Advice on buying 90mm elmar

[malfaris]

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Hi

I am looking to buy the 90mm Elmar  rigid for hiking being lightweight around 195g , I like the silver chrome to match my M2 and M3 . However I found huge difference in price between sellers 130$ to 1000$ . I saw some are M mount other LTM other than that is there something I should know.

Some recommended LEICA TELE-ELMARIT-M 90mm f/2.8 39 filter I think before the last Elmarit. which 46 filter. it seems the best option one budget but I would like silver one elmar if its performance is acceptable , keep it mind its will be used mostly on film cameras.

i don’t have the budget to buy macro Elmar which I know is the best. 
I have the APO which I take when I travel with a car

Edited June 17, 2024 by malfaris

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[a.noctilux]

If you already have the Apo-Summicron-M 2/90,

good to have a lighter 90mm for everyday carry/use.

Elmar 4/90 is available in so many models since 1931

I have many 90mm lenses (apo or not) and in your place I'd go with this nice and so light but as good as can be a 90mm lens,

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in this 4/90 LTM the filter size is A36, but for use with E39 filters, I put on A36-E39 adapter.

This exist in E39 size though, so in three elements or four.

in Wiki

Three element model

this one I don't have, 300g is quite heavy

same in M mount

 

[sinjun]

20 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

Three element model

this one I don't have, 300g is quite heavy

My three element Elmar weighs 224g so I think that Wiki figure might be a mistake. I really like mine and preferred its performance to my tele-elmarit. The only downside is the long focus throw.

[malfaris]

52 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

If you already have the Apo-Summicron-M 2/90,

good to have a lighter 90mm for everyday carry/use.

Elmar 4/90 is available in so many models since 1931

I have many 90mm lenses (apo or not) and in your place I'd go with this nice and so light but as good as can be a 90mm lens,

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

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in this 4/90 LTM the filter size is A36, but for use with E39 filters, I put on A36-E39 adapter.

This exist in E39 size though, so in three elements or four.

in Wiki

Three element model

this one I don't have, 300g is quite heavy

same in M mount

 

I didnt noticed the difference between them both silver ones , just notice that in eBay. thanks

[malfaris]

how about the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 Apo-Skopar

it seem acceptable weight 250g, and it seem compact too.

[malfaris]

23 minutes ago, sinjun said:

My three element Elmar weighs 224g so I think that Wiki figure might be a mistake. I really like mine and preferred its performance to my tele-elmarit. The only downside is the long focus throw.

well that's good to know , its about the same weight to the tele-elmarit?

[sinjun]

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4 minutes ago, malfaris said:

how about the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 Apo-Skopar

it seem acceptable weight 250g, and it seem compact too.

I tried the Voigtlander out. A modern sharp lens with a compact form factor - shorter and fatter than the three element. The only problem was that the copy I tried was badly calibrated with the rangefinder mechanism.

[dpitt]

The closest in performance to the APO 90mm will be the small and lightweight Macro-Elmar 1:4.0/90mm. (collapsible, 250g., E39)
It has a modern rendering and is one of the sharpest Leica Lenses around from MFD to infinity, even wide open.

Of course it is in a different price range compared to the Elmar 90 or Tele-Elmarit 90, but I love how it delivers so much IQ in such a small package. Most of them are black AFAIK, but it is available in Silver too. Not much difference  in IQ between v1 and v2. Both can be used with the new v2 macro adapter, which gives you access to macro up to infinity without removing the adapter. Focus needs to be done with LV or EVF with the v2 adapter. v1 adapter can be used with the RF at macro distance.

Edited June 17, 2024 by dpitt

[lct]

3 hours ago, malfaris said:

I am looking to buy the 90mm Elmar  rigid for hiking being lightweight around 195g , I like the silver chrome to match my M2 and M3 [...]

