Telyt 5/400

[sandro]

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So far I have been using several lenses and lens heads on Visoflex III and on Bellows II. I am fascinated by the possibilities of the whole system, even though it is a lot of work and fuss to get everything right.

My question is: who of you are using the Telyt f5 / 400 on the Visoflex, and for which kind of photographs?

Lex

[luigi bertolotti]

f5 is a 400mm (or, better , a "40 cm") like the following f5,6 and f 6,8, and can be used for the same kind of picture (nature, sports etc...) : its disadvantage is that is heavier, with more glass elements and bulkier mounts (it was made in two versions - the oldest weighs 0,5 kg more than the 5,6/6,8) ; also, it has not any of the handling/focusing facilities that were made for the 5,6 - 6,8 versions, so it's even more difficult to think to use it without a tripod : I have the oldest version of the 40cm f 5, and it's really unusable freehand. But they can still give good results (even the oldest was coated in postwar items) , in some circustamces even better than the "new" Telyts which, with their 2 elements design, have a noticeable spherical abherration which is clear at the frame corners : often it is not disturbing, when you have the main subject at center, as in many wildlife pics (see the splendid pictures of Doug Herr), but in landscapes at distance it can be annoying.

I remember that a Forum member from Iceland posted here some very fine nature pics taken with the F5 400 - 2nd version.

Edited May 3, 2010 by luigi bertolotti

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[jc_braconi]

Just for illustrating Luigi comments :

 

 

[zeitz]

The lens head from the 400/5 can be mounted in Focorapid with the ultra-rare 98311 adapter and in the Televit with the only very-rare 14138 adapter. The unbalance and weight of the head makes the Focorapid mount almost unusable as the rack binds up from the weight. In contrast the shorter physical length of the true telephoto 400/5 head in the Televit is the best combination of all. As a result when I use my 400/5 for autoracing or wildlife, it is always in the Televit mount. I find the 400/5 to be a better performer than either the 400/5.6 or the 400/6.8. None of them however can match modern ED/IF glass Canon or Nikon lenses, in my experience. Others may have different results.

[luigi bertolotti]

The lens head from the 400/5 can be mounted in Focorapid with the ultra-rare 98311 adapter and in the Televit with the only very-rare 14138 adapter. The unbalance and weight of the head makes the Focorapid mount almost unusable as the rack binds up from the weight. In contrast the shorter physical length of the true telephoto 400/5 head in the Televit is the best combination of all. As a result when I use my 400/5 for autoracing or wildlife, it is always in the Televit mount. I find the 400/5 to be a better performer than either the 400/5.6 or the 400/6.8. None of them however can match modern ED/IF glass Canon or Nikon lenses, in my experience. Others may have different results.

 

Well, a detail I missed... I did not know that the 400 2nd version could fit into the Televit mount : that's interesting... I suppose, from what you wrote, that focus is correct, and the range the same as for the 5,6 Telyt. This could be a good reason for me to find one... ... I have the f5 1st and both the 5,6 / 6,8 duo... and had vaguely the idea to complete my "400s set"... just for collecting pleasure: the capability to use the head on the Televit makes me more tempted to do this addition...

Of course, the problem could be to find the 14138 adapter you quote... could you post a pic of it and/or of the whole Televit combo ? I'd like a lot to give a look at.

Edited May 5, 2010 by luigi bertolotti

[zeitz]

Luigi, I will indeed post pictures later tonight. And yes, the assembly works perfectly with infinity focus. 14138 also works with the 280/4.8. Perhaps only on the later lenses, not all, there is another set of threads under a conical ring just aft of the aperture ring. And yes, it works superb on the Televit too. I just don't find 280mm as useful as 400mm. I'm a big fan of Televit. On the other hand I find the 6.8 Telyt slide focus unusable.

[sandro]

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Very interesting to learn this. Does this mean that you don't use the Telyt f:5/400 in its regular mount on the Visoflex, either hand held or on a tripod? I have heard pther people complain about the Televit, aparently they were not very happy with it, but I understand you like the combination rather well. I am curious to see the pictures as well!

Thanks, Lex

[zeitz]

I will post pictures later tonight. Yes, when the 400/5 is mounted in the Televit, the regular mount is not used. Televit has a shoulder stock, but I normally use a tripod anyway. The problem with Televit and the 5.6 lenses is that the system is long and has a high "polar moment of inertia"; the heavy weight is a long distance from the hand grip. That means that it is hard to swing, then stop the swing. The 5.6 lenses are long and not true telephotos. So the 400mm 5.6 is about a half meter long - camera, Visoflex, grip, diaphragm, lens head and hood extended; the 560mm 5.6 is noticeably over a half meter long including the long hood. The 400/5 and 280/4.8 are much more compact and easy to handle as true telephotos are much shorter. I use the clutch in the Televit to slide the focus close to being correct, and then use the thumbwheel to fine-tune the focus. I find it quick and accurate.

