The Leica 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit-M (11800) is a compact, manual-focus prime lens for the Leica M mount, weighing just 225g, with a maximum aperture of f/2.8, a 39mm filter thread, a minimum focus distance of 1 metre, and a 10-blade aperture stopping down to f/16.
Key Specifications
- Focal length: 90mm (prime)
- Maximum aperture: f/2.8
- Minimum aperture: f/16
- Aperture blades: 10
- Lens mount: Leica M
- Minimum focus distance: 1m
- Filter thread: 39mm
- Weight: 225g
- Autofocus: No — manual focus only
- Image stabilisation: None
What makes the Leica 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit-M special?
The Tele-Elmarit-M (11800) — sometimes called the "thin" version — offers a sharp, portable 90mm that doesn't dominate the camera. At 225g it fits easily into a jacket pocket alongside your M body, and the compact barrel keeps the whole kit genuinely pocketable in a way that heavier 90mm options do not.
Optically, sharpness is strong. Centre resolution is excellent from f/2.8, and the 10-blade aperture produces smooth, rounded bokeh that flatters portrait subjects. Distortion and chromatic aberration are well-controlled for a lens of this age and price point, making out-of-camera results clean and film-scanner-friendly.
The older "fat" Tele-Elmarit uses brass helicoids that give noticeably longer focus travel and a smoother, more dampened feel. The 11800 "thin" version trades some of that focus throw for a significantly smaller and lighter package. Neither is objectively better; they suit different shooting styles.
The Leica 90mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH gains one full stop of light (f/2 vs f/2.8) plus apochromatic correction that virtually eliminates colour fringing wide open. The rendering of the Tele-Elmarit-M is compared by many shooters as very similar in overall look to the APO-Summicron — just a stop slower and at a fraction of the cost. For street, travel, and casual portrait work where f/2.8 is entirely sufficient, that trade-off is easy to justify.
The Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar is frequently considered as an alternative. It is even smaller, slightly sharper by some measurements, and costs less — but it lacks the Leica heritage and the build quality nuances that M system loyalists value. The Tele-Elmarit-M (11800) occupies a sweet spot: genuine Leica glass, compact form, and second-hand prices that make it one of the most accessible M-mount 90mm options.
