Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/21
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Randy Holst jotted down the following:
> I just signed on again after being away for a year and a half. I
> appreciated everyone's willingness to help me with questions back then,
> and have a new question.
Flattery will get you anything.
> I'm looking to buy a used 90mm lens to supplement the 35/f2 Summicron-M
> on my M4 and I'm considering the Tele-Elmarit 90/f2.8 (two versions),
> Elmarit-M 90/f2.8, and Summicron 90/f2 (three versions). I have a Leica
> lens identification book to help me tell them apart, but have no
> references to help me with the relative merits of each. I'm rather
> partial to a version which has the built-in lens hood. Can anyone make
> some recommendations as to which performs best or which to stay away
> from?
Oh boy, what a choice. First the obvious.
Do you need the extra stop? -> one of the 'crons.
Can you afford the extra cash? -> the latest 'cron.
Want the sharpest lens? -> probably the latest 'cron.
Want the most creamy bokeh? -> the first version Summicron.
Do you need the lightest lens? -> the thin Tele-Elmarit.
Like lens hoods that collapse
when you least need them to? -> Any of the cron's or the latest
Elmarit.
A number of people have reported problems with their Tele-Elmarit. It would
appear (though this is speculation) that there was some quality-control
problems in the manufacturing of that lens. I *think* this only applies to
the thin version, but I'm not sure. Then again, my thin version
Tele-Elmarit is perfectly fine, so I've never had the problem. Check the
archives for the discussion.
The 1960's 'cron is large, but a lovely lens. Most superb portrait lens
I've come across. I'd skip the 80's 'cron and go directly for the new
ASPH/APO if you don't want the oldest version and have the cash to spare.
Stuff to check:
LUG archives: http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/
Erwin's pages: http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/leicahome.html
M.
- --
Martin Howard | "We learned that there is no such thing
Visiting Scholar, CSEL, OSU | as a free launch".
email: howard.390@osu.edu | -- Dr P. Murdin on Cluster II launch
www: http://mvhoward.i.am/ +----------------------------------------