Leica Elmarit 90mm f/2.8

Leica Elmarit 90mm f/2.8

The Elmarit 90mm f/2.8 is the lens that opened the Elmarit name at the 90mm focal length, arriving in 1959 as a conventional short telephoto rather than a true telephoto design. In Leica's portrait class it sits between the older long lenses that carried the Elmar name and the more compact Tele-Elmarit that would eventually take its place [2]. Built around a five-element optical layout in three groups, it is a relatively simple and robust design by the standards of its era, and it was offered in both the M bayonet and the earlier Leica thread mount, making it usable across a wide span of Leitz bodies.

The lens is rangefinder coupled and focuses to one metre, with a twelve-blade aperture that gives a near-circular opening. It uses the common E39 (39mm) filter thread shared by many Leitz lenses of the period, and the chrome barrel and metal construction reflect typical late-1950s Leitz practice. At 94mm long, 52mm in diameter and around 332g, it is a substantial but manageable optic on an M body. Because a 90mm frame demands precise focus, the lens is most comfortable on cameras with a longer rangefinder base and higher viewfinder magnification, and accurate results depend on the body and lens being well calibrated to each other. It carries the model numbers 11026 and 11029.

When the more compact Tele-Elmarit-M appeared, it was promoted as smaller and lighter while remaining close to the Elmarit optically, and it gradually superseded the earlier Elmarit in the lineup [1]. The distinction is worth keeping in mind when identifying lenses: the original Elmarit is a straightforward long lens, whereas the later Tele-Elmarit uses a genuine telephoto construction and a different barrel.

Optical qualities

Rendering Documented impressions of the 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit family describe strong central sharpness with some softening toward the edges at full aperture, behaviour that is consistent with a classic short telephoto of this generation. Detailed, repeatable rendering data for the original 1959 lens specifically is limited in widely available sources, so claims beyond high central definition and modest edge falloff at f/2.8 are best treated with caution.

History

Development and Launch The Elmarit 90mm f/2.8 entered the Leitz range in 1959 as a fast, compact alternative to the slower long lenses in the system. It served as the standard 90mm offering of its day before the Tele-Elmarit took over the role, and it was produced in both M-bayonet and screw-mount forms to suit the cameras then in use.

Production Evolution The 90mm f/2.8 lineage evolved through later Tele-Elmarit designs that reduced size and weight while keeping the f/2.8 aperture. The Tele-Elmarit-M, built around a four-element formula, was produced in Canadian and German variants and later in encoded and uncoded forms, illustrating how the 90mm f/2.8 line changed after the original Elmarit.

Collector Notes The most common point of confusion is between the original Elmarit and the later Tele-Elmarit, which share the 90mm focal length and f/2.8 aperture but differ in optical design and barrel. Buyers should confirm the lens name engraved on the front ring and check that the chrome finish and markings are consistent with a late-1950s Leitz lens. As with any older 90mm rangefinder lens, verifying rangefinder coupling and accurate focus calibration on the intended body is worthwhile, since long lenses are less forgiving of misalignment than wide-angle optics. The E39 filter thread is shared with many period Leitz lenses, so original or correct hoods and filters are generally easy to match.