Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit 90mm near me.

[jay moussy]

I saw a lens at a shop near me, today, Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit R, a 2.8 90 mm or such.
Price too low to mention here... (like, a couple of nice sandwiches and a drink, or so)
A quick search tells me these were made in Leica mount (only?).
I looked at it, lens seems fine, obviously very well made, with good feel.

I will never own a Leica, but it sure looks like a bargain.
Maybe worth grabbing to trade for something else with forum member?

 

[Bearman]

Sounds like a good deal. You can find a good-condition Leica R5 body for under $250. R3 or R4 bodies go for even less, but because they have history of sketchy circuits and other reasons, aim for an R5. Later models, while relative Leica R "bargains", go for more $.

 

[4season]

Let's put it this way: When someone offers you a legit $100 bill for $15, you don't leave the store to "think about it" and post an online query asking whether it's a fair deal.

 

[Bearman]

Let's put it this way: When someone offers you a legit $100 bill for $15, you don't leave the store to "think about it" and post an online query asking whether it's a fair deal.

True! Basic thrifting rule #1. And that lens won't be there tomorrow.

 

[jay moussy]

Let's put it this way: When someone offers you a legit $100 bill for $15, you don't leave the store to "think about it" and post an online query asking whether it's a fair deal.

Sort of agree with you but I have zero knowledge of these lenses, and of Leica in general, that is, I did not know it was a100 dollar bill.. until I got home!
I do not intend to build a Leica ecosystem either.
It will be there tomorrow. sleepy Cape Cod (for now, tremendous summer bookings!), small thrift, shady shelf...
Thing would be for me to buy and maybe make an honest offer here, where there are Leica-appreciative folks.

 

[4season]

Sort of agree with you but I have zero knowledge of these lenses, and of Leica in general, that is, I did not know it was a100 dollar bill.. until I got home!

Oh well don't sweat it: In order to get top dollar, you may need to learn more about Leica than you care to, and there were quite a few variations in their SLR lenses, particularly in regards to the number of cams they have, filter thread size, and so on, and the first thing any buyer's going to do is shine a bright light through it, looking for the slightest sign of deterioration.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

There are adaptors from Leica-R lens (this kind) to Canon EOS cameras. Used to have many of those (35, 50, 90, 135) and they where great on Canon. I believe they can adapt to other systems. They sell well on ebay. Not as well as Leica M though.

Marcelo

 

[gone]

You're right Marcelo. I've been shooting Leica R 90 Elmarits and Summicrons on Nikon cameras for years. It's really easy if you use a model that has AE. Frame your shot, focus wide open, stop it down, and the camera will take care of the exposure. The R lenses are very, very good. In my mind the Summicron is one of the great portrait lenses at f2, w/ that Leica 3-D signature when stopped down. The Elmarit is sharper and also makes a great portrait lens, but f2.8 isn't f2. Both of these are walk around lenses, quite compact for their focal length.

 

[jay moussy]

What does the "Wetzlar" part of the name say?
I have seen pictures of the R 90 mm 2:8 lens without it, and I understand it to be the city where the Lietz facility was.

BTW, I will drive by the shop today, so I may as well buy it - adapt, sell, hoard, put in my retirement fund... many options!

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Good luck. Hope it is still there. I wouldnt put it on retirement fund though R lenses fetch much less than M lenses but I guess you may get more than you paid for.

Marcelo.

 

[jay moussy]

Well, I did look at it again.
Maybe a bit dusty, inspection conditions were not optimal?

The apparent low level of enthusiasm on the thread made me pause. For now - it will still be there is a week, as it is behind the busy new arrivals women's summer tops rack!
If I had a body or could get an affordable R-mount body to match it would be different.

 

[mawz]

What does the "Wetzlar" part of the name say?
I have seen pictures of the R 90 mm 2:8 lens without it, and I understand it to be the city where the Lietz facility was.

BTW, I will drive by the shop today, so I may as well buy it - adapt, sell, hoard, put in my retirement fund... many options!

I believe some of the R 90/2.8's were made in Midland (Leitz Canada, now Elcan).