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Elmar 4/90mm or Elmarit 2.8/90mm

tommaso_tabet

By tommaso_tabet
in Customer Forum

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tobey bilek

tobey bilek

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The 2.0 and 2.8 go a little soft under 6 feet. The 4.0 is a hair less sharp at infinity, but maintains sharpness throughout the focus range.

 

It collapses to the size of a 50 mm lens.

 

It is definately a modern sharp optic like my 100 APO R.

 

Currently I use a 50 2.8 new version and 90 4.0 new collapsible and am impressed with both.

 

I never sold my older glass as it is used for people pics when I want them to look a little better than they really do. The original 90 Elmar is a gem for this as is the 50 3.5.

 

The 90 2.0 pre ASPH also goes soft up close and makes a nice portrait lens. Stopping down does not improve the sharpness in the close range.

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xray

xray

Posted
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I never sold my older glass as it is used for people pics when I want them to look a little better than they really do. The original 90 Elmar is a gem for this as is the 50 3.5.

 

The 90 2.0 pre ASPH also goes soft up close and makes a nice portrait lens. Stopping down does not improve the sharpness in the close range.

 

I kept my v1 elmarit 90 when I purchased my new 90 AA and really glad I did. I heard so many rave reviews about the 90 AA but found it to be very soft at close range. It is so soft that i returned it to be checked and found it to be in spec. My old v1 elmarit is a much better close focusing lens and stays sharp at all distances. At longer distances the 90 AA is spectacular even wide open.

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topoxforddoc

topoxforddoc

Posted
Posted

How about an older 90/2.8 tele-elmarit? I use a 1st version 'fat' tele-elmarit and like it a lot. It's small, light and an ideal travel lens. It's a bit soft esp when open, but much better once stopped down to 5.6. It is said to be a bit prone to flare although I've not experienceed mcuh in my hands. Final thing is that they're really cheap at the moment - saw one (version 2 'thin') this week for GBP199 in mint - with box.

 

Charlie

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lct

lct

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...90/2.8 tele-elmarit...is said to be a bit prone to flare...

A big bit if i dare say. ;)

Hardly noticeable in practice if one use a good shade and avoid shooting against the sun or other strong lightsources.

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SteveYork

SteveYork

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I echo the above posters comments regarding speed. The Elmar at f/4 is a very slow lens, which may be fine, depending on your needs. If you anticipate doing any indoor or low light photography, then the extra stop of speed on the elmarit would be much appreciated.

 

As 90mm lenses go, the 90mm Elmarit, current model, is pretty compact and light.

 

I really do like this lens. In my mind, it has that perfect combination of sharpness and smoothness, if that makes sense. Some of the new ASPH lenses -- I'm thinking here of the 50mm Summilux -- can be way too sharp with B&W film in broad daylight. There more palatable in low light situations. Anyway, my current thinking is that lenses like the 50mm Summicron; 35mm Summilux ASPH, and the 90mm Elmarit are just about the perfect combination of sharpness and smoothness. I'm not being very articulate, but they are very sharp, without being too sharp.

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Guest leica_mage

Guest leica_mage

Posted
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[...] I really do like [the 90mm Elmarit]. In my mind, it has that perfect combination of sharpness and smoothness, if that makes sense. Some of the new ASPH lenses -- I'm thinking here of the 50mm Summilux -- can be way too sharp with B&W film in broad daylight. There more palatable in low light situations. Anyway, my current thinking is that lenses like the 50mm Summicron; 35mm Summilux ASPH, and the 90mm Elmarit are just about the perfect combination of sharpness and smoothness. I'm not being very articulate, but they are very sharp, without being too sharp.

Steve, it's as if you were in my head when you posted this (except for the terms 'sharp' and 'sharpness', because sharpness is a perceived quality resulting from contrast and resolution). Your view of this lens is the one I've maintained for a long time - in fact the Elmarit's signature is remarkably similar to the 50mm 'cron's (IV). The three lenses you refer to at the end are indeed the most well-balanced I know of in the Leica stable. You can add the 21mm ASPH to them, too. It's very "creamy", even though contrast and resolution are high.

 

Cheers,

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lct

lct

Posted
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...Some of the new ASPH lenses -- I'm thinking here of the 50mm Summilux -- can be way too sharp... lenses like the ... 35mm Summilux ASPH are just about the perfect combination of sharpness and smoothness...

I thought that the 50/1.4asph and 35/1.4asph had a similar fingerprint, but i don't own the latter so i'm not sure at all.

