Macro ELMAR 90 with Close-up glasses

A Review and photo examples of using the Macro Elmar M 90mm F4 with film and digital Leica M cameras

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Gallery
Review
Specification
Reference links
Update history
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Gallery

The camera bodies used in the photo examples are the LEICA M6 TTL and the LIECA M8.2.

1．Overview

The MACRO ELMAR 90mm is the only medium telephoto lens in the M mount that bears the name “MACRO”. In addition to being sold as a single lens, it was also sold as a set with the lens and the “MACRO-ADAPTER-M 14409 *eyes” version” adapter with glasses that allows macro photography with rangefinder cameras.

The main specifications are as follows, and details are listed in the table.

Aperture value: F4
Lens construction: 4 elements in 4 groups
Aperture blades: 10
Minimum focusing distance: 0.77m under normal conditions, 0.76-0.5m with macro adapter
Leica M rangefinder camera rangefinder linkage: Full range
Hood: 12575/IUFOO (hook type), same as Elmar 135mm, etc.
Lens color variations: Silver and black

The adapter “MACRO-ADAPTER-M 14409 *eyes” version” is designed exclusively for the Macro-Elmar 90mm and allows macro photography with rangefinder M cameras, including film cameras. The “MACRO-ADAPTER-M 14409 *eyes” version” is only available in black.

A distinctive feature of the lens’ appearance is that the depth memory and focus range for normal use are engraved on the top of the lens (the surface that faces up when attached to a camera without a macro adapter), and the depth memory and focus range for when using a macro adapter are engraved on the reverse side. Normal lenses only have the country of manufacture written on the underside of the barrel, so a barrel with a scale for close-up photography feels fresh.

The Macro-Elmar 90mm barrel is available in black and silver for lenses manufactured between 2003 and 2013. The macro adapter is only available in black, and silver lenses also use a black adapter. Since 2014, it has only been available in black, and has changed to a lens barrel called a Big Top, which has a larger diameter aperture ring.

The lens construction diagrams are quoted from each company’s materials, and the sizes have been adjusted by us, so they are not exact.

2．Usability

When used alone, the MACRO ELMAR 90mm can produce clear, distortion-free photos at full aperture. All the examples are taken at full aperture.

As you can see from the specifications, this is not limited to lenses with a focal length of 90mm, but since a full aperture of F4 is a dark lens, if you are not careful when taking pictures, there is a high possibility of taking blurred photos. You need to be particularly careful with low-sensitivity films such as ISO 100 film, and you need to learn how to take pictures without blurring when you press the shutter.

With digital cameras, you can increase the ISO sensitivity to increase the shutter speed, which significantly reduces the problem of camera shake.

And while the Macro Elmar M 90mm is a satisfactory lens on its own, it is even more fun to use it in combination with a macro adapter. When using a macro adapter, you can get sufficient bokeh at full aperture of F4 for close-up shots, and since the focal length of 90mm is a little long, you can get works that show the subject in a close-up.

When using with a rangefinder camera, the adapter with glasses, “MACRO-ADAPTER-M 14409 *eyes” version”, is attached to the camera. To attach, rotate the lens 180° in the circumferential direction, attach it to the adapter, and then attach it to the camera. Close-up shooting is possible by bringing the entire lens closer to the subject. Basically, it works on the same principle as an extension tube, but the “MACRO-ADAPTER-M 14409 *eyes” version” works in conjunction with the Leica M rangefinder rangefinder to check the focus position through a double image in the viewfinder.

However, when using the “MACRO-ADAPTER-M 14409 *eyes” version”, the closer you get to the subject, the greater the difference (parallax) between what you see in the viewfinder and the actual shot, due to the positional relationship between the viewfinder and the lens.

With a digital camera, you can get the results you want to a certain extent by checking the preview after shooting, but checking the preview every time you take a shot is a roundabout way of taking pictures and makes for poor rhythm.

For M-type Leica cameras, including the M typ240 and later digital M-type Leica cameras, the parallax problem is eliminated if you attach an electronic viewfinder or shoot using live view on the rear LCD screen, but in that case it is no different from attaching a simple extension tube, so the adapter with glasses is no longer necessary.

I used it once with an M6 TTL loaded with KODAK E100VS, a 36-exposure ISO100 reversal film, but since it was a camera with a x0.85x viewfinder, there were no problems with the focus position due to double image overlap, but because it was a hassle to shoot while assuming parallax, I never used it again with a film camera.

3．Add Info.

M mount macro adapter

As an item that adds close-up capabilities to M-mount cameras, the “MACRO-ADAPTER-M 14652 “universal” version” has been released as a successor to the “MACRO-ADAPTER-M 14409 *eyes” version, which is exclusively for the Macro-Elmar 90mm, and in order to increase versatility, the glasses have been removed from the adapter.

This version relies on the electronic viewfinder to determine the focus, but is equipped with an auxiliary helicoid, which increases the freedom of shooting close-ups. When the Macro-Elmar is retracted, infinity can be achieved with the macro adapter attached, making it easy to switch between macro and normal shooting.

In addition, because the focus position is determined by the electronic viewfinder, it is possible to use lenses other than the Macro-Elmar 90mm, but according to a Leica release, the use of lenses smaller than 28mm (24mm or less) is not recommended.

Specification

Item	Value	note
focal length(mm)	90
Maximum aperture	4
Minimum aperture	22
Lens configuration	4 elements 4groups
Shooting range(m)	∞〜0.77	Camera distance meter linked to all areas
Shooting range with Macro-adapter	0.76〜0.5	Camera distance meter linked to all areas
Lens length(mm)	59	41mm when the lens is sunken
Lens max diameter(mm)	52
Filter diameter(mm)	39
Weight(g)	230(Black-color)	320(Silver-color)
Macro-adapter weight(g)	96

Reference links

Update history

2025.4.8
2024.02.20:Update article
2022.04.27:First draft

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