Leica Thambar-M soft-focus portrait lens at 90mm, deliberate dreamy rendering recreating the legendary pre-war original.
The Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2 is a soft-focus portrait lens for the Leica M mount — a modern reissue of the legendary 1935 Thambar, one of the most famous soft-focus lenses ever made. Limited production. Leica M mount.
f/2.2 maximum aperture (soft-focus design). 90mm focal length (full-frame portrait telephoto). Distinctive soft-focus rendering wide open. Rangefinder-coupled. 6-bit coded. Leica M mount.
The Thambar-M produces a characteristic soft glow at f/2.2 — the lens was designed for period portrait photography before retouching was common. Max Berek designed the original 1935 Thambar to soften skin tones. The 2017 reissue maintains the original optical formula with modern CRF coupling.
On the used market the Leica Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2 is a rare limited-edition soft-focus portrait lens. Condition checks: front element, soft-focus disc. Leica M mount.