Leica M (Typ 240): Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 versus Elmar-C 90mm f/4

Archive

Note: In November 2020, I sold my Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 lens (I still own the Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 lens). I am therefore no longer able to update this page or to answer questions about this lens.

On these pages you can find my first personal experiences with the lenses at the Leica M (Typ 240) and more. This page is devoted to the Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 and the Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 lenses, which have the same focal length and are very similar - and are therefore compared here.

My Leitz 90mm M-Mount Lenses

I bought the Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M in February 2016 via the l-camera-forum for 490 EUR (product number 11800; serial number 2587227 > built by Leitz Canada in 1973; but "production era" was between 1974 and 1986). It was my first (and, at the moment, only) lens that I bought after I had purchased the Leica M (Typ 240).

The Leitz Elmar-C, which I auctioned at ebay for a little more than 170 EUR (2642706 > built in 1973; source: Olypedia: Leica CL and Leica Wiki), was originally dedicated to the Leica CL. The Leica CL was manufactured for Leitz by Minolta in the 1970s (production era: 1972/3-1977; Version 11540). Minolta also sold its own, improved version of this camera, the Minolta CLE, after Leitz had discontinued the CL. I read that the Elmar-C was the only Japanese lens that was manufactured in Germany.

Figures: Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 lens (top row) - Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 lens for comparison (bottom row)

More Comparison Photos

Body with Lens Attached

Photos: Leica M (Typ 240) with Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 lens (left) and with Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 lens (right) for comparison

Some Technical Data

Data	Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8	Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4
Model number	11800	11540
Focal length	90 mm (05 as correction, unclear what this amounts to...)	90 mm
Angle of view (35mm film)	27° diagonal	27° diagonal
Maximum aperture	2.8	4
f-stop range	2.8-16	4-22
Number of iris blades	10	10
Number of lenses/groups	4/4	4/4
Shortest distance	1.0 m	1.0 m
Weight	225.8 g (Ken Rockwell) (210 g on our own scales)	246/270 g (210 g on our own scales)
Length	61.3 mm at infinity, 67.92 mm overall (Ken Rockwell))	60 mm (61 mm)
Maximum diameter	51 mm	51 mm
Filter thread	39 mm filters (E39)	39 mm - 5.5 type; do not use 39 mm filters - may cause damage!
Lens hood	folding rubber hood (11250) with its own pop-in cap (11252), screw mount; the lens was supplied with this hood, but mine came with a metal lens hood 12575, which can also be used (I can use the rubber hood from my Elmar-C)	folding rubber hood (11250) with its own pop-in cap (11252), screw mount; the lens was supplied with this hood
Smallest object field / magnification	1:9 (Ken Rockwell), 372 x 248 mm / 1:10.4 (calculated), 300 mm / 1:8.4 (from photo)	330 x 220 mm (Olypedia); 372 x 248 mm / 1:10.4 (calculated); 300 x 200 mm / 1:8.4 (from photo)

Lens Hoods

Both lenses can use the screw-in folding rubber hood (11250) with its own pop-in cap (11252). The hood has a special 5.5 type filter thread that cannot take 39 mm filters.

The Tele-Elmarit M 90mm f/2.8 can also use the metal lens hood 12575, which can also be used with the Tele Elmar 135mm/f4.

		Metal lens hood 12575 to the right on all photos

Sample Images

Closest Distance


Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4

Similar Places, Different Times


Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4

Same Places, Same Time


Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 at f/4		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 at f/4

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 at f/2.8

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 at f/4		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 at f/4

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 at f/2.8 (fuzzy corners and edges)

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 at f/8		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 at f/8

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 at f/4		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 at f/4

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 at f/2.8

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 at f/8 (EV -0.7)		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 at f/8 (EV -0.7)

Leitz Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 at f/8 (EV -1)		Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f/4 at f/8 (EV -1)

Conclusions

Disclaimer: I am not a lens expert who sees marked differences between various Leica and/or other lenses. I can check for soft corners, find differences in color rendition, and, in rare cases, may discover a "3D look", but that's all. Please regard therefore my conclusions as the verdict of a "layman".

At the moment, it is too early for comparing these lenses with respect to their image quality thoroughly.

First tests seem to reveal that the cheaper Elmar-C is sharper in the image corners and at the edges. It is also far less prone to flare issues. Thus, the only plus points for the Elmarit-M are for me, at the moment, its maximum opening of f/2.8 (where it has a shallower depth of field, but is also much fuzzier in the corners), its lower vignetting that I found in test shots, and its slightly lower weight (on paper only...).

Note that in November 2020, I sold my Elmarit-M and am therefore no longer able to answer questions about this lens.