Besides the 90/4 Elmar-C made specifically for this camera, can anyone recommend using any other 90mm lenses with the Leica CL?

Given the short effective base length of the CL vs. the other M bodies, are there really a lot of problems focusing wide-open with a faster lens? Any preferences on pairing the CL with a vintage 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit-M, a 90/2.8 Elmar-M, a 90/2 Summicron-M, or even (gasp!) a Voigtlander 90/3.5 APO-Lanthar (w/LTM adapter)?

-- Manher Jariwala (manher@jariwala.org), March 01, 2002

Answers

what about the konica 2.8/90? you don't hear much about that lens.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), March 01, 2002.

The Elmar-C is a sharp lens, especially when stopped down a little. I think my choice for the CL might be the Tele-Elmarit-M. Just make shure to check the lens elements for fungus. It's small and light and it' the fastest aperature Leica recommends for the shorter base length finder of the CL. The current 90/2.8 Elmar-M is stunning, but heavier and bigger around. Good luck

-- Ronald Wills (youngdeer@earthlink.net), March 01, 2002.

No Gasp the Voigtlander 90 is one of the best 90's out there. Better than all but the current top of the line Leica lens and at a fraction of the price. The speed its perfect for the limited baselength of the CL. Shock even Erwin liked this lens.

-- Joel Matherson (joel_2000@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002.

People have reported no problems focusing the 90f/2.8 lenses wide open on a CL as long as you are very careful.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), March 01, 2002.

I would also vote for the Voigtlander 90/3.5. I use it with my M and find it a stunning lens. It's a modern lens.

-- Richard (richard.srienz@swissonline.ch), March 01, 2002.

Manher, I have difficulty last time with 90mm/f2.8 lens shooting wide open on my CL, it can't get sharp enough pics compared with M big brothers. I think it might be the rangefinder not accurate anymore and may need a CLA, but for 90Elmar C and 40/2Summicron C, I can easily get good quality photos. I don't own them now, but I still miss the 90/4Elmar C, a very good performer. Personally, I think it's a little sharper than my 90/2.8 tele-elmarit in mid aperture. For size, you might also consider V'lander 90/3.5. Fred

-- Fred Ouyang (yo54@columbia.edu), March 01, 2002.

Manher

My advice would be to get the original Elmar-C or Minolta-C. You can indeed use the current Elmarit (or any other Elmarit) on the lens, but I did not enjoy it using it very much as it is too big and difficult to focus. The advantage the C lenses have for the CL is that they have a steeper cam - this aids focussing accuracy (at all apertures). This is why they have them and why they were "matched" to the CL. It is not a big deal on the 40mm (for example, the later CLE ROkkor 40mm works fine and they have the conventional M cam), but it is with the 90mm. Add to this that the Elmar is wonderfully small and light and a great performer. It is not just a case of the shots taken at wider than f4 either: it is the whole handling experience.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002.

Wow! Thanks to all for the many informed replies to my very first posting on this forum. To follow up, with prices starting at $400, the 90/4 Elmar-C or the Voigtlander 90/3.5 are hard to beat. Then again, there's something to be said about first learning the ins and outs of my 40/2 Summicron-C and buying more film instead!

I also read Erwin Puts' comments. For others interested, his review is under the Ultron 28/1.9 link (NOT the APO-Lanthar 90/3.5 link) at http://www.imx.nl/photosite/japan/voigt2890.html

I noticed a couple of people had owned or used both the Elmar-C and another 90mm lens like the Tele-Elmarit at one time. Is this part of a common upgrade path for many from the CL to an M body? Does anyone here *prefer* the Elmar-C on an M? Do the correct framelines come up?

Finally, I am intrigued by Robin Smith's insightful comments about the steeper cam on the Elmar-C and the improved focusing accuracy with a CL. Does this mean that the focusing ring turns through more or less revolutions to focus through the same range, as compared to a standard M lens? BTW, thanks Robin for this reminder about the whole handling experience, not just aperture size or number of elements.

-- Manher Jariwala (manher@jariwala.org), March 01, 2002.