Must be the best buy for a Leica-M short telephoto lens
Written: Aug 27 '02 (Updated Aug 27 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent resolution and contrast, flare-free, compact, built-in hood, inexpensive.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: A bargain lens, with exceptional optical performance, that is ideal for portrait photography.
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| ray_moth's Full Review: Leica Elmarit M 90mm f/2.8 (Black) Lens |
Lenses longer than 50mm are considered to be better suited to portraiture, isolating elements of a landscape, architectural detail, theater photography and, generally, whenever subjects have to be photographed from a distance. Leica telephoto lenses for the M rangefinder cameras are available at focal lengths of 75mm, 90mm and 135mm.
Leica has a long tradition of producing 135mm lenses for use with its rangefinder cameras; however, a relatively small proportion of M users actually take pictures using this focal length these days. Composition is a challenge, because the viewfinder frameline for 135mm is very small, even on the maximum magnification bodies (the M3 at .91 or the M6 .85 body). To many people today, focal lengths of 135mm and above fall in SLR territory.
The 75mm Summilux is a superb lens but is bulky and expensive. At its maximum aperture of f/1.4 its depth of field is tiny. Simply moving the camera from the focusing position to the required position for composition can upset the focusing to the extent that the ear or the end of the nose is in focus but the eyes are not. Focusing accuracy is critical and requires a higher magnification body, preferably M6 .85. This is undoubtedly a magnificent lens, though, for those who can master it.
For practical and economic purposes, the 90mm has become the favorite telephoto lens for use with Leica M cameras. Magnification is sufficient for tightly framed headshots at the minimum focusing distance of 1 meter and the 90mm frameline is big enough for comfortable composition, especially using one of the high magnification bodies.
The smaller and less expensive of the two Leica lenses offered in this focal length is the 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M. The performance of this lens is outstanding at all apertures, in terms of its high contrast, sharpness from the center of the frame to the edges, neutral rendering of colors and resistance to flare. There is no noticeable distortion or vignetting. The 90 Elmarit has, justifiably in my view, been very highly rated by a number of lens testers.
The 90 Elmarit-M has the same optical formulation as the now discontinued 90 Elmarit-R, namely, four elements in four groups. It is reasonably compact, has a built-in sliding lens shade and is quite portable. The black version weighs only 410 grams but the chrome version is somewhat heavier at 560 grams. Filter diameter is 46mm.
The 90 Elmarit's resolution is not quite as good as its more modern f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH sibling. However, the difference is slight and Elmarit is about $800 cheaper, is more compact and many users consider it to be a better lens for portrait work, especially for women and children, because it is not quite so brutally sharp. This is the lens to buy if you don't need the extra stop of the Summicron.
The price of the 90 Elmarit, at around $1,200, is reasonable for a Leica lens and I consider this to be one of its strong points. It can be obtained for much less than this on the grey or used markets.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ray_moth
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Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 3 members
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