Why the used 90 F2 SUMMICRON relatively cheap

[johnastovall]

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I've been looking at the prices of the 90 F2 SUMMICRON (Canada) and at least at KEH EX and EX+ seem relative cheap compared to other focal lengths.

 

Is it just a lack of demand or what?

[Eoin]

Shhh! ... this is one of the best kept secrets. It's about the best value lens out there at the moment. Just make sure you get the last pre asph version. Apart from the maximum aperture of f:/2 it's about as close as you'll get to a 75 summilux in terms of fingerprint and drawing for a fraction of the price. I love mine

[johnastovall]

Shhh! ... this is one of the best kept secrets. It's about the best value lens out there at the moment. Just make sure you get the last pre asph version. Apart from the maximum aperture of f:/2 it's about as close as you'll get to a 75 summilux in terms of fingerprint and drawing for a fraction of the price. I love mine

 

How do you tell the last pre-asph version?

[Eoin]

Mr Putts has a document here List of M lenses | Photography and image capture: the Leica technique and philosophy by Erwin Puts | Erwin Puts

 

It's basically the same body shape as the current apo with a 55mm filter thread, on Putts document he gives the last serial No for the v2 before v3 pre asph so anything after that serial should be the v3.

[john_newell]

IIRC, the Summicron-M with the E55 filter is the last pre-ASPH. There was a prior version of the same lens (optically) in a different mount with an E49 filter. The earlier version, an optically different and relatively large lens, had an E48 filter.

[frederics]

IIRC, the Summicron-M with the E55 filter is the last pre-ASPH. There was a prior version of the same lens (optically) in a different mount with an E49 filter. The earlier version, an optically different and relatively large lens, had an E48 filter.

 

I have the E48 & purchased a E55 because it was more compact & use the former much more. Although it is heavier & larger it handles better, especially for verticals. Plus they are bargains that offer great performance.

[adan]

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John: To clarify (all the previous responses are basically correct)

 

The 90 'crons built prior to 1980 were, for M lenses, quite large. They were true 90mm lenses rather than "telephoto" designs, so the glass had to sit 90mm away from the focal plane. Plus most of them have a funky aperture setup where the dot is on the ring and the numbers are on the lens barrel, so the aperture ring turns "backward".

 

These tend to run around $500 +/-

 

For ID purposes, besides their size, these lenses all have heavy scalloping as well as a knurled texture on the focus ring, and the lens hood extends in two telescoped sections like a folding drinking cup.

 

The post 1980 non-APO lenses look just like the APO, except that the engraving is around the front element on the front, instead around the sides of the lens hood (smaller front element). They are telephoto designs, and thus more compact, but with some noticeable purple/green color fringing to things like bright highlights off car chrome (thus the addition of APO correction to the newest lens).

 

They tend to run around $900 +/-

 

Both kinds have nice smooth imaging - the pre-1980 lenses have a bit more flare and lower contrast, and may have picked up a bit of yellow tint with age (nothing that can't be corrected easily in RAW).

 

And, yes, the lower prices are demand-related: the size of the pre-1980 lenses, and the color fringing of the pre-APO lenses, tend to make them less desirable to the market as a whole, even though individuals have discovered they are really pretty nice for the money.

[jdos2]

One can find even better bargains than that- I got my late 90's version in the box, in plastic, with all papers, for $700. It's not the "AA" I had on the MP, but I... I can't really tell. The limits of my scanner are above the limits on the M8.

 

It's a very smooth focuing lens with very nice drawing and indeed, one of the well kept secrets of the current age. The 135 Elmarit is, too, but that's easier to explain.

 

Now. Where's the inexpensive 35mm Summilux?