90:2 v3 usability

[grahamc]

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Hello 

Of the 90mm lenses I’ve tried, I’ve liked the 90:2 v3 the best.

Mine is the chrome copy which is incredibly well made and smooth and just lovely to own. However, the almost 700g weight means I’m not really taking it anywhere. (Most of my lenses are quite light as all of them are 35’s and 50’s from the pre-ASPH era). 

I’m considering trading the silver chrome version for a standard black - at a still fairly hefty 485g.

Can owners of this lens please share their experiences. Has the weight and size has been an issue for anyone with the lighter black version?   Also I think I read somewhere that focus stiffness is common on the black version. Do our members think there’s any truth in that ?

Right now I always take my smaller & lighter elmarit-m out rather than the 90:2 in chrome, which is a shame considering I prefer the cron imagery. 

 

 

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[pippy]

Having both the black and chrome versions of the v3 this might seem a strange thing to say but I must say agree with Al's reply. Even although I do love the way the Summicron renders and despite the silver-chrome v3 being a thing of great beauty if I was going to keep just one of my 90s it would be the Summarit (mine is the f2.5 version) for the reasons stated above.

I do take out my v3 lenses, of course, but it's a decision made knowing that there will be a weight penalty that day...

As far as the focus-ring / aperture-ring thing goes my lenses each have one slightly stiffer than the other but, oddly enough, the 'other way around' compared with most comments. My guess is that sample-variation is at play and there's no absolute 'standard' as far as which is tighter / looser than the other.

Philip.

[1joel1]

If you don't need the stop, I recommend the Fat Tele Elmarit or APO Skopar. Both are half the size and weight and they render beautifully. If you don't mind the size/weight of the Summicron, shoot away and enjoy.

[Jul]

Weight and size of this lens never bothered me.
On my black chrome sample (no experience with other sample), I'd say
that focus is nicely dampened, rather than stiff. I think dampened focus
is rather a good thing for such a fast lens.

The 35/1.4 pre-asph and the 90/2 v3 are a very nice fast combo.

[TheGodParticle/Hari]

I have both the chrom and black copies of the v3, and the weight of the chrome copy is an issue for me 

I find myself picking the APO 90 siblings up way more often. Even the chrom APO 90 is lighter than the chrom v3 

The m11 could provide relief if you want to use the APO75 - which is much smaller and lighter, and crop to 90mm or beyond 

[dpitt]

I own both the fat Tele-Elmarit as well as the thin one and tried most of the non APO 90mm lenses.
My favorite is the Macro Elmar-M. It is one of the best performers, also at infinity. And super light and compact. I read somewhere that it almost made the Leica APO standard by a very small margin. I think it is in fact an APO lens for most of the range.

Of course it is a bit slow, but at f4.0 its performance is already so good, that it hardly needs stopping down to reach top quality.
In many ways it is exactly the opposite of the Summicron 90 chrome, but IMO certainly worth a try.

[lct]

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My black v3 is one of my favorite lenses on portraits but i use it at f/2 essentially where it shines IMHO. Otherwise it produces too much color fringing for my taste. I haven't got focus stiffness at all with it but the lens needed to be calibrated for digital which i got together with 6-bit coding. As for 90/2 apo, 75/2 apo or 90/2.4 those are fine lenses of course but with a more modern character.  The only Mandler 90 i prefer is 90/2 v2 but it is a bulky lens unfortunately.

[grahamc]

Thanks guys. Not just me then ! 
 

I’ve tried numerous 90’s and do really love the 90:2 v3.  It’s taken quite some trial and error (ie purchasing and selling) to get there.  
 

So I would rather not keep cycling through other options in the hope of finding something else that as well with my other lenses (mostly Mandler pre-asph designs so no surprise that the v3 “fits” and especially at F2 I just love it). 
 

It’s good to know the focus dampening on the black is not an issue, I’ll have to try to find one to try (not buy) to see if I can handle the weight I think.
 

I’m also going to re-consider the t-“fat” which I still have.  Of the lenses I have tried I keep coming back to the 90:2.8 elmarit-m ... probably the best compromise of size / weight and still matching my family of lenses very well.  It just lacks something special IMO that the summicron provides. (F2 ?! 😂) and is a little sharp for my tastes. On a testing bench I am sure it’s amazing. 

Edited December 16, 2022 by grahamc

[grahamc]

We are away for the weekend but I’m going to weigh my elmarit-m when we get home because I read online it’s 400g. I find the weight a non-issue in this lens.    

If correct then the black cron could be OK for me at 485g.   

I should perhaps have brought the t-e fat away with us this weekend rather than the elmarit-m, as I could’ve given it a run out.  

As an example I brought 35:2 v4 and 50:2v4, the cron rendering sits beautifully with them but didn’t get considered for the trip. Instead the elmarit-m is ‘close enough’ 

Edited December 16, 2022 by grahamc

[grahamc]

Looks like I spoke too soon, I've really enjoyed the 90:2.8 Elmarit-M this weekend .  And underestimated how nicely it sits with the pre-asph 35 & 50 crons.  

35:2 v4 & M10-D (grain added):

 

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[grahamc]

50:2 v4 & M10-D (grain added):

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[grahamc]

90:2.8 Elmarit-M & M10-D (grain added):

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[grahamc]

The size difference isn't crazy, but it's there, especially in diameter.  I'll familiarise myself better with both before I decide, but the Elmarit is very convenient.

Weights:  
Elmarit-M: 395g

Cron black: 484g

Cron chrome: 690g 

 

 

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Edited December 18, 2022 by grahamc

[lct]

I like much the Elmarit 90/2.8 v2 too but i find it rather bulky and heavy for a f/2.8 lens. For film i used to like the version 1 of same that is significantly lighter. Softer at f/2.8 but nice for portraits. 

[TheGodParticle/Hari]

5 hours ago, grahamc said:

The size difference isn't crazy, but it's there, especially in diameter.  I'll familiarise myself better with both before I decide, but the Elmarit is very convenient.

Weights:  
Elmarit-M: 395g

Cron black: 484g

Cron chrome: 690g 

 

 

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The silver copy of the Elmarit-M 90/2.8 is also a heavy beast 

[grahamc]

1 minute ago, TheGodParticle/Hari said:

The silver copy of the Elmarit-M 90/2.8 is also a heavy beast 

I can imagine !   

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, TheGodParticle/Hari said:

The silver copy of the Elmarit-M 90/2.8 is also a heavy beast 

560g

[grahamc]

On 12/17/2022 at 7:39 AM, lct said:

My black v3 is one of my favorite lenses on portraits but i use it at f/2 essentially where it shines IMHO.

Thanks. I agree it's really nice at f/2. Which are your other favourites for portraits ? 

Edited December 18, 2022 by grahamc

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[grahamc]

48 minutes ago, lct said:

I like much the Elmarit 90/2.8 v2 too but i find it rather bulky and heavy for a f/2.8 lens. For film i used to like the version 1 of same that is significantly lighter. Softer at f/2.8 but nice for portraits. 

I’m thinking that I’ll keep going with elmarit-m and chrome summicron and decide.

If it falls the way of the cron I’ll sell both current lenses and buy a black cron. I didn’t find the weight too bad of the elmarit-m and the black cron is less than 100g more.  

 

[grahamc]

20 minutes ago, TheGodParticle/Hari said:

The silver copy of the Elmarit-M 90/2.8 is also a heavy beast 

Do you have any issues with weight for the black cron v3, or find it fairly manageable ?