Leica f/4 Macro-Elmar M 90 Lens

Description

The 90mm f/4 Leica lens is the newest member to the well-liked short telephoto length family, and when used with the available Macro Adapter (manufactured especially for this lens) features a 1:3 reproduction ratio. Weighing less than one pound, and just 1.6" (41mm) long at it's shortest length, the 90mm f/4 becomes your go to lens whenever you need to keep your gear to a bare minimum and not give up the upper limit of image quality. it's a high performing lens, ideal for portrait work, photojournalism or travel photography . The MACRO M ADAPTER was manufactured especially as an accessory item fitting the 90mm f/4. It permits close focusing using this lens from the normal 2.5" (0.77 m) (with a 1:6.7 reproduction ratio) down to 1.6" (0.5 m) (1:3 reproduction ratio). 

Leica lens new updated "6-bit" coding

This Leica lens features the new updated "6-bit" coding, that allows the M digital camera to optically read this information and then identify the lens being mounted. Optionally the M camera can then apply a software based "last stage" vignetting adjustment (for images captured in RAW, the lens mounted is simply recorded, with no changes made).  Read more. May 12, 2011

• Includes "6-bit code" which allows the digital M8 camera to identify which lens is being used, and also to store this information in image metadata

• Very compact and lightweight

• Can be converted into a macro lens with optional dedicated Macro Adapter (#14409)

• Included clip-on metal lens hood is reversible, and comes with it's own cap

• Leica Telephoto 90mm f/4 Macro-Elmar M Macro Manual Focus Lens (6-Bit, Updated for Digital)
• Silver Front & Rear Lens Caps
• Soft Padded Leather Lens Case
• Lens Hood, with Slip-On Cap
• 3-Year Limited Warranty

Macro lens for Leica M Rangefinder Cameras, September 5, 2005

By John Kwok (New York, NY USA)

I have no doubt that the 90mm f4 Macro Elmar-M telephoto lens is a superb optic in its own right, owing its origins to the venerable 90mm f4 Elmar-C lens which Leica had made for its Leica CL cameras back in the early 1970s (I own a 90mm f4 Leitz Rokkor - the same lens as the 90mm f4 Elmar-C - and I am constantly amazed by its superb optical quality, even wide open at f4.) . Furthermore, I have seen superb pictures taken with this lens. However, I believe Leica erred in introducing this telephoto lens, since the rangefinder camera is not superior to the SLR camera for macrophotography (Instead, I know that it is much easier to focus closely with a 35mm SLR camera than a 35mm rangefinder camera for macrophotography, since you will see exactly what you'll photograph through a 35mm SLR pentaprism, having spent many years photographing with 35mm SLR macro lenses made by Nikon and Carl Zeiss.). And I might add that you will need a very expensive Leica macro extension tube in combination with the 90mm f4 Macro Elmar-M to obtain a reproduction ratio of 1:3 (That's approximately one third life-size, which is not nearly as impressive as 35mm SLR macro lenses which yield reproduction ratios of 1:1.). Instead of designing this lens, I would have been more impressed if Leica re-introduced the 90mm f4 Elmar-C as a budget version 90mm telephoto, costing as much as the 50mm f2.8 Elmar-M, hoping to interest those customers who have opted to purchase instead the Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 Apo-Lanthar lens. If you really need a macro lens, then you should buy one for your 35mm SLR, not acquire this expensive jewel of a lens which will not have the close focusing range of your 35mm SLR macro lens.

M Mount Adapters
The Leica M mount was introduced in 1954 at the same time as the Leica M3. It's been the mount of choice on every Leica M series thru the present day Leica M7 film camera and Leica M9 digital camera and Lenses.

The M Mount was also the mount used for Minolta's CLE rangefinder, on the Konica Hexar RF, on the later versions of the Voigtlander Bessa family and Lenses, the mount for the Rollei 35RF, also quite recently on the newest Zeiss Ikon Rangefinder and Lenses..

Benefits of Lens adapters is versatility, and saving money with the continued use of the preferred lenses you already own.

Drawbacks of lens adapters is the inconvenience, no electronic connection between the adapted lens and your camera body A couple of factors are necessary for a lens adapter to work properly. First, the camera body "lens registration" space or the expanse between the mount of the lens to the sensor or film surface. Two, the "throat size" of the mount or the mount diameter. An adapter flanked by the body of the camera and a lens from different brands, this registration distance of the adapted lens must be larger than the registration distance on the body; plus the lenses throat-size must be less than the throat size on the body mount. M lenses can be adapted to Canon EOS, Nikon, Micro Four Thirds, and Sony Nex Cameras.