Leica Elmar-C 90mm f/4

Leica Elmar-C 90mm f/4

The Elmar-C 90mm f/4 stands out as one of the smallest and lightest short telephotos ever made for the Leica M bayonet, the product of a simple four-element design carried in an all-metal barrel that weighs only 270 grams. It was conceived as the long lens for the Leica CL, the compact rangefinder that Leitz developed in cooperation with Minolta and released in 1973 [3][4]. Where the CL's standard 40mm Summicron-C was a Minolta design, the 90mm Elmar-C was engineered by Leitz, drawing on the company's earlier 90mm telephoto work [4]. The result is a modest-aperture lens that trades speed for portability, and one that has since become a frequent recommendation for photographers seeking an inexpensive entry into the Leica system [1].

Optically the lens uses four elements in four groups with spherical, single-coated surfaces, and its ten-bladed diaphragm stops down in half stops from f/4 to f/22 [1]. The barrel is anodised aluminium with a brass focusing helicoid, and reviewers describe build quality as on par with other Leitz lenses of the period despite the lens having been made to a price [1]. Focus and aperture rings are ribbed metal with a focus throw of roughly 180 degrees, and the lens is rangefinder coupled and focuses to one metre [1]. It mounts on any M-mount body and on the CL for which it was designed. One handling quirk is the filter and hood arrangement: the lens takes uncommon Series 5.5 filters, and the screw-in rubber collapsible hood doubles as the seat for a friction-fit cap, which means the cap cannot be used without the hood attached [1][3].

The Elmar-C had a short production life tied to the CL, generally cited as running from 1973 to about 1976, and there are no significant optical variants of the Leitz-branded lens itself [1]. It does, however, have close relatives. A Minolta-branded version was sold as the M-Rokkor 90mm f/4 for the Leitz Minolta CL marketed in Japan, and a later, slightly revised M-Rokkor with improved coatings accompanied the Minolta CLE, the two Rokkors sometimes being referred to as versions I and II [1][4]. Buyers should note that the Elmar-C shares the sloped focusing cam profile used on the C-series lenses; Leitz suggested this could affect focus accuracy on M cameras, a claim some users regard as having been commercially motivated, and reports indicate the roller specification changed on later bodies such as the M6 [1].

Optical qualities

Rendering Documented impressions describe a competent but understated rendering. The lens performs best at close distances, with resolution and microcontrast that are good even wide open, while definition progressively softens beyond about three metres and shows a noticeable lack of clarity at infinity [1]. Colour is regarded as a particular strength, natural and pleasant with good tonal separation [1].

Bokeh and transitions The long focal length provides reasonable subject separation despite the modest f/4 aperture, and out-of-focus rendering is described as smooth with soft-edged highlights, though backgrounds retain some structure and the transition from sharp to unsharp is gentle [1].

Flare resistance Being single coated, the lens is prone to some loss of contrast, flare, and ghosting in difficult light, especially with the sun just outside the frame; its longer focal length and deep barrel make it less affected than the wider Summicron-C 40, and the supplied hood suppresses most of these issues [1].

Distortion and vignetting A very slight barrel distortion can be measured but is rarely visible in practice. Vignetting is present at wider apertures but is moderate and clears on stopping down, and the ten-bladed diaphragm yields ten-point sunstars when stopped down [1].

History

Development and Launch The Elmar-C was created as part of the Leica CL project, a compact and more affordable rangefinder developed under a cooperation agreement between Leitz and Minolta in the early 1970s, a period when the German firm faced strong competition from Japanese makers [3][4]. The CL launched in 1973 with two purpose-built lenses, the 40mm f/2 Summicron-C and the 90mm f/4 Elmar-C, both using the unusual Series 5.5 filter size [3]. The 90mm was a Leitz design based on the company's existing 90mm lenses [4].

Production Evolution Leitz-branded production of the Elmar-C is associated with the CL era and is commonly given as 1973 to about 1976, and no major optical revisions of the Leitz lens are widely documented [1]. The lens carries the model number 11540. Closely related Minolta-branded lenses were produced as the M-Rokkor 90mm f/4, first for the Leitz Minolta CL and later in a revised form with updated coatings for the Minolta CLE [1][4].

Collector Notes The Elmar-C is widely viewed as a bargain within the Leica system, often acquired as part of a CL kit alongside the Summicron-C 40mm [1]. Prospective buyers should check the condition of the rubber collapsible hood, which ages poorly, and account for the awkward Series 5.5 filter size and the hood-dependent cap [1][3]. Anodised aluminium barrels scuff with use but remain durable [1]. The sloped focusing cam shared by the C-series lenses is worth understanding, since accuracy concerns on some bodies have been debated for decades [1]. Note that one reviewer lists the lens weight as about 265 grams, slightly under the figure recorded here, a minor and unsurprising variance for vintage measurements [1].

Sources

• [1] KJ Vogelius. GEAR - Leica Elmar-C 90/4 Review. https://gear.vogelius.se/-reviews/leica-elmar-c-90/index.html
• [3] Camera-wiki.org. Leica CL. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Leica_CL
• [4] Mike Eckman. Leica CL (1973). https://mikeeckman.com/2026/02/leica-cl-1973/