Trying to decide between old Leica 90mm options verses the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar

[Stonewall Brigade]

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I wish to add a 90mm M lens for my M11 and M-E (Typ240), and have compared the new Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar verses several older Leica/Leitz 90mm options. I am not in the market for the expensive new Leica APO lens. While I'd prefer to stick with Leica, I am finding that 50-year old Minolta-Rokkor and Leica CL era film lens from the 1970s can be bought for around $200.  Testing those cheap options this week, I ws not happy with the sharpness, color or contrast. A used Summarit-M 90mm averages around $1,000 and even older Elmarit-M 90mm options are at least that much. Even older Zeiss 85mm ZM choices on eBay are close to $1,000. For the occasional times I'd use a 90mm lens, the $740 Voigtlander seems like a user is getting the newest lens coatings, it is optimized for digital, and is well-made. Any owners of the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar wish to report your user experience with that lens? Thanks in advance for all comments.

[spydrxx]

I used to have a 90 Summicron, which I lusted after for a few years after seeing its results from a friend's wedding. Once I got it though, I was disappointed as it was too unwieldy for me, so I sold it. I happened to come across a collapsible 90 Elmar which I used for years as my daughter was growing up, and eventually it fell into disuse, so I sold it. Next I got a 90 Elmarit, which was great as I could use the head on my Visoflex. After the novelty wore off in about 5 years, and the demand and price increased, I sold it. I needed a 90 for a short term project so tried the Tele-Elmarit, but was disappointed with it, perhaps it was just my copy, but I seemed to get a lot of flare, sold it. A few years ago I began using Barnacks so reluctantly picked up a really cheap old rigid Elmar. Boy was I surprised. It really fit the bill, and the head was removable so I could use it on my bellows. That ended my search for a 90 which worked for me. A truly classic rendering, which can be boosted in post (now that I mostly use digital) to compete with other more modern 90s. I'm sure the Voigtlander is a terrific lens, in keeping with their recent offerings, and if you like a crisp modern rendering you will probably love it. OTOH, you could find a good used rigid 90 Elmar for $100 plus or minus to see if you like the focal length. And who knows, you just might fall in love with it as I have.

[lct]

Hard to beat my favorite Summicron 90/2 v2, Tele-Tessar 85/4 and Elmarit-M 90/2.8 but compact they are not. The Tele-Elmarit "thin" 90/2.8 is compact but flares too much for my taste. Same comment to a lesser extend about the Elmar-C 90/4. The Rokkor 90/4 for Minolta CLE is probably the better compromise but you don't like it and both Macro-Elmar 90/4 and Summarit 90/2.4 are above your budget. Remains the little Apo-Skopar 90/2.8 which is interesting indeed. Compact, sharp at all apertures, little flare, vignetting and distortion, it suffers a bit from color fringing but it does hardly worse than most of its Leica counterparts from this standpoint. I would give it a try before considering any other compact 90 personally. YMMV.

[dpitt]

Did you try the Tele-Elmarit with or without the hood? This can make a huge difference. Contrast is always lower with vintage lenses, but it is easy to correct in post.
Other than that, I vote for the Macro-Elmar 90. It is much more than just an other 90 mm lens:

• One of the sharpest lenses Leica ever made, also at infinity and wide open.
• The most compact and light package for a 90
• I read it almost made the Leica APO grade, and I can believe that when I see the results
• When you are into macro it is one of the few 'native' M options for the M11
  And it performs great, with or without the macro adapter.
• It will keep its value as most Leica lenses do

[Ouroboros]

I used a late 90mm elmarit-m f2.8 for years and didn’t think I’d ever replace it……until I bought a new 90mm apo-summicron a year ago.  I’ve since sold the elmarit-m because I never used it again.  The apo-summicron has the edge by a clear margin.

Back to the OP; I also used the first ltm iteration of the VC 90mm apo-lanthar f3.5 as a compact alternative for backpacking long distance trails with film cameras.  It was a very nice lens with no vices and had a 39mm filter thread, so was compatible with some of my other lenses such as 35mm summicron asph, 50mm elmar-m f2.8, 28mm color-skopar f3.5 and CV 21mm f4 color skopar.

Based on my previous use of the original CV ltm 90mm apo-lanthar I’d have no reservations about the quality of the new 90mm either with build or imaging.  
 

It looks quite compact, which is a bonus for travel, as well as being a reasonably fast lens.  If I were looking for another 90mm it would be a contender.

[lct]

For a couple of snaps on the M11, see:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66567883

[lct]

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2 hours ago, dpitt said:

Did you try the Tele-Elmarit with or without the hood? This can make a huge difference.

As far as the "thin" T-E is concerned i'm not sure i would say so. Tall hoods like Leica 12575 can make a bit of difference but adding some more shade with a hand or a hat may be necessary.

[TomB_tx]

The Leitz Elmar-C 90 f4 (for the film CL) is the price/performance winner that I've found. I also have a "FAT" TeleElmarit I bought in 1968 that is great, but long focus throw makes for slower handling. These days I more often use a 2.5 Summarit, as it is coded.

[Boojay]

I have the CV Skopar, bought it as a lighter alternative to the 90 Apo, can only report that I'm more than satisfied both with images and handling on my M10R, several posted in the M10R image thread,  any specific questions feel free to ask but @lct summed it up in his penultimate sentence pretty much perfectly🙂.