ASPH, difficult to find used, I think... and new is in the range of 2500...). If you find an used there are 3 things to take care of. - Lens scratches - Integrity of lens coating - Smoothness of the focusing movement You live in a country where I think is difficult to have the possibility to look directly at a number of lenses (visit Iceland is a dream of mine, BTW:: ), but if you look, for instance at the website of Leicashop of Wien, they have a lot of 90s and are very trustable about the conditions they declare for their stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 18, 2007 Share #4 Posted September 18, 2007 ffordes photographic : Main Index is another highly recommended source for used leica lenses. (and about as close as one can get to Iceland in Europe, I guess ) Now that I think of it; www.fotoautofocus.nl has an A+ newest type 2.8/90, with coding (which means the lens was checked in Solms as well) for quite a reasonable price. 100% reliable shop too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted September 18, 2007 Share #5 Posted September 18, 2007 Jaap, do you still have the 90/2 AA you bought from Marco, beating me to it by a whisker? Mine is sojourning in Solms, but my brief time with it was very positive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 18, 2007 Share #6 Posted September 18, 2007 Right beside me, Mark. It has pushed my 75 Summilux into a "lens for special uses" role. I feel guilty for using that one so sparingly now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted September 18, 2007 Share #7 Posted September 18, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Seriously consider the last 90 Summicron before the Asph version, slightly softer wide open but still sharp, getting a little more contrast by 2.8 and bitingly sharp by f:/4. I would almost say 2 lenses in 1 the slightly softer character more suited to portraits but on par with the Asph version by f:/4. And all this for €600-€700 for good examples. The last pre Asph is about the same size as the current Asph and must be one of the best value lenses available. I bought one 2nd hand to compare against my 85 Summarex and I've been seriously impressed with it even compared to the newer 75 Summicron Asph. I've to many lenses around this focal length (75, 85, 90) but they are all different and have character. When will it stop?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julius Bjornsson Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted September 18, 2007 Thank you everyone, for the good advice. I think I will wait and see how the Summarits look, but be on the lookout for the lenses you recommended. Thanks also for the checklist, now my confidence in choosing a used one will be a little better. Will be doing some travelling in Europe soon, will look into used lenses then. JKB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
valtof Posted September 18, 2007 Share #9 Posted September 18, 2007 - Lens scratches - Integrity of lens coating - Smoothness of the focusing movement AND BEWARE simply that the lens FOCUS well I do advice to avoid buying such a long focal on Ebay... especially for the M8 which less forgive focusing inaccuracy than film M. I could tell you my story with a used 2.8/90 Elmarit but it's a long one. As I need some advice here, I prefer to start another thread. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 18, 2007 Share #10 Posted September 18, 2007 I know the one I recommended is perfect - it used to be mine.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted September 18, 2007 Share #11 Posted September 18, 2007 Julius, there was one question of yours which was not answered: Variability. It is not possible to grind and assembly lenses with zero tolerances. Leica do hand assembly with much checking and adjusting. It is still unavoidable that the actual focal length of a lens may vary from the nominal (engraved) one by plus-minus 0.2 mm or so. (The only exception is 50mm, where the actual "nominal" value is 52mm!) This variation however is of no account. Apart from this, Leica quality control is such that your chance of getting either an optical or a mechanical "lemon" (a.k.a. "Monday specimen") is very low. If that would nevertheless happen, just tell Leica and they will see to it that you get what you are entitled to, in their opinion, viz. the best. A company that dominates the market, like Canon or Microsoft, can for a limited time afford the delusion that they can treat customers like dirt. Leica cannot. They make their living from their reputation, and that rides on every product they ship. If you buy used, it is "caveat emptor" – user beware. Do check applicable consumer protection laws. There are however dealers in used equipment, like Leicashop, who also think they have a reputation to protect. The old man from the Age when Elmars were New Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 18, 2007 Share #12 Posted September 18, 2007 Lars is right, indeed Leica Shop, Ffordes, Robert White. in my country Cameraexpress, Autofocus, Konijnenberg, all utterly trustworthy. I'm sure other members can add to this list... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted September 18, 2007 Share #13 Posted September 18, 2007 I have to agree with Lars the chance of getting a lemon lens in a Leica lens is pretty rare. It can happen but these lenses are just built so well with brass and the design of them is so mechnically sound. Simply put there is just no room for slopping around, the tolerences are so tight i could not imagine them building these with anything but brass. When i went through the factory in July just going by some of the display cases with cut away views of some of the mechnical design was simply amazing. After looking at this the question of why they are expensive seems to fade very quickly. They are just built like tanks and really i don't think anyone in this modern day builds a lens like leica does. Zeiss does a nice job but really that is about it in 35mm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pemayeux Posted September 18, 2007 Share #14 Posted September 18, 2007 I bought a second hand 50/1.4 ASPH and I could never get a good infinity focus. I sent it to Leica U.S. thinking I would end up having to pay to have it corrected. As it turned out they sent it to Solms and it was repaired free of charge - I never even had the warranty cards or information, nor asked about the repair being covered by warranty. In my book this defines standing behind your product. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted September 18, 2007 Share #15 Posted September 18, 2007 They do that more than people actually can count. Yes it is a nice surprise too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julius Bjornsson Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share #16 Posted September 18, 2007 Thanks again for all the good advice. Much appreciated. I have one experience with Leica service and that was when they sent my two filters. The tax authorities over here insisted that I pay VAT on the filters, which I did, but because it said on the Leica invoice with the filters that I should not pay (In big bold letters) I sent them an email asking about this. Surprisingly they answered within a few moments, asking me for the amount and my bank details so that they could refund the amount directly. This is what I call great service, and I must say I am willing to pay more for the quality of both the equipment and the great service. It is however thought provoking when you realize that when you get service like this (which should be the norm) you get pleasantly surprised and glad. Says something about other companies and services. So Leica keep up the good work, both quality and service. This we are willing to pay for. JKB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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