Blinded by Beauty.
Following the re-issue of the Summaron-M 28 f/5.6, Leica are now further expanding their line of classic lenses with the Thambar-M 90 f/2.2. Once again, the exterior design has been carefully modified, while the optical calculations remain unchanged.
When the Thambar was originally released in 1935, Leica lenses were already renowned for their exceptionally sharp rendition. So it was all the more surprising when Leitz introduced a soft focus lens which – despite being named after the Greek term ‘thambo’, meaning ‘blurred’ – gave rise to images whose romantic aesthetics are not only unmatched by any other lens to this day, but also impossible to replicate in digital post-processing.
This makes the new Thambar an exciting counterpoint to Leica’s other 90mm focal length lenses, and allows the modern-day photographer to experience the unique characteristics of this classic lens; or, as the Greek would say, ‘me thambose me teen omorfia tis’: to be blinded by beauty.
Breaking the Mould.
Manufactured by Leitz from 1935, the Thambar 9cm f/2.2 achieved a relatively low production quantity of just 2,984 units, which partly explains its great popularity among collectors.
When developing the Thambar, the engineers surrounding Max Berek were able to draw on their vast expertise regarding the causes and correction of optical flaws, in order to design an intrinsically sharp lens which nevertheless permitted a carefully determined level of spherical aberrations – thus giving rise to the desired soft-focus effect. When the Thambar was first launched more than eighty years ago, it was intended for photography enthusiasts who were highly skilled at their craft.
Today, the ability to adjust images in the camera’s Live View monitor makes it much easier to achieve the desired results with this truly exceptional lens.
Luminous Glow.
The Thambar’s distinctive, dreamily romantic look and unmistakeable bokeh are created by deliberately undercorrected spherical aberration, along with 20 aperture blades for the circular rendition of out-of-focus highlights. Because the aberration increases towards the periphery of the optical system, both the extension of the depth of field and the degree of diffusion can be precisely controlled via the stepless aperture ring.
Widening the aperture increases the soft focus, whereas stopping down reduces the effect. The lightproof area at the centre of the soft focus spot filter prevents the axial rays (which generate sharp focus) from reaching the sensor – resulting in an even more intense soft focus appearance.
The Thambar is like a paintbrush for photographers, helping to paint unique effects with light
Jolie Luo
With a massive following on Instagram, Jolie Luo uses her Leica cameras to depict the world she sees during her travels and the people she meets. She is a recognized photographer at the national level and member of the Chinese Photographers Association, she is also member of the British Royal Photographic Association.
The figurative meaning of the Greek term ‘thambo’ means ‘to be blinded by beauty’
Lars Netopil und Jesko von Oeynhausen
The release of the Thambar-M 90 f/2.2 makes a unique classic Leica lens available to the modern-day photographer: Leitz’s first and only soft-focus lens, which creates a dreamlike, romantic effect particularly in the portrait range.
We talked about the new Thambar-M with Lars Netopil, vice president of Leica Historica e.V. (Leica Historica Association), and owner of the Leica Store Wetzlar, and Jesko von Oeynhausen, product manager for the M-System.
State-of-the-art Lens Design.
The new Thambar has almost entirely adopted the design of the original lens – featuring the same proportions, black paint finish and red and white aperture scales as its 1930s predecessor. The red scale applies when the center spot filter is in place, which diminishes the effective aperture of the lens – for example, from 2.2 to 2.3 when wide open. When working without the center spot filter, the white aperture scale is used. In order to retain its vintage appeal, the Thambar’s exterior has only been subtly adapted to reflect the pared-down character of contemporary M lenses. This takes the form of details such as the knurling (which is now in line with the standard Leica style generally used today), the lettering on the lens, which is inlaid in the now customary LG (Leitz Gravur) font, as well as the introduction of clear-cut edges and chamfers, which serve to emphasise the precision of the lens design.
The optical design of the new Thambar is almost identical to that of the original – the only difference being that the lens elements are now single-coated to protect the glass from environmental influences and corrosion. This also makes the new Thambar an interesting addition for collectors, who are now able to apply the lens in practice, without having to expose their vintage original to wear-and- tear.