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The Leica M system has a number of nice portrait lenses. The Leica Macro Elmar 90mm f4, nevertheless, is usually neglected. Whereas it doesn’t have the f2 of the Summicron, this 90mm is extremely tiny, focuses in nearer, and is available in rather less costly. The construct is a bit completely different than most M mount lenses, with a collapsable design that additionally helps the lens obtain infinity focus.
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Macro photographers might want to play shut consideration to that spec sheet, nevertheless. The lens wants the macro adapter to get in actual shut. Even then, the lens has just one:2 replica ratio. What the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm actually excels in, nevertheless, is portraits. I shot a portrait session with this 90mm lens, and right here’s what I discovered.
Too Lengthy, Didn’t Learn
The Macro within the title of Leica Macro Elmar 90mm is a bit deceptive. However, even with out the macro adapter, this lens is a superb portrait instrument with marvelous shade and delightful but controllable flare. It’s additionally tremendous tiny and extremely properly constructed.
Leica Macro Elmar 90mm Execs and Cons
Execs
Compact and lightweightCompatible with macro adapterEasy to lock in focusFocuses shut sufficient for headshots, making it an amazing portrait optionGreat colorSharp centersBeautiful, controllable flare
Cons
Replica ratio is just one:6.7; a macro adapter is required for 1:2Collapsible design and push pull focus means a little bit extra to learnSofter edgesNo climate sealingExpensive
Gear Used
I used the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm with the Leica M10R and a Leica UVa II filter. I didn’t use the macro adapter with this lens.
Improvements
The Leica Macro Elmar 90mm is the M-mount system’s smallest 90mm lens. Longer focal lengths and metallic lenses are typically heavy and enormous. However this 90mm weighs simply over eight ounces and solely takes up about two inches of actual property in a digicam bag.
Leica Macro Elmar 90mm Tech Specs
Lensrentals lists the next tech specs for the 90mm f4:
Angle of View27°AutofocusManual Focus OnlyBrandLeicaDiameter2.3″DimensionsLength: 2″Filter Size39.0mmFocal Length90.0-90.0Groups/Elements4/4Hood IncludedYesImage StabilizationNoItem TypeLensLens TypeNormal RangeMax Aperture4.0Maximum Replica Ratio1:6.7Minimum Aperture22.0Minimum Focusing Distance2.6feetMountLeica MWeight0.5 lb.
Ergonomics
Once I first pulled the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm out of the field, I believed that they had despatched me the mistaken lens. Certainly, the tiny metallic lens should not be a telephoto. I used to be mistaken — Leica has certainly managed to suit a mid-telephoto focal size right into a lens that folds down to simply over two inches lengthy. The lens can also be slender and doesn’t widen from the dimensions of the M-mount itself. Regardless of a metallic construct, it weighs only a contact over eight ounces.
The Leica Macro Elmar 90mm is collapsible. That is each for measurement causes and performance, as pushing the lens again in barely permits the lens to focus at infinity. The entrance of the lens pulls out, exposing a thumb-width of a metallic silver barrel. The lens can then be locked on this place with a clockwise flip to the entrance.
The entrance of the lens accepts 39mm filters. Shifting the entrance of the lens in direction of the mount, the tiny aperture ring is simply as slender because the metallic edges of a Leica filter. The ring turns with a satisfying click on. It’s simple to make use of, as long as you bear in mind to twist-lock the entrance of the lens in order that doesn’t additionally attempt to flip when adjusting the aperture.
After that sliver of silver that extends from the lens is the main target ring. This has the basic look of different M-mount optics with a depth of area scale and focal size indicators with toes famous in yellow and meters in white. A second depth of area scale is on the underside of the lens, spanning from 22 to 30 inches. That is for utilizing the lens with the macro adapter, notably with our bodies that don’t provide focus peaking.
Leica lenses have sparked a love for metallic optics and the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm is not any completely different. It feels nice to make use of and there’s such a distinct feeling manually focusing with a classically styled metallic lens. The small measurement does imply that the lens rings are smaller. And, it’s important to place your arms simply so to keep away from blocking the rangefinder on the Leica M-10R. However, I spent a lot of my time with this lens outside in 30-degree climate with gloves on. After a short adjustment interval, I might seize the proper ring with out pulling the digicam away from my eye.
The lens ships with a locking metallic hood.
Construct High quality
The Leica Macro Elmar 90mm looks like each Leica I’ve ever held — which is one other approach of claiming it’s constructed like a tank. The metallic development each provides to sturdiness in addition to the basic feel and look. I can really feel the slightest indent when operating my arms over the lettering on the lens. That implies the numbers are etched, which also needs to assist create an extended lifespan. The lens I examined was a rental and but it appeared model new.
Leica doesn’t say whether or not or not their lenses are weather-sealed. However, we’ve beat them up earlier than previously. The a part of the lens that will be most certainly to trigger points is the collapsible characteristic. Might wonderful mud and sand get in between the barrel and scratch up that fairly silver and make turning much less clean? I can’t actually say. And I’m not about to go drop a $4,000 lens in a sandbox to seek out out. I’m definitely not fearful concerning the construct high quality of this lens over regular use. However Leica’s lenses that don’t collapse might doubtlessly have a slight benefit right here.
Focus
Like the remainder of the M system, the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm is a handbook focus lens. However, it does focus a bit in a different way than different lenses within the collection. The focusing ring turns clean and is straightforward to make use of. However, to get the main target locked on infinity, the entrance of the lens pushes again in, retracting barely, to lock focus within the distance. Nonetheless, as an f4, the lens was simpler to get in focus large open than Leica’s 90mm f2.
