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Archive 2016 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

jhinkey
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

I had an opportunity to try out this seemingly overly-expensive M-mount lens at the local pro shop using my a7RII. Prior to getting my hands on one I did not understand why this lens was so expensive. Now I know why.

I compared this diminutive lens against my most excellent 85/4 ZM at landscape-like distances and came away impressed with the Leica's sharpness across the frame:
- At f/4 it's 42.5MP excellent except in the far corners where it's merely extremely good with a touch of sharpness loss and some minor CA (that cleans up nicely in ACR). Any corner degradation is only noticeable at 100% viewing.
- At f/5.6 and above it's superb across the frame with excellent sharpness and no CA even into the far far corners.

For those of you that like to put the super bright sun in the frame, well it doesn't do so well as it has minor ghosting (I've seen far far worse) and does not make great sun stars. However this is on par with my 85ZM as well which also falls down in this category - in fact many short tele lenses don't do well when the sun is in the frame, so it's understandable.

Lens mechanics are reasonable for such a small lens with the aperture ring out at the end (easily knocked off from the intended setting) and the focusing ring next to the mount, but that's the price you pay for such a small lens.

I found this lens too rich for my taste as my 85ZM is so good (excellent even in the far corners wide open), but if you must have a really compact 90mm for light weight on-the-go portability, the high cost may be worth it. I will keep a look out for a good deal on one of these for future travel/backpacking/climbing use where f/4 is plenty fast enough (especially with IBIS . . .).

Anyone care to share their shots/experience with this lens?

- John

Oct 04, 2016 at 10:33 AM

Luvwine
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

jhinkey wrote:
I had an opportunity to try out this seemingly overly-expensive M-mount lens at the local pro shop using my a7RII. Prior to getting my hands on one I did not understand why this lens was so expensive. Now I know why.

I compared this diminutive lens against my most excellent 85/4 ZM at landscape-like distances and came away impressed with the Leica's sharpness across the frame:
- At f/4 it's 42.5MP excellent except in the far corners where it's merely extremely good with a touch of sharpness loss and some minor CA (that cleans up nicely in ACR). Any corner...Show more →

John,

Thanks much for sharing. I have long heard this is a fine lens for portability and that it is very nearly as sharp as the 90/2 AA. It has the added bonus of macro capability (1-2?) and that capability is likely further enhanced by close focus adapters on the Sony. It is a lens I have often been tempted by. Thanks for the report!

Oct 04, 2016 at 10:40 AM

Jack Thompson
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

Very cool John. I recently took a trip to Chicago and visited Tamarkin Camera (which is awesome) and checked this lens out as well, and totally agree with you, in this focal length, can't imagine a better lens for someone looking to travel fast and light.

Oct 04, 2016 at 11:00 AM

uhoh7
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

Prices are coming steadily down. There are two versions, one for the non-EVF M9 and elarier and one for the M240, though it's only the macro adapter which varies. I have long coveted the lens.


	http://okatoki.way-nifty.com/photos/uncategorized/2011/05/04/b.jpg

Oct 04, 2016 at 11:13 AM

Gary Clennan
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

uhoh7 wrote:
I have long coveted the lens.

That makes two of us....

Oct 04, 2016 at 11:26 AM

jhinkey
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

Jack Thompson wrote:
Very cool John. I recently took a trip to Chicago and visited Tamarkin Camera (which is awesome) and checked this lens out as well, and totally agree with you, in this focal length, can't imagine a better lens for someone looking to travel fast and light.

Thought the 85ZM is technically better, it's also much larger mounted on the camera and a bit heavier (310 gm vs. 224 gm), adapter weight aside. Still, if you want light and excellent and are willing to pay the price this lens fits the bill for sure. It's on my list for future purchases when the cash is available.

I assume the lens shade reverse mounts when the lens is collapsed? Or is it too long to be reversed?

Oct 04, 2016 at 11:49 AM

jhinkey
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

I will try to post some of my not-so-great test images later today/tomorrow showing the wide open and f/5.6 center and far corner 100% images (also with my 85ZM).

Oct 04, 2016 at 11:52 AM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

It's a great lens. I shot my Koi series with it and the images are sharp up to 60 by 40 at f4 using a Leica M-E.
Only bummer is that no matter how careful you are, the paint will wear off the front of the aperture ring if you use the lens hood, and I am ridiculously careful with my gear!

And if you are a film freak like me, it make a great kit lens for the tiny but fantastic Minolta CLE

Oct 04, 2016 at 12:24 PM

adamdewilde
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

I like the rendering of this lens a lot. Always have!
I don't have it anymore. Rarely used 90mm lenses on my M.

Oct 04, 2016 at 01:17 PM

uhoh7
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

I do use 90s pretty often. The Summarit is really good and of reasonable size and handles well, but a tiny 90 is very useful on the go. I have the CV 90/3.5, but it is not in the league of the summarit. Lately I use the Canon 100/3.5 which is the lightest good lens in the range.

L1053902 by unoh7,Canon WO

But the Macro Elmar will focus to .78 without adapter!

someday......

Oct 05, 2016 at 11:33 AM

Jeff Kott
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

uhoh7 wrote:
I do use 90s pretty often. The Summarit is really good and of reasonable size and handles well, but a tiny 90 is very useful on the go. I have the CV 90/3.5, but it is not in the league of the summarit.

