Re: Review of Leica lenses/ 90mm's

[cmiller@berkshire.net (Curt Miller)]

>At 04:39 PM 19-06-97 -0300, Federico wrote:
>[snip]
>>I recently purchased a new M6 with summicron 50 and I am checking 
>>out lenses to complete the system.  One of the lenses is the 90 Elmarit.  
>>Recently I followed up on an add at my local lab, for a 90 elmarit priced 
>>at $700.  I went to see the photographer that was selling it and the lens 
>>is in exellent condition.  However, it is not the latest version, it 
>>doesn't have a lens hood built in and the shape resembles that of a grown 
>>up 50 Summicron.  The seller couldn't tell me exactly when it was bought 
>>but he said he had it with an M4-P that he already sold. It fits in the 
>>(n)eveready case with no problem and the serial number is 2968359.
>>     Can anyone tell me which generation it belongs too, how it compares 
>>to the latest version and if the price is acceptable? Erwin?  Ben?

I recently tested (in an ad hoc fashion) the Tele-Elmarit (fat) and
Tele-Elmarit-M (skinny) lenses - side by side (and both in
brand-new-out-of-the-box condition :-)  ).  I could not distinguish any
difference between the negatives under magnification.  The fat one was $925
and the skinny $725.  I took the fat because it felt rather more robust but
would have been quite pleased with the skinny one - which is the one under
discussion above.  It is a beautiful optic and is very fairly priced (if in
mint- condition) at $700.  You get what you pay for with Leica equipment and
the $495 Tele-Elmarit-Ms seem to be in well-used condition.

Curt

Elizabeth Mei Wong
Birding with Berkshire County's Hoffman Bird Club or
             Women Outdoors at http://members.aol.com/womenout/index.htm

Henry Curtis Miller, M.P.A.

Pittsfield, Massachusetts
In the Berkshires, next door to Tanglewood