Telyt-R 6.8/400mm or Telyt-R 1:4 / 250mm

[bartohomar]

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I have a Digilux 3, and am considering buying a lens for taking pictures of birds. I'm in doubt between two possibilities: Telyt-R 6.8/400mm or Telyt-R 1:4 / 250mm. Obviously I have the adapter for R lenses for the Digilux 3. I would like to know your opinions for and against each of these lenses for this camera. Thanks.

 

Barto

[jaapv]

I would say a 400 on a 4/3rds camera is quite ambitious. You are looking at 800 mm equivalent. A heavy tripod seems to be mandatory. Even a 250 takes experience to handle, at least a bean-bag. The image quality of both lenses will certainly be very good, as the sensor will hit the sweet spot.

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[wildlightphoto]

I would say a 400 on a 4/3rds camera is quite ambitious. You are looking at 800 mm equivalent. A heavy tripod seems to be mandatory.

 

+1

 

I'd also suggest that (IMHO) the 400mm f/6.8 Telyt is better as a hand-held lens than on a tripod.

[jaapv]

 

I'd also suggest that (IMHO) the 400mm f/6.8 Telyt is better as a hand-held lens than on a tripod.

+1

[Paolo.Battista]

I shot regularly with the latest version of Telyt 250 f:4 on Digilux-3 and Olympus E-3.

The lens is capable of very good results on 4/3 cameras.

Personally I prefer shooting with the E-3 thanks to its very good optical viewfinder and far better precision in the focus confirmation (with the right chipped adapter mounted on the camera).

I didn't tried the 400 f:6.8, only the 560 f:6.8. Great lens, great results, but very uncomfortable to use on a 4/3 body.

 

Best regards.

 

Paolo

[tobey bilek]

800 mm equivalent is going to be hard to hand hold. On a tripod it is ok, but even so, two pods or a body support from body to tripod leg are requoired for best results. Manfrotto made mine. However birds rarely sit long enough to get it set up. The only one was a hawk who sat for an hour in my tree looking for prey. All he ever moved was his head sweeping the ground for close to an hour.

 

I would pick the last version of the 250 with internal focus and the ROTATING tripod collar.

It has a rectangular foot that fits the shoulder shock. There is a spring loaded pin in the shoulder stock that fits into a hole in the foot preventing rotation. The first version is a beast to handle, heavy & awkward.

 

With either lens. I highly recommend the later version of the shoulder stock. This is the one not made entirely of 3/8" tubing. It has a non slip pad that fits your shoulder.

 

I would go hunting with the 250 and shoulder stock on your camera.

 

If I used film, a larger sensor or full frame, 400 would be my choice. 400 adapted to my digtal Nikons works fine, APS sensor better for longer reach. Full frame works ok also.

I use the M tube with Camera Quest adapter.Leica to Nikon. The R tube is too long to adapt, so I recommend a viso version for future proof.

[pico]

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Douglas Herr is a telephoto master. I'd look to some kind of chest-pod like his if you cannot use a tripod.