Which CV 90/3.5 do you have? The SL I or II version or the M screw mount. I understand from Stephen Gandy that they have different optical formulas.

I have the screw mount version, but haven't gotten around to testing it against my 90 Cron APO to see if it's in the same league stopped down. I plan to do some tests when I get back from a trip in a couple of weeks and will report on the results.

I also have the same question posted above, on the 90 Makro Elmar, does the hood reverse on the lens when not in use, or does it have to be carried separately?

Oct 05, 2016 at 12:09 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

Jeff Kott wrote

I also have the same question posted above, on the 90 Makro Elmar, does the hood reverse on the lens when not in use, or does it have to be carried separately?

It reverses on the lens for compact travel/storage. Reversed and with the lens collapsed makes it tiny.

Oct 05, 2016 at 01:21 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

Jeff Kott wrote

I also have the same question posted above, on the 90 Makro Elmar, does the hood reverse on the lens when not in use, or does it have to be carried separately?

Desmolicious wrote:
It reverses on the lens for compact travel/storage. Reversed and with the lens collapsed makes it tiny.

You have to be careful here. This is true for the first version of the lens, but not the second. The second version has a larger diameter aperture ring so that it can be adjusted when the lens is retracted but on the new helicoid macro adapter (which allows infinity focus with the lens retracted)... But because of the larger diameter aperture ring, the hood will no longer reverse.

Also, there are at least a couple versions of the hood... The older versions have a narrower 'ring' at the base that grabs onto the slot on the lens made for the hood's little paint scratching teeth/claws. Reversing this one on the first version of the lens won't lock it onto the lens... the (I assume) newer 'N' version of the hood has a taller base with what I assume are double sets of 'claws' so that when reversed, the second set will properly grasp onto the end of the lens.

I picked up a used 90ME v1 via Japan in the summer and have used it only a bit... it is definitely a sharp lens, but I do wonder about my copy.... At least when I tried it on a loaner a7RII, it was noticeably weaker (though not necessarily terrible performance, just not as good - adapter problem, perhaps?) across the frame than the 90AA and FE 85/1.4 GM (the GM slightly edged out the AA in terms of sharpness). Peak sharpness is f/5.6 and on only 24MP (M240 body) I definitely notice diffraction onset by f/8. I was also a bit surprised by how much CA I noticed. Again, maybe it's my copy...?

Oct 06, 2016 at 01:40 PM

Jeff Kott
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

rscheffler wrote:
You have to be careful here.

Now you tell me.

I just purchased a used 90 Makro Elmar without a hood and found a hood in EX+ condition from KEH - both are on the way. We'll see if I got lucky and the hood fits over the lens and locks in place.

Oct 06, 2016 at 03:27 PM

LightShow
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

I'm more than happy with my 90AA, I also picked up a 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit, wide open it's disappointing, so I may sell it.

Oct 06, 2016 at 11:39 PM

Jeff Kott
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

LightShow wrote:
I'm more than happy with my 90AA, I also picked up a 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit, wide open it's disappointing, so I may sell it.

Me too, but I wanted something smaller and lighter (even if slower) with similar quality. That's the appeal of the Makro-Elmar. When I get mine, the first thing I'll do is test it against my 90 APO to see how it holds up at comparable apertures.

Oct 06, 2016 at 11:41 PM

retrofocus
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

LightShow wrote:
I'm more than happy with my 90AA, I also picked up a 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit, wide open it's disappointing, so I may sell it.

I recently bought a good used copy of version I of the 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit which works wonderful at all aperture stops on my A7R camera. I am amazed by the sharpness of this old lens design on a 36MP FF camera. At f/2.8, I got beautiful (and sharp) portraits with this lens.

Oct 07, 2016 at 07:08 AM

rico
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

@LightShow, the TE90 in both its versions can safely be considered character lenses, even when stopped down, and are not going to compete to modern standards. This is also true of the older Elmarit 90 v1 which I own. The AA90 is too heavy for my taste, but the (discontinued) Elmarit 90 v2 is on my to-buy list. I'm actual a fan of diminutive Elmars in their many forms, but you have to choose between lower performance and extreme price.

BTW, here is the geriatric 4-element Elmar trying to compete with the ME90. This was shot on a 1Ds with Visoflex adapters and two OTQNO extension rings, wide open:

Oct 07, 2016 at 07:15 AM

PersonCyborg
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

Hi! I recently bought the Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M to use with my Sony A7r2 and I am really happy with the performance. I do a lot of hiking and do not need any faster lens in the 90mm range, so this lens fits me very well. I also got a very good price on a mint copy. I love the rendering and colour of the lens, and the macro capabilities is also very handy. It`s almost always included in my bag and it is really small and light!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12456825/WEB/Jotunheimen-1-8.jpg

Panorama
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12456825/WEB/Jotunheimen-2.jpg

Oct 10, 2016 at 05:59 AM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M

PersonCyborg wrote:
Hi! I recently bought the Leica 90/4 Macro-Elmar-M.... it is really small and light!

Size comparison of my 90 collapsed and with hood reversed compared to the ZM 35 1.4

Spectacular performance for something so small.

Oct 10, 2016 at 06:37 PM

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