Deeetona Posted February 3 Share #1  Posted February 3 Advertisement (gone after registration) Encouraged by one glass too many the other night, I clicked myself through the bargain basement of a certain Dutch photo dealer and snapped up an Elmar 5cm 2.8 collapsible, and an Elmar 9cm 1:4, both with "coating damage"and "haze" and whatnot. Just arrived! The 9cm's aperture ring gave up clicking many decades ago. It has a "feet only" scale, maybe for export? It "sticks" a bit when turning it back from infinity. It was a tad over 100 EUR. Just tried it and the images were horrible. -until I wiped away condensation from being in the cold outside from the front lens. It makes wonderfully dreamy pics! The 5cm is in a somewhat better condition. The aperture ring clicks on leap years. Pics are surprisingly impressive. It was 220 EUR. They are not 6 bit coded and also not ASPH or APO. But I love them already dearly. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419021-i-slummed-it-and-bought-junk-from-the-bargain-basement/?do=findComment&comment=5750921'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 3 Posted February 3 Hi Deeetona, Take a look here I slummed it and bought junk from the bargain basement. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted February 3 Share #2  Posted February 3 The 9cm doesn’t have click stops on the aperture ring, that’s not a fault. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 3 Share #3 Â Posted February 3 (edited) Ca#ongrats. The 50mm Elmar is actually a very good lens - all things taken into consideration. It was also one of the first two lenses I bought for use on my M2(*) when I was an impoverished student way back in 1980. I still take it out sometimes; primarily out of a sense of Nostalgia. It can't, in all truth, be described as being 'crisp' corner-to-corner when used wide open but stopped down to, say, f5.6 it is wonderfully sharp. Philip. * Along with a 35mm f3.5 Summaron M. I was shooting with this lens as recently as four days ago... EDIT : Just for fits'n'giggles here's a link to Mr. Rockwell's review of the 50mm Elmar; https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f28.htm Edited February 3 by pippy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeetona Posted February 3 Author Share #4 Â Posted February 3 I found his review just a bit boring, and now that the lens is here, I am suffering from post-purchase-not-reading-reviews-about-what-I-have-just-bought-itis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeetona Posted February 3 Author Share #5 Â Posted February 3 God this is fun. Colours are warm and bokeh is semi skimmed milk creamy. Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted February 3 Share #6 Â Posted February 3 I agree with Philip - the 50 2.8 Elmar is a gem. It is also the first Leica lens I used in the mid-1960s, borrowed with a Leica M2. That moved me to eventually trade multiple SLRs & lenses for an M4 and 90 TE in 1968. I had planned to add my own 50 Elmar, but first graduated and then splurged on a 50 Summicron. (What came was actually a Summicron 50 type 3 instead of the Rigid I expected.) The 90 Elmar can produce excellent images, but most have haze between the elements that takes a good CLA to remove. Worth the expense though. They can also have severe central veiling flare if the rear internal baffle has been removed. One of mine was like that, so I inserted a flat black paper tube to line the shiny barrel and that refused the flare greatly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeetona Posted February 3 Author Share #7  Posted February 3 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Its a grey day but will try the 9cm (not 90mm) in the sun as soon as possible. Again - even some test pics at home seem to be great. For a 100 EUR lens!?!?! 100 Eur does not even buy you a professional grade wrist strap for an M body. But ok, lets not be too romantic. The aperture ring feels as if if could just decide to fall off one day. maybe I should buy some more poverty lenses, just in case. Edited February 3 by Deeetona Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted February 3 Share #8  Posted February 3 Enjoy both lenses, and really give them a workout...you may just totally fall in love. About 5-6 years ago I decided to take a similar move, getting the Elmar 50/3.5 instead of the 2.8, and the 90....both at bargain prices. They were in good condition and surprised and delighted me with their results, not the harshness or "lack of character" of some of the more modern designs which I also currently own. If you decide on a CLA down the road you might be surprised at how well these old timers can deliver. Congratulations on your purchase. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 3 Share #9  Posted February 3 (edited) I have both lenses in very good condition and I can’t see any reason not to be happy with the performance of either (on film). The 50 is a slightly faster version of the original 5cm 3.5, that lens helped make Leica’s reputation! I compared it to my 3.5 and found that it is a tad softer between 2.8-4 but equal from 5.6 on. The main benefit over the older style lens is the normal aperture ring and 39mm filter thread (there is also an updated version of the 3.5 but only in M mount whereas the 2.8 was also available in LTM). The 9cm is also a fine lens, excellent for portraits.  Edited February 3 by earleygallery 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeetona Posted February 3 Author Share #10 Â Posted February 3 I have been polishing the 9cm one with a silver cleaning cloth for a while. It now feels less sticky. Also adjusting the focus has helped to make the action feel smoother. