Elmar-C 90mmlens

I was offered a Leica Elmar-C 90mmm f4.o lens for my M3/M2.

Want to know does it couple exactly to the Rangefinder.Can I use it for close up(about 3ft) at maximum aperture?It will be used for blow ups..8x12 and larger.I had a Tele-Elmarit,early model.I am not interested in the Other lenses,Summicron,Summilux,Elmarit-M.The price is reasonable

for Leica,so is there a problem ?

Jason,

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My Hove pocket book on Leica cameras and lenses says that even

thought the Elmar-C was designed for the CL, it can be used on M

series cameras. Additionally, Gandy's Leica site says the same thing

in a round about way... indicating that he feels the warnings about

miss-matched focusing cams might have been a way to sell more

lenses...(his opinion). I am including his lens pages, which runs

through all possible options... cheap to "the best".

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I think in the speed range of that lens, f4.0, it should be pretty

good. It was made in the 1970's and is a fairly conservative design,

so it was easy to make. As lenses are made faster and faster, the

optical problems start to show and must be corrected with various

design tricks... but a nice slow f4.0, 90mm lens should be no problem

for lens designers.

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You can access Gandy's site at:

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http://www.cameraquest.com/mlenses.htm

I have used the Minolta Rokkor variation (which is the same lens with

a different name)and it sure is compact and easy to handle. I didn't

notice any incompatibilty with the focusing cam with an M3.

(Copied from another thread)

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Yes, there may be a problem. It is a great lens but was designed

for the Leitz/Minolta CL. The CL lenses had a different, steeper

lens focusing cam than normal M and CLE lenses. The CL

camera, which does not have to focus f1.0 lenses, has a

simpler, shorter based rangefinder mechanism. The M and CLE

cameras' rangefinder is fine tuned by adjusting the length of the

roller arm which means that it can be in a slightly different

position horizontally from one camera to another. The short

ending to the long story is that quite often the M and CLE

camera's rangefinder will not couple to a CL lens correctly. Point

the combination at a point at least two miles away and, if

everything lines up OK at infinity, it should be fine. If it does

couple correctly, bear in mind that it may not work so well with

your next body. Do not forget there is a M mount 90/4 that is also

not very expensive .

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Cheers

Thanks for the imformation.

FWIW the 90mm C lens hit infinity perfectly with M2.

The M3, my main camera...no way near !Definitely it will not work.Its a nice looking lens but I shall wait for a faster and better focus match.I wonder if the Voigtlander lenses have same problem,being built for thier shorter Rangefinder base,similar to CL/CLE...

The Cosina/Voigtlander use the same design rangefinder

coupling cam as the all the M (including CLE) and LTM cameras.

Only the Leitz/Minolta CL lenses have the "steeper" coupling cam

design.

The Cosina/Voigtlander lenses use the same design

rangefinder coupling cam as the all the M (including CLE) and

LTM lenses. Only the Leitz/Minolta CL lenses have the "steeper"

coupling cam design.