Recently I tried a Tele-Elmarit-M 90/2,8 with serial No.3452045. I don’t know the version of this lens (older, latest, pre, ...?!) but I believe that it is a very good lens. I made some very good portraits and landscapes. It is not only the sharpness of the lens but also the tonal smoothness and the atmosphere that produces. Yes it is very difficult to make critical focusing wide open using a M6 but even somehow unfocused the images are great. Although the lens has flare problem when used wide open against light I believe that in overall performance is much better than the legendary Nikkor 105/2,5 which I own.

I am waiting for your opinions about this lens.

Street Photography by Dimitris Kioseoglou

-- Dimitris Kioseoglou (kosefoto@otenet.gr), December 07, 2001

Answers

Dimitris,

That is the much-sought-after German made version of that lens (towards the end of its production run). I have the Canadian glass and while it is true that there is some flare wide open this can be minimized if not effectively eliminated if you use the proper 12575 hood instead of the el-cheapo retractable hood that comes with the lens. If your lucky enough to obtain a German late model Tele my advice is to keep it. You will not be disappointed. And unless you are a human tripod you will not be able to discern much of a difference between it and the later model Elmarit (except for contrast).

Cheers,

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), December 07, 2001.

Yes, the lens is nice. What I like is your composition and eye for the right moment!

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), December 07, 2001.

Dimitris: I've bored people to tears on this forum with my opinions about the 2nd "thin" 90 Tele-Elmarit, which I love. So I won't repeat myself here.

IMHO it does surpass the Nikon 105, but I can't swear that isn't partly the shake-free Leica body, as well.

Far more important is what you are doing with it, which is outstanding! Especially that first shot - ancient and modern braids - worthy of Elliot Erwitt!

Mine's in having mung cleaned off a front element - I miss it a lot! Having seen your pictures - now I miss it even more!

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), December 08, 2001.

Hi, Dimitris! Your question relates to opinions about this lens, but I would rather focus on your excellent portfolio which shows a very fine sense of humour.

It may serve as a response for the recent question What is Leica Photography?. Who can judge a lens better than one who really knows how to use it, or would you rather rely on resolution charts and anonymous opinions???

-- George (gdgianni@aol.com), December 08, 2001.

Sorry I must disagree with other users here. I have a 90TE and 2 Nikkor 105 F2.5's (one Nikon RF and the other a AIS SLR) The Nikkors perfomance are cositantly have the edge on the 90TE and even the old Rangefinder 105 that isnt muli coated flares less than the Leica lens. I love the 90TE but the Nikkor 105's have the edge in my opinion.

-- Joel Matherson (joel_2000@hotmail.com), December 08, 2001.

Thank you all for your nice comments about my photographs and your opinions about this lens. Although I am a Leica user (I am also a Minox 35GT user) I don’t know a lot of things about Leica cameras and lenses. As George noticed, I don’t rely on resolution charts. All the test are about the sharpness, the flare and the distortion of a lens and there are no reports about the tonality, the felling and the atmosphere that produces. It is known that you can make a lens smoother or sharper even using the appropriate development method! So the comparison of two lenses is mainly a personal matter. At least I believe that the best lens for a photographer is the one he likes to use!! We all know that cameras and lenses don’t make the good photographer but the photographers make the good cameras and lenses.

Street Photography by Dimitris Kioseoglou

-- Dimitris Kioseoglou (kosefoto@otenet.gr), December 08, 2001.

Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 (2nd version) is the best Leica 90mm lens because its high resolution power, light weight and cheap price. If you want more soft foucs for portrait picture, Thambar 90/2.2 is as well as the mordern Rodenstock Imagon. However, it is hard to find and very very expensive. Beside thambar, Elmar 90/4 collapse version produce favourit result for portraits, too.

-- Christopher Chung (chungsk@netvigator.com), December 12, 2001.