Re: [Leica] tele-elmarit 90

[Jiri_Dvorak@idx.com]

> From:   Howard Davis [SMTP:HDavis@slcearch.com]
> Sent:   Wednesday, March 15, 2000 5:46 PM
> To:     leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject:     [Leica] tele-elmarit 90
>
> I recently had my eye on a thin version of the tele-elmarit 90. To me its
> tiny size seems a perfect realization for the original concept of the
> leica
> as miniature photography. Why was this lens discontinued in favor of the
> much larger 90s? I have read that this particular lens is often attacked
> by
> fungus that does irreversible damage to the rear element. Is this the
> reason
> this lens is no longer in production? Should I not buy this lens? Or if I
> should, what is a reasonable price to pay for a tele-elmarit 90?
> Howard
>

I used to have one some years back, before I traded it in for the new Elmarit.
When I bought it (used) it looked fine but it was somehow 'flary'. Later on I
had it checked by a Leica technician at one of those 'Leica days' and it turned
out that some kind of internal baffle was missing. When seen from the back of
the lens, there was a silvery tread (as opposed to black) right behind the last
glass element where it was to be.

Otherwise it performed quite good, but because it was so small and light I had
actually harder time to keep it steady than the new Elmarit. The new Elmarit
also performs better, especially at close distance and wide open, and has a
different bokeh, more like the new Leica lenses.

Jiri Dvorak