Leica Elmarit-R 90mm f2.8

Inspector’s condition notes

Ideal for serious Portrait photography, as it brings together all the traits one could wish for in a portrait lens. The sharpness is excellent wide open, it renders skin tones with the rich, unmistakable character that defines the Leica look, and the contrast is superb — shooting in RAW only lets you push it even further. Most importantly, the bokeh this lens produces is gorgeous, melting away like an oil painting. A truly worthy lens to shoot with or to add to a collection. The Elmart-R 90mm f2.8 came in two versions. Version 2 is a redesigned evolution of the first, offering slightly better optical performance and wider popularity. This example is the Version 2, made in 1994 (a 3-cam variant for Leica SLR cameras — this has no effect on image quality). Cosmetically, it remains in like-new condition, with only minor paint loss here and there, but overall still presents as new. There are no deep impact scratches. The focus and aperture mechanisms are 100% smooth, with no hesitation. The optics are pristine — no scratches on the front or rear element, and no fungus or haze internally.

How this lens renders

Compared to the 90mm lens with the same specs, this Elmarit-R stands out for its straightforward image rendering. The color tone is neutral and doesn't push saturation — that honest, quintessentially Leica feel. In terms of sharpness, even wide open at f/2.8 it's genuinely usable and still holds its own on modern mirrorless cameras. Stop down to around f/8 and the detail tightens up further, making it well-suited to portrait work where you want to capture skin texture and dimension naturally. Contrast is naturally on the lower side, giving a filmic tone. It holds detail in both highlights and shadows, leaving plenty of room to color-grade in post. The bokeh melts the background smoothly without being distracting — especially at closer focus distances, where the backdrop turns especially soft and creamy. The all-metal body feels solid in the hand. As a short telephoto in the portrait family, it emphasizes the truth of the image over flashy character. Well-suited to someone who enjoys a slow, deliberate way of shooting — a vintage Leica R-mount lens that deserves to be both collected and actually used.

In the box

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Honest disclosure