However, the Macro within the title is a little bit of a misnomer. Leica calls the lens a Macro, however, unaided, it creates only a 1:6.7 replica ratio. It must be paired with the Leica Macro-Adapter-M and even then it’s a 1:2 replica ratio.
Nonetheless, the 90mm f4 does focus about .6 toes nearer than Leica’s 90mm f2. The lens wouldn’t be my first alternative for taking macro photographs of flowers, for instance. However, it will probably get in good and shut for headshots.
Ease of Use
I’ve used a handful of different M-mount lenses earlier than this. All of them require persistence as a handbook focus system. The Leica Macro Elmar 90mm provides a bit extra to study past this. Relying on the place you need to focus, you might have to make use of each the main target ring and push-pull the entrance of the lens out. It’s not tough to study when you play with it and have that “aha!” second as you play with pushing the lens out and in.
As an f4 lens, I discovered the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm simpler to get in focus than the brighter Leica lenses that I’ve labored with. I’m a newbie relating to the Leica system, however focusing the f4 lens was simpler than working with the f2. I spent a lot of my time working with dwell view and focus peaking, however I used to be capable of get photographs in focus utilizing the rangefinder as properly. I nonetheless had many photographs out of focus as a beginner to the handbook focus rangefinder system. However, in comparison with a brighter lens, getting sharp photographs was a much less taxing.
The Leica M system is one which requires persistence, nevertheless it additionally rewards persistence.
Picture High quality
There’s an intrinsic high quality to Leica lenses that’s tough to place a finger on precisely. Pixel peepers can definitely discover an nearly technically good lens for much less cash. However, the pictures from the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm have a really feel to them that’s as luxurious as the development. Pictures are sharp on the middle when patiently targeted and a little bit mushy on the edges. As a lens that’s additionally appropriate with movie our bodies, photographs shot with the M-10R and this lens nonetheless have the echoes of analog.
Bokeh
The 90mm focal size and nearer focusing capabilities make up for the truth that this lens is simply an f4. The backgrounds are nonetheless pleasingly mushy, with a gradual fade. Positive, the backgrounds are even softer with the Leica Summicron 90 f2. However, they nonetheless have an amazing high quality to them.
Factors of sunshine are mushy, with out a bubble impact. Broad open, factors of sunshine are rendered into mushy circles. Stopped down, these factors of sunshine seem nearer to a decagon than a circle. On the edges, bokeh doesn’t have as excessive of a cat eye impact as many lenses are inclined to — it’s there, however not excessive.
Sharpness
When completely targeted, the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm is tack sharp on the middle. The sides and corners are a bit mushy large open however sharpen because the aperture narrows. That sharpness fades to a properly softened background. Getting a pointy, completely targeted shot is difficult, although considerably simpler than a brighter lens.
Lens Character
The basic styling of the barrel of this lens appears to one way or the other seep into the pictures itself. Pictures have a kind of texture to them. There’s an amazing mixture of sharpness to mushy backgrounds right here. I additionally didn’t spot any overwhelming chromatic aberration. Traces don’t seem to bend dramatically and vignetting was minimal.
Pointed straight at a light-weight supply, the lens didn’t create overwhelming flare or dramatically cut back distinction. However, when you place the sunshine on the sides of the body, you get a pleasant mushy, dramatic flare. Assume the type of mushy flare photographers are creating with a graduated circle filter in Lightroom, solely 100 occasions higher as a result of it’s the true factor. The flexibility to decide on flare or no flare by adjusting the place of the lens is nice for inventive versatility.
Coloration Rendering
The colours coming from this lens are richly contrasted, but not overly saturated. If something, the colours are barely undersaturated. That creates an amazing basic look to the JPEGs from the M-10R. Gentle flare doesn’t obliterate the colour and I didn’t spot any overwhelming shade fringing.
Additional Picture Samples
From day one, The Phoblographer has been large on transparency with our viewers. Nothing from this assessment is sponsored. Additional, a lot of of us will submit critiques and present a lot of enhancing within the images. The issue then turns into that anybody and everybody can do the identical factor. They’re not exhibiting what the lens can do. So we’ve got a bit in our Additional Picture Samples space to indicate edited and unedited images. From this, you can also make a call for your self.
Edited
Unedited
Conclusions
Likes
I really like how tiny this lens is. It’s really cute.It’s made to be used with Leica’s macro adapter.At f4, it’s simpler to lock in focus large open.Even with out the macro adapter, it focuses in shut sufficient for headshots.The colours are stunning.It’s sharp on the middle.The flare is straightforward to manage: so as to add while you need it and eradicate it while you don’t.
Dislikes
It’s probably not a macro lens by the usual 1:1 definition.The sides are mushy.The collapsible design will increase the educational curve.There’s no climate sealing.It’s luxuriously priced.
The Leica Macro Elmar 90mm shouldn’t be neglected simply because it’s an f4. The lens is a tiny but superbly made optic. It has the construct of a basic Leica M mount lens, but a novel collapsible design that additionally helps obtain focus at infinity. Pictures have a basic really feel to them, with wealthy distinction and undersaturated colours. The facilities are sharp, the sides mushy, and there’s the choice to both management or create stunning, mushy flare.
However, the Macro within the title is a misnomer. The lens alone solely has a 1:6.7 replica ratio. It’ll want the macro adapter for tremendous shut images and even then shoots at a 1:2 — and macro purists will say a real macro lens begins at 1:1.
Whereas the Summicron 90mm f2 will carry in additional gentle and softer backgrounds, the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm will get in a bit nearer and provide a bit simpler time getting good focus large open. It’s additionally extremely tiny.
I’m giving the Leica Macro Elmar 90mm 4 out of 5 stars. Need one? Test it out at LensRentals and Amazon.
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