[luigi bertolotti]

Luigi, I will indeed post pictures later tonight. And yes, the assembly works perfectly with infinity focus. 14138 also works with the 280/4.8. Perhaps only on the later lenses, not all, there is another set of threads under a conical ring just aft of the aperture ring. And yes, it works superb on the Televit too. I just don't find 280mm as useful as 400mm. I'm a big fan of Televit. On the other hand I find the 6.8 Telyt slide focus unusable.

I agree... the "Trombone-like" slide was not a smart achievement by Leitz engineers.

[zeitz]

Help! I took some pictures. But I can't figure out how to insert them. I've done it before, but when I hit the insert image icon, the dialoge is to insert a URL. When I hit the attachment icon, nothing happens. Perhaps my browser is interfering. "Manage Attachments" doesn't do anything either.

[zeitz]

OK. Here they are. When I started over, Manage Attachments worked.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[zeitz]

Here's a picture I took last summer in South Dakota with the 400/5 using the Televit focusing mount. The lens was on a tripod.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[luigi bertolotti]

Thanks Zeitz ! For what I can see the 14138 is the intermediate ring in the picture with the Telyt and Televit...is it the same ring used for the Focorapid ? And, is it the same you use for the 280 ? I have this lens too (2nd type) and would like to be able to use it on the focorapid (this makes me remember that I surely have a book, Lager probably, with a picture of 280 on Televit....)

Well, I think I'll start to chase for that 14138...

[sandro]

Thanks Zeitz, your pictures of the outfit and from South Dakota are very interesting. Do you feel that the picture from South Dakota you show us would have been more difficult to make without the Televit, that is with the Telyt 400 on a tripod and attached to the Visoflex with body?

Lex

[zeitz]

First to answer Sandro, the antelope was moving around pretty quickly. Also I took a lot of praire dog pictures. I do believe the Televit helped. Also I think the thumb wheel fine focus helps on the M8 where focus accuracy is so important.

 

Now to Luigi, yes 14138 is the ring between the Televit grip and the lens head. It is not used with Focorapid. 14138 is a thread to bayonet adapter unique to Televit. The Televit used the forward threads on the 280; the Focorapid uses the rear threads on the 280. That thread (rear thread) is the same as the basic Focorapid thread. The 280 adapter for Focorapid is actually just an extension tube to get the lens further forward for infinity focus. So you can put your head directly on Focorapid to try it out; you just won't have much close focus capability. But you could use an extension tube at the other end. I don't recall the code off the top of my head. I believe Leica shop as the 280 Focorapid adapter in stock.

 

The 280 on the Focorapid is a little out of balance, but it is workable. I have used the combination at autoraces.

 

Good luck finding a 14138. I bought mine from FotoHobby in Frankfort.

[zeitz]

Just to confirm, the lens head of the 280/4.8 will screw directly into Focorapid. The proper adapter is 14112, but it is actually a 21.5mm thick extension tube moving the head to infinity focus position. Two 16469 M-mount extension tubes between Focorapid and Visoflex II/III would give 20mm of extension, and accomplish the same thing, only needing 1.5 mm of Focorapid movement to get to infinity. So this approach would work very well.

 

14112 is rare and expensive. 16469 can be bought almost anyway, cheaply.

[luigi bertolotti]

....Good luck finding a 14138. I bought mine from FotoHobby in Frankfort.

 

My first round of Internet search proved it's really a rare bird...

[sandro]

Luigi, Zeitz, thanks for the very useful and interesting information. Contemplating the buy of a Telyt 5/400 suddenly a demo Apo Summicron M 90 mm Asph was offered somewhere for a beautiful price. So instead of the old Telyt I decided on the new Summicron, I will get it tomorrow. So far I only have the first version Elmarit 90 mm, which I like very much.

Lex

[luigi bertolotti]

Luigi, Zeitz, thanks for the very useful and interesting information. Contemplating the buy of a Telyt 5/400 suddenly a demo Apo Summicron M 90 mm Asph was offered somewhere for a beautiful price. So instead of the old Telyt I decided on the new Summicron, I will get it tomorrow. So far I only have the first version Elmarit 90 mm, which I like very much.

Lex

 

SIGH !!! So much competence and knowledge... and all this wasted for a TRIVIAL Cron 90 asph !!! You MUST buy a venerable Telyt 400 just for respect ...

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Hallo,

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[sandro]

SIGH !!! So much competence and knowledge... and all this wasted for a TRIVIAL Cron 90 asph !!! You MUST buy a venerable Telyt 400 just for respect ...

 

For me the Summicron 90 is not trivial! I won't forget the Telyt 400 but right now I can only spend the money once, so perhaps later the Telyt will find its way to my collection.