I would vote for the Elmar 90/4 collapsible

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[dkCambridgeshire]

https://www.ffordes.com/p/SOR-42-054548/leica-m/90mm-f4-c-elmar

[spydrxx]

I currently have and it is the only 90 I've kept, the 90 Elmar (LTM version). I prefer this version to the M mount because it is equally usable on both older Barnacks which use the screwmount, as well as my M bodies with a small screw-on adapter. I tested mine out upon receipt with a Sony A7rii, and was quite (and happily) surprised at how well it worked, and how light it was. I'd previously owned the 90 Summicron, the 90 Tele-Elemarit, and the collapsible 90 Elmar, which I'd used for years for family portraits. The other attractive feature, for me at least, was that the lens head is detachable for use with either extension rings or the bellows. The two things to watch out for, given its age are a focusing mechanism which is smooth, and a lens with no haze or fungus. Mine operates smoothly and flawlessly, and cost less than $100 USD.

[malfaris]

3 hours ago, lct said:

I would vote for the Elmar 90/4 collapsible

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why you vote for it? I was wondering about it too.

[malfaris]

2 hours ago, spydrxx said:

I currently have and it is the only 90 I've kept, the 90 Elmar (LTM version). I prefer this version to the M mount because it is equally usable on both older Barnacks which use the screwmount, as well as my M bodies with a small screw-on adapter. I tested mine out upon receipt with a Sony A7rii, and was quite (and happily) surprised at how well it worked, and how light it was. I'd previously owned the 90 Summicron, the 90 Tele-Elemarit, and the collapsible 90 Elmar, which I'd used for years for family portraits. The other attractive feature, for me at least, was that the lens head is detachable for use with either extension rings or the bellows. The two things to watch out for, given its age are a focusing mechanism which is smooth, and a lens with no haze or fungus. Mine operates smoothly and flawlessly, and cost less than $100 USD.

that's actually a good idea for using it with Barack's as I am waiting for Model III (which took for ever now using eBay international shipping the worst service ever, I won't buy from any seller using this service)

how does it compare to Elmar 90/4 collapsible?

I am searching for a clean copy which isn't easy as mentioned all have haze (many seller say it doesn't effect image?)

[malfaris]

3 hours ago, dkCambridgeshire said:

https://www.ffordes.com/p/SOR-42-054548/leica-m/90mm-f4-c-elmar

according to my research C-elmar isn't good compare to other ?

[lct]

6 minutes ago, malfaris said:

why you vote for it? I was wondering about it too.

Because it is compact when retracted.

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[lct]

15 minutes ago, malfaris said:

according to my research C-elmar isn't good compare to other ?

Very good lens indeed but it does not exist in silver AFAIK

[dkCambridgeshire]

8 minutes ago, malfaris said:

according to my research C-elmar isn't good compare to other ?

It's small and light and optical performance is excellent. However, according to Erwin Puts, Leica Lens Compendium 1st edition page 170 : " ... has a very steep cam as turns only 120º .... makes it difficult to use for accurate focusing ... "  I did not experience any focusing difficulties with my own 90/4 C.  

[Pyrogallol]

56 minutes ago, malfaris said:

why you vote for it? I was wondering about it too.

I don't think it will be on the ballot paper for the general election. Could write it in.

I have several 90's.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[malfaris]

1 hour ago, Pyrogallol said:

I don't think it will be on the ballot paper for the general election. Could write it in.

I have several 90's.

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And which one is your favourite? Also what’s the difference between the two silvers

Edited June 17, 2024 by malfaris

[Pyrogallol]

12 minutes ago, malfaris said:

And which one is your favourite? Also what’s the difference between the two silvers

Those four are the same optics just ranging from the 1930's to the 50's. The 1950's ones are coated unlike the prewar lenses so should perform better. With all old lenses the condition of the glass, haze/ fungus etc makes the greatest difference in performance. The only difference between the two chrome ones is that for a short time around 1949 they made the "all chrome" version without the vulcanite band round it.

I have since traded in two of those four. The favourite is the"brass" one. It had lost most of its black paint so I polished and laquered it.

If you are looking to buy a screw fit lens I would get the most recent one you can find, without any haze or fungus. Then add a screw to M adaptor to use it on an M camera. Or if you want something more modern a Voigtlander 90mm in screw fit.