Telyt 40cm f/5 for Visoflex, needing info and advice

[fWord]

Good day fellow Forumers!

Since Jan of this year I've been hooked onto Leica lenses and have been probing around Ebay a lot for new lenses. Yesterday I saw a Telyt 40cm f/5 for Visoflex listed here with pictures:

Leica M3 Camera Visoflex Lens A5007 - eBay (item 110284037859 end time Aug-27-08 19:28:14 PDT)

The price looked pretty alright considering I was bidding past US$465 on a Telyt-R 400/6.8 previously. Could anyone give me more information about the Visoflex lens above? I'm guessing that it's a Type 2 with a screw thread but has been hooked onto a Visoflex housing for an M camera.

I was actually hoping to use it on my Canon camera that takes traditional EF lenses. My guess is that I could detach the entire Visoflex housing and then get a M39 Visoflex to EOS adapter to use it on my Canon camera where it will be able to reach infinity focus and function like any other old manual focus, manual aperture lens. Is this assumption correct?

What sort of filters will the lens take? I'm thinking about using it with at least a UV filter for protection so that it won't get scratched when I am out in the field.

What is the optical performance like? I've done a search and come up with mixed reviews. People like Erwin Puts thinks that the contrast is low and to put it simply, that the lens is not fantastic, while I have read opinions of others that speak highly of the lens, citing low contrast but otherwise very good underlying resolution and flatness of field.

Anyway, hope I didn't overpay for it. It was a heat of the moment purchase.

Thanks to anyone who can provide me more info...I'm very keen on all these old lenses. Not a true collector but really a user who is hunting for bargains instead of paying through the nose for modern Canon lenses (which are also great, but way expensive).

[mooky]

Well I noticed it sold, and for a good price, Yes, it's not the most contrasty lens by today's standards but in it's day it was highly regarded. For years, Bob Langer, a sports photographer at the Chicago Sun Times swore by the lens and actually had it mounted on the early Nikon F bodies with Motors and used it into the mid 70's. I saw his set-up and it was a nice piece of kit.

I ended up with the later Televit 400 and 560 mm f/5.6 instead. These are just as nice as the later 6.8's. The filters for the 400 F/5 are screw-in front filters, but I'm afraid I haven't any useful info for you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,best of luck...

[fWord]

Originally Posted by mooky

Well I noticed it sold, and for a good price, Yes, it's not the most contrasty lens by today's standards but in it's day it was highly regarded. For years, Bob Langer, a sports photographer at the Chicago Sun Times swore by the lens and actually had it mounted on the early Nikon F bodies with Motors and used it into the mid 70's. I saw his set-up and it was a nice piece of kit.

I ended up with the later Televit 400 and 560 mm f/5.6 instead. These are just as nice as the later 6.8's. The filters for the 400 F/5 are screw-in front filters, but I'm afraid I haven't any useful info for you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,best of luck...

Thanks for the reply. It's good to hear some historical details about this lens...it's always nice to know a little more about what you're using, I guess. I bought the lens yesterday as soon as I found it for sale. Then I later found that the same lens was on sale on at least two other occasions at $499 but passed in with no bids. The $100 drop was enough to tempt me.

[Philippe D.]

Hi,

Originally Posted by fWord

Yesterday I saw a Telyt 40cm f/5 for Visoflex (...) Could anyone give me more information about the Visoflex lens above? I'm guessing that it's a Type 2 with a screw thread but has been hooked onto a Visoflex housing for an M camera.

Yes this is the 2nd version of this lens, made 1956-1966, with 4 elements in 3 groups. The 1st version was made 1937-1955, had 5 elements in 4 groups.
I have a later model of this Telyt (#1876xxx) which i use from time to time, for the fun.

My guess is that I could detach the entire Visoflex housing and then get a M39 Visoflex to EOS adapter to use it on my Canon camera where it will be able to reach infinity focus and function like any other old manual focus, manual aperture lens. Is this assumption correct?

They are 3 parts here, the lens, an adapter (ref.16466 or OUBIO) and the Visoflex (this one version 1 with M bayonet).
I don't know what you can do to mount it on a Canon, but the use of the OUBIO adapter and the Visoflex (#1, 2 or 3) is, because of the focus length, mandatory.

What sort of filters will the lens take?

It takes an E85 filter.

[fWord]

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

Hi,Yes this is the 2nd version of this lens, made 1956-1966, with 4 elements in 3 groups. The 1st version was made 1937-1955, had 5 elements in 4 groups.
I have a later model of this Telyt (#1876xxx) which i use from time to time, for the fun.
They are 3 parts here, the lens, an adapter (ref.16466 or OUBIO) and the Visoflex (this one version 1 with M bayonet).
I don't know what you can do to mount it on a Canon, but the use of the OUBIO adapter and the Visoflex (#1, 2 or 3) is, because of the focus length, mandatory.
It takes an E85 filter.

Ah, thanks for the reply. I was beginning to lose hope about finding more info on this lens. Sounds like I have all the parts available and just need to add a Visoflex M to EOS adapter to use it on my camera. The lens has a huge chimney attached to it though, and I'm hoping that wouldn't be needed for use on the Canon camera. Does it detach easily? Also, does E85 stand for a normal 85mm screw-in filter?

[Philippe D.]

Originally Posted by fWord

I was beginning to lose hope about finding more info on this lens.

Not that quickly dude.

Sounds like I have all the parts available and just need to add a Visoflex M to EOS adapter to use it on my camera.

I guess so.

The lens has a huge chimney attached to it ... Does it detach easily?

Yes.

does E85 stand for a normal 85mm screw-in filter?

Yes.

[fWord]

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

Not that quickly dude.
I guess so.
Yes.
Yes.

Brilliant. Only trouble I've read is the issue with finding an 85mm filter. But at least I don't need a special retaining ring for it. When I actually get the lens in the mail I'd probably have even more questions. Hope someone here uses this lens and can educate me about its qualities and its quirks. I'm preparing to receive a very heavy lens because it supposedly weighs over 2kg on its own.

[Philippe D.]

Originally Posted by fWord

Only trouble I've read is the issue with finding an 85mm filter.

Quite expensive they are...
Look here: Leicashop

[fWord]

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

Quite expensive they are...
Look here: Leicashop

Crikey! That costs almost as much as what I paid for the lens!! I was looking for a 85mm - XXmm step up ring as well that could possibly make things easier to deal with, but 85mm is a very odd filter size.