Re: [Leica] Tele Elmarit revisisted

[Henning Wulff <henningw@archiphoto.com>]

At 11:43 AM -0800 1/6/02, SML wrote:
>I agree with Brian.  I have been trying to understand in vain why people
>kept complaining about the new Elmarit-M being heavy or bigger than the T-E.
>It is a little heavier and bigger than the T-E but not at all much heavier
>or bigger than the T-E as people were so concerned.  I am a guy of average
>size but can carry a M body with the Elmarit-M all day long without any
>problem caused by its weight.
>
>Best Wishes,
>David
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <bampolsk@csc.com>
>To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
>Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 6:11 AM
>Subject: [Leica] Tele Elmarit revisisted
>
>
>>  In the 70s, I had a TeleElmarit which I traded for a Summicron 90.  The
>>  Summmicron was a  beautiful lens, but a back breaker.  In short, I rarely
>>  used it because it was simply too big and heavy.  In the 80s, I traded the
>>  'cron for a new T-E.  I never really liked the T-E(don't know whether it
>>  was fat or skinny).  Anyway, last year, I traded the T-E for a new
>>  Elmarit-M 90 which I love.  True, it's bigger and heavier than the T-E...
>>  but not that much bigger or that much heavier.  And, it is tack sharp.  I
>>  love this lens.  So, I would say that unless someone needs the extra stop
>  > offered by the Summicron, this lens is a first rate choice.

It's only a matter of degree. Most of us could lift any of the lenses :-).

The Elmarit-M weighs about 58% more than the thin T-E with big metal 
hood; the Summicron AA weighs 22% more than the Elmarit-M, and the 
75/1.4 weighs 12% more than the Summicron AA. Based on 225 (+35 for 
the hood) for the T-E, 410 for the Elmarit M, 500 for the AA and 560 
for the 75. All weights in grams, and based on the black models. You 
pick your aperture, and you get your weight, or whatever. All of them 
work, and all have their strong suits and their weak points, but 
whichever one you choose, will dictate slightly how you shoot, and 
probably vice versa if you've tried them. I haven't shot enough with 
a recent Elmarit-M to really get to know it, as it seems the odd man 
out in this range, but all the other ones have their uses.

The 90 AA has the highest optical performance, but the 75 and the 
Elmarit-M aren't far behind. The T-E might not be quite as good, but 
over the years I've gotten a lot of keepers with it, so I'm not 
letting it go. I used to have some Nikon 85's at the same time as the 
T-E, and while the Nikkors had higher resolution, I was always 
happier with the T-E shots. That's good enough for me.

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    *            Henning J. Wulff
   /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
  /###\   mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com
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