prrot.blogg.se - Leica e leitz wetzlar

The Elmarit 2.8 90 was first introduced in 1959 and was produced until 1975 for the Leica M cameras. Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit 1:2.8 / 90 Versions Therefore my Elmarit is definitely a keeper! The amount of good pictures you obtain with this lens is clearly above average compared to other glass. Overall I have been super positively surprised by the Elmarit. If you want a portraiture lens that offers more twirls and a more arty bokeh you should rather go for the 100 Trioplan or a Biotar type lens. I personally like the bokeh as it is not over the top and the backdrop is not distracting from your actual subject. There are much faster lenses with a similar focal length using both Leica mounts (e.g.: Summicron 90, Jupiter-9) and other amounts (e.g.: Pancolar 1.8 80, Pentax 1.8 85).Īdditionally, the minimum focusing distance of 100cm and the good but not overwhelming bokeh could be seen as rather dull. At f2.8 it is also not the fasted lens around.

minimum focusing distance (when used without the bellows)Īlthough the Elmarit is rather “cheap” for a Leica lens it still is a considerable investment if you want a copy in good condition.

chrome version is rather rare and hard to find in good condition.

If portraiture is your thing give the Elmarit a go! For a Leica lens, the Elmarit is even on the “cheap” side. The beauty about Leica gear is that if you take good care of it you can still sell if you don’t like it – over time probably even with a profit. Normally I set the aperture of f4 to f5.6 using only available light and I obtain beautiful pictures straight out of the camera – no post production required. More than once that “backup” lens ended up to be the primary lens used during the shoot. Many times I took the Elmarit along to a shoot as a backup lens simply because it is small and not cumbersome. All the ingredients you need for portraiture and product photography. You obtain sharpness, colours, contrast and a good (not over the top) bokeh. The Elmarit has become one of my favourite portraiture lenses. That all sounds good but how is the image quality? Great! Overall the lens feels very well balanced, combining both good lens size and a superb finish in a rounded off classic vintage design.

at the other end of the lens barrel, next to the lens mount, the lens has a black leather finish (identical to the vulcanite of the Leica M).

the aperture blades are situated behind the first glass element right at the end of the lens.

This enables you to use the lens for macro photography reaching an aspect of 1:1.

the lens head is actually removable and can be attached to the Visoflex bellows for the Leica M cameras.

The Elmarit also has a few unusual design aspects, which makes this lens rather special:

The lens is made out of metal with a chrome finish (early version) and a black finish (second version, after 1968). The Elmarit is rather small and compact (compared to the 90 Summicron) and the lens barrel is slim. versatile (can be used for macro shoots with a Visoflex)Īs you would expect from a Leica lens, the craftsmanship of the Elmarit is outstanding.relatively small and light for a 90mm lens.I am more a user than a collector but it is always nice to obtain a vintage lens in the condition it initially left the factory 50 years ago. I doubt the previous owner ever used it, he too probably had his reservations. 90mm lens.īy chance I obtained a pristine copy in perfect condition without a single scratch. It proved me wrong: I really enjoy using the Elmarit 2.8. I also had my doubt when I first came in contact with the Elmarit. I do not think that this is a fair assessment, as the Elmarit is a superb lens in its own right. Furthermore the Summicron was produced in larger quantities than the Elmarit. I assume this is due to the fact that the Summicron is faster (and for some reason we consider faster lenses to be better lenses). Normally the Summicron 90mm is the faster and more famous alternative in the 90 mm Leica range. 90mm is probably not the first choice 90 mm lens for Leica enthusiasts.

The Elmarit was designed by the ingenious Leica optical designer Walter Mandler. The Elmarit 1:2.8 / 90 is an outstanding lens manufactured in Germany by Ernt Leitz for the Leica srewmount & Leica M rangefinder cameras.