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Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

About the Leica Thambar-M 90mm F/2.2:

Featuring the same optical design and distinct image quality as the original version from the 1930s, the Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2 from Leica is an M-mount lens characterized by its unique soft focus look and use of a removable center spot filter to enhance the lens's dreamy qualities.
This portrait-length lens replicates the optical layout of the original, but improves upon its predecessor with single-coated glass elements for greater protection against the elements and corrosion. This new version also sports a striking black paint finish and dual aperture scales, in white and red, to represent working with and without the removable center spot filter.

Straying from the clean and sharp quality Leica is best known for, the Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2 serves as an homage to the unique and creative lenses that makeup their heritage of producing truly striking and unmistakable imagery.

In stock at B&H Photo:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1367466-REG/leica_11697_thambar_m_90mm_f_2_2_lens.html

Leica Thambar-M 90mm F/2.2 Specs:

Focal Length 90mm
Maximum Aperture f/2.2
Minimum Aperture f/25
Lens Mount Leica M
Angle of View 27°
Minimum Focus Distance 3.3' / 1 m
Optical Design 4 Elements in 3 Groups
Diaphragm Blades 20 (20-point sunstars)
Focus Type Manual Focus
Filter Size 49 mm (Front)
Dimensions (ø x L) 2.2 x 3.5" / 57 x 90 mm
Weight 1.1 lb / 500 g

Apr 07, 2022 at 11:56 AM

matejphoto
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/THAMBAR-M-90-f-2.2

or

https://petapixel.com/2017/10/17/leicas-new-thambar-m-90mm-f2-2-return-classic-1935-lens/

Personally I think the lens is ridiculous but if they manage to sell it you can fault Leica for an attempt to make money.

But, the reason for my post:
I find the sample photos (particularly the landscapes) absolutely awful. I am really surprised that those made the cut. The portraits are better, about what I would expect from this lens, but nothing spectacular.

https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/THAMBAR-M-90-f-2.2/Images

Oct 17, 2017 at 10:44 AM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

I think I will hold out for the 75 1.25 and the 90 I think it is really more of a portrait lens. I used a softer 1 for my Blads back in the day to soften portraits a touch. Canon made a soft focus lens for portraits. Not everyones cup of tea but nice to have choices.

You shoot with Leica M?

BTW there are a couple of portraits that are in the link that are stunning.

The first portrait on the left by Kazuya Suda and the portraits by Eolo Perfido are terrific and have a very specific old lens look to them. A kinda glow.

Oct 17, 2017 at 10:49 AM

sebboh
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

not really my kind of glow. if i'm gonna spend $6500 for a character lens it'll be for an f/1 noctilux.

Oct 17, 2017 at 05:18 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

sebboh wrote:
not really my kind of glow. if i'm gonna spend $6500 for a character lens it'll be for an f/1 noctilux.

And you can get that (i.e. an f/1 Noctilux) for substantially less. I have seen them for just under $5,000 which look like they are in pretty good condition.

Oct 17, 2017 at 07:32 PM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Like it or not I'm sure that some will. Not for me either. But it is another choice and the portraits I pointed out are quite interesting. I'm very interested in the up coming 75 f/1.25.

Oct 17, 2017 at 07:36 PM

sebboh
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Steve Spencer wrote:
And you can get that (i.e. an f/1 Noctilux) for substantially less. I have seen them for just under $5,000 which look like they are in pretty good condition.

yeah, i actually saw a beater one with good glass go for like $3500. not that i pay that much attention of course...

airfrogusmc wrote:
Like it or not I'm sure that some will. Not for me either. But it is another choice and the portraits I pointed out are quite interesting. I'm very interested in the up coming 75 f/1.25.

i'm quite curious about that one too, but suspect the 75 lux will be more up my alley.

Oct 17, 2017 at 07:59 PM

buggz
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Will never be able to afford this, always wanted the original.
Man, I have too many soft focus options anywho, or can you say that out load?
*8^)

Oct 17, 2017 at 08:38 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

sebboh wrote:
yeah, i actually saw a beater one with good glass go for like $3500. not that i pay that much attention of course...

i'm quite curious about that one too, but suspect the 75 lux will be more up my alley.