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeetona Posted February 4 Author Share #11  Posted February 4 Some first tests show the 9cm to be surprisingly sharp, with great image separation. The 5cm seems to be a bit more tricky to get right. The Dutch seller advertised the lens as "outlet" with a lot of coating issues, haze, etc. At 2.8, it is all a bit Tendres Cousines, at 5.6 it then becomes sharp and nice. More soon! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeetona Posted February 4 Author Share #12 Â Posted February 4 Sharper but not sharp-sharp, or "tack sharp"Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 4 Share #13  Posted February 4 1 hour ago, Deeetona said: ...The 5cm seems to be a bit more tricky to get right. The Dutch seller advertised the lens as "outlet" with a lot of coating issues, haze, etc. At 2.8, it is all a bit Tendres Cousines, at 5.6 it then becomes sharp and nice...  57 minutes ago, Deeetona said: Sharper but not sharp-sharp, or "tack sharp" Could you post an example or two, Deeetona, if you get the chance. Out of curiosity I've rattled-off a few (non-scientific!) test-card snaps with my example. Apertures used were f2.8 and f5.6 and camera-card distance was min. focus. Whole field of view (to give sense of scale) and central crops from each aperture (bear in mind that these are saved as very low-res); Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  At f2.8 things are a bit soft;  By f5.6 it all sharpens up quite nicely;  Does your example perform in a similar fashion? Philip. Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  At f2.8 things are a bit soft;  By f5.6 it all sharpens up quite nicely;  Does your example perform in a similar fashion? Philip. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419021-i-slummed-it-and-bought-junk-from-the-bargain-basement/?do=findComment&comment=5751695'>More sharing options...
Deeetona Posted February 4 Author Share #14 Â Posted February 4 I dont own such an Op-Art piece of art, but in the next days I will see if the light outside permits taking photos of something slightly more exciting than a brick wall. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeetona Posted February 4 Author Share #15 Â Posted February 4 Handling-wise, the 9cm feels great and "precise" (except for the aperture ring sans clique) wheres the collapsible 5cm is minimally awkward and something I would not buy again. Â For the 9cm I bought a silver lens hood, slotted, off a precision manufacturer from Amazon for some small change. It makes the silver 9cm even longer, like an 1930s urologist's instrument from hell! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 4 Share #16  Posted February 4 3 hours ago, Deeetona said: I dont own such an Op-Art piece of art, but in the next days I will see if the light outside permits taking photos of something slightly more exciting than a brick wall. Oh, I don't know; I've seen some mighty fine Brick Walls in my time!... 😸 Philip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 4 Share #17  Posted February 4 (edited) vor 4 Stunden schrieb Deeetona: For the 9cm I bought a silver lens hood, slotted, off a precision manufacturer from Amazon for some small change. It makes the silver 9cm even longer, like an 1930s urologist's instrument from hell! Shame on you! I hope you realized that photos taken with urologist's devices are not allowed in this Forum. For a 9cm Elmar with 39mm filter thread a IUFOO or 12575 is obligatory. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  Otherwise the lens will be confiscated by the Leitz historical awareness committee. Edited February 4 by UliWer 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  Otherwise the lens will be confiscated by the Leitz historical awareness committee. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419021-i-slummed-it-and-bought-junk-from-the-bargain-basement/?do=findComment&comment=5751822'>More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 4 Share #18  Posted February 4 3 hours ago, UliWer said: Shame on you! I hope you realized that photos taken with urologist's devices are not allowed in this Forum. For a 9cm Elmar with 39mm filter thread a IUFOO or 12575 is obligatory. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  Otherwise the lens will be confiscated by the Leitz historical awareness committee. Is it true that the 'Narrow Band' hood cannot be 'reverse-clipped' (for stowage) with the majority of the compact 90mm lenses? Philip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdarnton Posted February 5 Share #19 Â Posted February 5 (edited) Almost had a lot to say, but . . . . yeah, the 90 Elmar is a great little lens, a real sleeper. I didn't fully appreciate how good it was until I hung it on my Nikon Z-5, the first digital I've had that it will work on, and I was pretty surprised. The only thing it's missing is modern edgy micro-contrast, and I don't like that anyway. Edited February 5 by mdarnton Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 5 Share #20  Posted February 5 vor 10 Stunden schrieb pippy: Is it true that the 'Narrow Band' hood cannot be 'reverse-clipped' (for stowage) with the majority of the compact 90mm lenses? It sticks that it won‘t fall off if you hold the lens upside down, but can‘t be clicked. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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