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 modern recreation of the legendary pre-war Thambar soft-focus portrait lens, deliberately designed to produce a controlled soft-focus effect at wider apertures that sharpens up when stopped down. The Thambar provides a dreamy, painterly rendering unique among modern Leica lenses.
The f/2.2 maximum aperture produces the Thambar's characteristic controlled spherical aberration that creates a soft glow around highlights and a dreamy, impressionistic quality. The included centre-spot filter enhances the effect further. Stopping down progressively reduces the softness to conventional sharpness.
Build quality is current-production Leica with machined brass and the premium finishing expected of a specialised optical instrument. The included centre-spot filter and premium presentation reflect the lens's position as a deliberate artistic tool rather than a conventional portrait lens.
The Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2 commands premium prices as a unique creative tool in the Leica M system. The deliberately soft rendering provides an artistic effect impossible to replicate with conventional sharp lenses and post-processing filters.