I am sure the 75 lux is great, but I just got the R 80 lux and I am liking it a lot. Here are a few from tonight with the R 80 lux and the M10.

f/1.7

f/2

f/5.6

f/1.7

Oct 17, 2017 at 08:58 PM

trogdon
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Never thought I'd see a lens that makes the new Meyer Optik 100mm look like a bargain

Oct 17, 2017 at 10:02 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Someone is very upset today:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leitz-Leica-Thambar-L39-Screw-Mount-90-2-2-90mm-f-2-2-E48-Rare-Soft-Focus-/322799729666

Oct 17, 2017 at 10:07 PM

nehemiahphoto
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

This lens seems obnoxious, even by Leica standards. Will be interesting to see how it does.

Oct 17, 2017 at 11:39 PM

sebboh
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Steve Spencer wrote:
I am sure the 75 lux is great, but I just got the R 80 lux and I am liking it a lot. Here are a few from tonight with the R 80 lux and the M10.

yeah, i love the 80 lux optically. the ergonomics killed it for me though. it has a much more attractive soft focus effect wide open than this latest offering imho:

much cheaper too (never thought i'd say that about any summilux

Oct 17, 2017 at 11:57 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

sebboh wrote:
yeah, i love the 80 lux optically. the ergonomics killed it for me though. it has a much more attractive soft focus effect wide open than this latest offering imho:
http://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5523/31034061841_1604f1983d_b.jpg
much cheaper too (never thought i'd say that about any summilux

).

Beautiful shot. To me the R 80 lux and the M 75 lux pretty much define the soft focus look I like for some portraits. The new 90 Thambar is way too soft for my taste, but I am sure some will fawn all over it.
For some reason the R 80 lux is the cheapest that I have ever seen it right now. I got a very good deal on the one I got, which was about half the typical price of the M 75 lux.
I also like that the CA is not that bad at all on these lenses and that they sharpen up nicely when stopped down as you can see in my f/5.6 shot above.
Yeah, the 80 may be a little big for some, but I don't mind the size at all and I really like the long focus throw. So I find the ergonomics quite pleasant especially on the M10, but I can see how others would feel differently. I can't wait to get the adapter so I can try it on my Fuji GFX, on that camera it will have crazy shallow depth of field and field of view about like a 58mm on lens on FF 35mm. I hoping I like it even more on that camera.

Oct 18, 2017 at 12:32 AM

Arka
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Wow. $6500? OK.

Oct 18, 2017 at 01:18 AM

sebboh
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Steve Spencer wrote:
Beautiful shot. To me the R 80 lux and the M 75 lux pretty much define the soft focus look I like for some portraits. The new 90 Thambar is way too soft for my taste, but I am sure some will fawn all over it.
For some reason the R 80 lux is the cheapest that I have ever seen it right now. I got a very good deal on the one I got, which was about half the typical price of the M 75 lux.
I also like that the CA is not that bad at all on...Show more →

i can't wait either, i want to see photos with that combo.

Oct 18, 2017 at 01:22 AM

Arka
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

airfrogusmc wrote:
I think I will hold out for the 75 1.25 and the 90 I think it is really more of a portrait lens. I used a softer 1 for my Blads back in the day to soften portraits a touch. Canon made a soft focus lens for portraits. Not everyones cup of tea but nice to have choices.

You shoot with Leica M?

BTW there are a couple of portraits that are in the link that are stunning.

The first portrait on the left by Kazuya Suda and the portraits by Eolo Perfido are terrific and have a very specific...Show more →

I would love a 75 f/1.25, but I expect it'll cost over $10,000.

Oct 18, 2017 at 03:39 AM

mdemeyer
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Nice to see an expensive new Leica product that doesn’t give me GAS. :-)

Oct 18, 2017 at 06:42 AM

retrofocus
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

Leica is currently on the track to re-do some of the vintage M lenses as they did earlier with the Summaron 28/5.6 lens. The original Thambar lens was already a speciality lens made for portraits with highlight bokeh. But this effect could only be achieved with the additional dotted glass filter and at apertures in the middle (not fully open) and with certain light situations. Many requirements which did not make this lens an all-rounder at all. That's why many struggled to use this lens to its best - and why it was never a big seller.
The re-make will be a collector lens item. I am sure Cosina could make an equivalent lens with similar properties for 1/10th of the price.

Oct 18, 2017 at 08:24 AM

retrofocus
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Official: Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2

sebboh wrote:
not really my kind of glow. if i'm gonna spend $6500 for a character lens it'll be for an f/1 noctilux.

You can get something similar for about $300-400 with the 7Artisans 50/1.1

Oct 18, 2017 at 08:41 AM

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