ELMARIT-R 1:2.8/90(II)

Review of using LEICA ELMARIT-R 90mm with a digital camera

Gallery

Sample photos were taken with LEICA SL Typ006.

Review

The Elmarit R 90mm is a Leica R mount, 90mm focal length medium telephoto lens.

This lens is available in two types, Type 1 and Type 2, both of which have built-in hoods but different barrel designs. The lens introduced this time is a type 2 lens with a modern barrel design, characterized by a single-stage lens hood and a simple design with no bumps or protrusions that maintains a nearly cylindrical shape even when the lens hood is extended. Type 1 has a two-stage lens hood, and when the hood is extended, the lens has a design that creates a narrowed shape, and which one is preferred is probably a matter of personal preference. The lens configuration is the same.

The lens mount also differs depending on the release date, but Type 1 has 1-cam, 2-cam, and 3-cam, while Type 2 has 3-cam and R-cam, and some lenses have ROM terminals depending on the resolution.

As for the lens specifications, the lens coating is thought to have changed over time, but the lens configuration is the same, and the lens operation has a focus ring with a range of about 270 degrees from infinity to 0.7m, which is the standard rotation angle for lenses with a focal length of 50mm or more. With an angle of this magnitude, it is suitable for manual focusing to focus on the subject. The minimum focusing distance of the Elmarit brand lens is 1m for the M mount version and 0.7m for the R mount, which is shorter.

There are two higher-end Leica R mount 90mm lenses, the Summicron R 90mm and the APO-Summicron R 90mm, both with an aperture of F=2. The Elmarit is half a stop darker than the Summicron, but because of this, the lens barrel is slimmer and lighter. It is also cheaper on the used market.

The image quality is not as wild as the Summicron at full aperture, and it is a lens that can be used steadily even at full aperture, and along with the Elmarit R 28mm, it can be said to be a lens for connoisseurs.

With a digital camera, the difference of half a stop is hardly noticeable, and if you don’t use the 90mm very often, I think it’s a good lens to keep as a backup lens.

As the author, I own an Apo-Summicron 90mm, so I often use that when I use the 90mm, and I sold this lens because it is rarely used.

Specification and Competitor

Lens name	ELMARIT	SUMMICRON	APO-SUMMICRON
Focal length(mm)	90	←	←
Max aperture	2.8	2	←
Min aperture	22	16	←
Leaf blade	8	←	←
Lens Construction	4elements in 4group	5elements in 4group	5elements in 5group
Min distance(m)	0.7	←	←
Lens length(mm)	61	62.5	59
Lens Max diameter(mm)	66	70	70
Filter size(mm)	55	55	60
Weight(g)	450	560	520
Production Number	16,615	37,954	2,000
Release date	1978〜1994	1970~1995	2002~2005