Any pictures to show this?

Just curious as i could be tempted to buy the 35 if it's similar to the 50.

thanks.gif

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Guest leica_mage

Guest leica_mage

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I thought that the 50/1.4asph and 35/1.4asph had a similar fingerprint, but i don't own the latter so i'm not sure at all.

Any pictures to show this?

Just curious as i could be tempted to buy the 35 if it's similar to the 50.

thanks.gif

It's not similar. The 50mm ASPH 'lux's fingerprint is almost identical to that of the AA 75. The 35mm ASPH 'lux's fingerprint is somewhat softer than that - and the fingerprint of the 50mm ASPH 'lux and AA 75 is in turn softer than that of the 35mm ASPH 'cron, whose fingerprint is softer than that of the 28mm ASPH 'cron's.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Cheers,

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lct

lct

Posted
Posted
It's not similar. The 50mm ASPH 'lux's fingerprint is almost identical to that of the AA 75. The 35mm ASPH 'lux's fingerprint is somewhat softer than that - and the fingerprint of the 50mm ASPH 'lux and AA 75 is in turn softer than that of the 35mm ASPH 'cron, whose fingerprint is softer than that of the 28mm ASPH 'cron's...

Are you sure K.P.?

The 28/2 is far from being harsher than the 35/2asph in my experience.

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lambroving

lambroving

Posted
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Are you sure K.P.?

The 28/2 is far from being harsher than the 35/2asph in my experience.

 

Agreed. No contest. I doubt K.P. has ever used a 28/2. He's correct about the 50/1.4 ASPH and 75/2 APO ASPH though. I don't own a 35/1.4 ASPH myself, but from the shots I've seen, its fingerprint is more like the 28/2 only not quite as sharp.

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Guest leica_mage

Guest leica_mage

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[...] I doubt K.P. has ever used a 28/2. [...]

William, correct, I haven't (I haven't used a Leitca one, that is). My judgment is based on viewing some prints that a friend has shown me. I found the resolution, allied to the high contrast, a bit too much. You think I'm missing something?

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lambroving

lambroving

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William, correct, I haven't (I haven't used a Leitca one, that is). My judgment is based on viewing some prints that a friend has shown me. I found the resolution, allied to the high contrast, a bit too much. You think I'm missing something?

 

Can only conclude that your friend screw up. Look at my picture posts here with it. Never anything harsh about it and the lens sees delicately in tough light.

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Guest leica_mage

Guest leica_mage

Posted
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Can only conclude that your friend screw up. Look at my picture posts here with it. Never anything harsh about it and the lens sees delicately in tough light.

William, the problem is that I am not a "colour" guy. Still, looking through some of your images, I feel both the 50 ASPH and the 35 ASPH 'cron outperform the 28. Especially the 50 ASPH, the subtle rendering of which is unmatched in my opinion. With the 28 I get the impression I've always got when viewing images made by it.

 

Cheers,

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Guest leica_mage

Guest leica_mage

Posted
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The lux 35 asph does resemble the elmarit 90 in fingerprint.

Creamy and painterly though the closer you look the more details you'll see.

Both are fantastic lenses.

Couldn't agree more!! :)

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  • 2 years later...
DWatts

DWatts

Posted
Posted

I bought a 90mm f4 ROKKAR and it is a great lens on my M8. It even brings up the 90mm framelines. Sharp good colour. Small and equal to a 120mm film lens so very good for portraits. More of you should try it.

David Watts

St. Mawes,

Cornwall.

U.K.

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lars_bergquist

lars_bergquist

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The (last version) 90mm Elmarit is a very good lens. I own one. But that is simply because I picked up a mint specimen at a price that was some 30% below that of a brand new 90mm Summarit. This lens has now replaced the Elmarit, and it is at least marginally superior to it, as it is marginally faster. So, what's wrong with it? The name? Names take no pictures.

 

My statements above are by the figures. These are published officially, by Leica. I don't give much for mushy statements about 'fingerprints' that nobody manages to put a finger on, and that are at best simply old prejudices dressed up to look like facts. The Summarit line as a whole performs equal to and in most cases better than the older non-aspherical lenses they replace. I own a 75mm Summarit, and it is giving sterling service on my M8.

 

But of course the older lenses are superior, if you actually do prefer inferior optical perfomance. And some people seem to do just that. Like they adore the "Leica Glow" which is just undercorrected spherical aberration, and a strong susceptibility to flare.

 

The old man from the Age of Facts

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