A review and sample photos of the ELMARIT M 90mm F2.8 used with the digital rangefinder camera LEICA M9 + VISOFLEX and the digital SLR camera SIGMA SD1 Merrill + M42 mount.
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Table of contents
Gallery
The following cameras were used to take the sample photos:
- LEICA M9 +VISOFLEX-M typ-3
- SIGMA SD1 Merrill
- Click to enlarge the image
Review
1．Overview
The ELMARIT M 90mm f/2.8 is a Leica M-mount wide-angle lens with a focal length of 90mm, produced from 1958 to 1974.
The main specifications are as follows; details are provided in the “Specifications and Considerations” section.
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Lens Construction: 3 groups, 4 elements
- Aperture Blades: 12
- Minimum Focus: 1.0m
- Leica M Rangefinder Camera Rangefinder Coupling: 1.0m
- Hood: IFUOO, 12575
The above photo shows the lens head separated from the helicoid and attached to a VISOFLEX-M helicoid (OTZFO 16464) and a VISOFLEX-2 quick release.
2．Usability
The original ELMARIT M 90mm F2.8 was the second-cheapest Leica 90mm lens after the ELMAR 90mm, and the second-generation ELMARIT 90mm F2.8 with a built-in hood is reasonably priced.
The image quality is excellent even at wide open apertures, with vibrant colors and flawless rendering with well-corrected distortion and curvature.
The above photo shows the LEICA M6 Titanium body with a VISOFLEX-2 Quick Return lens, but the sample images were taken with a LEICA M9 body and a VISOFLEX-3 lens. Sample images taken with a SIGMA SD1 Merrill digital SLR camera are also included.
■デジタルレンジファインダーカメラ
The LEICA M9 is a digital rangefinder camera equipped with a 35mm full-frame, 18-megapixel sensor, allowing for shooting with the same feel as a film camera.
The ELMARIT 90mm F2.8 can be used with the M9’s rangefinder, but focusing accuracy can be a concern. Therefore, I used a VISOFLEX 3 lens to shoot in SLR format.
Digital cameras with around 20 megapixels offer better resolution than film, and while some lenses can cause noticeable peripheral image quality, there are very few situations where vignetting is a concern.
When used with the LEICA M8 or M8.2, which have a smaller APS-H sensor than the M9, the lens achieves a telephoto equivalent of 90mm x 1.33mm = 120mm. Since the LEICA M8 series presents the same difficulty in adjusting the focus as the M9, shooting in SLR format using a VISOFLEX lens may be easier.
■デジタル一眼レフカメラ
The VISOFLEX-M has a long flange back of 68.8mm, so it can be converted to SLR and Leica R mounts, making it compatible with many SLR cameras.
Converting it to an M42 lens makes it possible to create the dream combination of a SIGMA FOVEON and a LEICA lens, depending on the user.
To use it with the SIGMA SD1 Merrill, a mount adapter is used to convert the VISOFLEX-M to an M42 mount, and a mount adapter called CSM-42 is used to attach the M42 lens to the SIGMA SA mount. The adapter to convert the VISOFLEX-M to an M42 mount is a special product that replaces the R mount of the VISOFLEX-M to LEICA R mount adapter 14127 with an M42 adapter.
The SIGMA SD1 Merrill is a digital SLR camera equipped with an APS-C size sensor, which is smaller than 35mm film format, so the lens’s original focal length of 90mm is equivalent to 90mm * 1.5 = 135mm in 35mm format.
The SD1 also features a 15-megapixel x 3 (RGB) triple-layer FOVEON sensor, which gives it outstanding resolution among 15-megapixel class digital cameras, and the delicacy of the images can be seen in the sample photos.
■ミラーレスカメラ
I no longer have the lens on hand, so I haven’t taken any photos with it using a mirrorless camera, but because mirrorless cameras have electronic viewfinders, focusing can be done with greater precision than with an SLR camera. If I were to get it again, I would like to use it with the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C medium-format digital mirrorless camera.
When used with the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C, the focal length is equivalent to 90mm * 0.8 = 72mm, but I have not confirmed whether it will work across the entire 44mm x 33mm sensor.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the ELMARIT M 90mm F2.8, it is a lens with resolution and color depth that is more than sufficient for use with a 20-megapixel digital camera.
When converted to a VISOFLEX-M mount, it becomes a highly versatile lens that can be used with a variety of SLR cameras. If you’re into playing around with lenses, this is one lens that’s well worth having.
Specifications, considerations, etc.
Leica M-mount 90mm lenses come in a diverse lineup, including ELMAR, ELMARIT, SUMMICRON, APO-SUMMICRON, and Macro-ELMAR. There are three lenses that can be converted to VISOFLEX-M lenses for use with digital SLR cameras: some ELMAR 90mm lenses, older ELMARIT 90mm lenses, and older SUMMICRON 90mm lenses.
The VISOFLEX-M world is quite deep, so once you get stuck and start searching for the right tools, it’s nearly endless. The 2010s, when I was avidly playing with lenses, were a good time, as Leica options were relatively inexpensive. Nowadays, most lenses are purchased at auctions or online, but compatibility requirements for options are complex, so care must be taken when purchasing.
There are two types of ELMARIT M 90mm: the older lens introduced here, released in 1958, with a detachable lens head, and the newer lens, released in 1988, with a built-in lens hood and made specifically for the Leica M mount. The new lens has a revised lens design and is more compact, so it would be a good choice if you are using it with a mirrorless camera.
| Items | ELMARIT | ELMARIT |
| focal length(mm) | 90 | 90 |
| Maximum aperture | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | 22 | 22 |
| Leaf blade | 12 | 9 |
| Lens configuration | 5 elements in 3 groups | 4 elements in 4 groups |
| Minimum distance(m) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Lens length(mm) | 94 | 76 |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 53 | 56.5 |
| Filter type | E39 | E46 |
| Weight(g) | 330 | 41/56 |
| Hood | IUFOO/12575 | integrated |
| Lens mount | LEICA M | LEICA M |
| Release date | 1958〜1974 | 1988〜2005 |
| Production numbers | 43,290 | 24,520 |
Reference links
- ELMARIT M 90mm・LEICA Wiki
- LEICA ELMARIT 90mm・LENS.DB
- SIGMA SD1 & SD1 Merrill・Shige’s hobby
- LEICA M9・Shige’s hobby
- LEICA M9-P・Shige’s hobby
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Update history
- 2025.11.25
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