[Leica] Re: Leica Users digest V20 #56

[Peter Klein <pklein@2alpha.net>]

I am also a fan of the old 90/4 Elmar, since I own one, coated, from the 
early 50s.  I have no objective comparison of this lens and other Leica 
lenses.  The defense stipulates that of course, the new 90/2 ASPH and 
current 90/2.8 is of course far superior, blah blah blah.

BUT at outdoor picture-taking apertures, the old Elmar does just 
fine.  I've got scads of old Kodachromes taken with it, and I've never felt 
deprived even if I go right up to the screen.  I also never hesitate to use 
it wide-open at its whopping f/4.

         see http://www.2alpha.net/~pklein/italy/muse.htm

One caveat, though, on color pictures, it's distinctly "colder" than my 
other lenses, and can benefit from the slightly pink skylight filter (not 
to be confused with a UV filter, which of course I will not bring up).

I'm curious how the old 90/4 Elmar and the 60's-70's classic 90/2.8 Elmarit 
compare, aside from the one stop advantage.  Has anyone ever compared these 
lenses?  The old Elmarit is said to be better than the Tele-Elmarit, which 
I once also owned (fat version).

Does anyone have comparisons of these older lenses?

- --Peter

At 12:31 PM 06/02/2001 -0700, various people wrote:
> > > I've been toying about with a old Black and Chrome 90/4 Elmar I 
> picked up on
> > > the cheap, different films and various developers/dilutions trying my 
> best
> > > for that soft/romantic look.
> > >
> > > This example is my favorite of all my test shots so far:
> > >
> > > http://www.members.home.net/w.gower/elmar/elmar.html
> > >
> > > Regards
> > > William
> >
> > William, that is a terrific portrait. Speaks volumes about the old Leica
> > un-coated lenses. And I would print it the way it is.
> >
> > sl
>
>This lens is said to be better than the Tele-Elmarit which came a decade 
>or so later.
>I think it is THE lens for people on a budget wanting an inexpensive 90.
>And you can unscrew it and put it on your viso! Can't be beat!
>(Mark Rabiner).