Leica 90mm f/4 Macro-Elmar-M
See my Leica SL wish list and Leica M wish list at B&H Photo.
I mentioned some renewed Leica SL and lens testing a few days ago.
As part of that, I decided to test the diminutive about $3295 Leica 90mm f/4 Macro-Elmar-M, to see how it performs on the SL in particular (and probably the M240 also).
My interest is not the macro facility but the ultra-compact form factor, though it is not so compact once the lens hood is added. And the lens hood is a bit awkward, with no cap. Worse, the 90/4M with its lens hood attached cannot fit into the carry pouch so it has to be stowed in the pouch and the hood detached and carried separately. But it can of course be used without the lens hood if one wants a really small optic. Older versions might have utilized a reversible lens hood, but I could find no way to do so on the current version.
- Leica M Mount
- Aperture Range: f/4 to f/22
- Multi-Layer Anti-Reflective Coating
- Retractable Lens Design
- 1:2 Magnification with Macro-Adapter-M
- Manual Focus Design
- Minimum Focus Distance: 2.6'
- Filter Thread: 39mm
M lenses can be used on the Leica SL with the Leica M-Adapter-T, a confusing name (ought to be Leica M-Adapter-SL), but the T and SL mounts are the same.
See my review of its siblings, the 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M and 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-R ASPH and 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M.
With an optical design of only 4 elements in 4 groups, I’m wondering how it performs at distance in particular. Maybe it qualifies as a wishlist type lens, and maybe not.
Focal length: | 90mm |
Construction | 4 elements in 4 groups |
Aperture scale: | f/4 - f/22 |
Aperture blades: | 10 blades |
Magnification: | 1:6.7 1:3 with macro adapter |
Minimum focus distance: | Standard: 2.5' / 76.2 cm With dedicated macro adapter: 1.6-2.5' / 48.8-76.2 cm |
Angular of view: | 27° |
Filter thread: | 39mm |
Weight (nominal): | 8.8 oz / 249.5 g |
Weight as weighed: | 235g lens alone, 250g with lens cap 37g for lens hood, +4 g for lens cap protector |
Dimensions: | length 1.6 in/ 40.6 mm maximum diameter 2 in / 50.8 mm |
Street price: | about $3295, or about $3795 with macro kit |
Includes: | Lens Hood for 90mm f/4-M Front Lens Cap Rear Lens Cap Soft Leather Lens Bag Limited 3-Year Warranty |