Vintage long lenses for M9

[Deliberate1]

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Friends, as I was perusing recent threads I came across a splendid image of a mother and baby rhino jaapv took with a lens identified as a 400mm Noflexar T. Whilst I have a lovely 90mm Elmarit M, it did not occur to me that there may be vintage long lenses that may be compatible with the M9, even if they do not couple with the camera's metering system. I suppose mounting adapters would be a consideration. And there are likely other factors beyond my limited technical imagination.

Anyone out there shooting mixing this millennium's technology with glass from another era?

Naturally, image samples most welcomed.

Much obliged.

David

Edited April 19, 2014 by Deliberate1

[peterbengtson]

The metering system would work normally, but the rangefinder focus would not work as most of these lenses have no focusing cam and the accuracy of the rangefinder beyond 90-135 lenses is unusable.

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[Ronazle]

The easiest way to mount "long" lenses on a M-9 is via the Visoflex III. While you lose some of the original functions, most are still there. The preferred mode of operation would be to focus, lock the mirror up and then snap the photo, if one moves the mirror up slowly (Viso mode two [?], manual mirror movement) the autoexposure feature will work, which is what I normally do. When using the instant up mirror mode, the autoexposure usually does not work, but a preset shutter speed will take care of that problem. Older, non-Leitz long lenses are relatively cheap (often under $100) and the Leitz ones are much cheaper than they originally were, the 280mm F:/4.8 Telyt seems to be less than $700 in near new condition on Ebay. Regards, Ron

[Deliberate1]

Ron, much obliged for the recommendation. I am doing my due dilience. There is a wealth of information on this adapter.

Isn't it just like Leica to design components that can be used cross-generationally.

[Ronazle]

As I'm sure you know by now, the viso will easily adapt the M8/M9 to very close up work. Probably the most useful book dealing with Leica accessories would be "The Leica/Leicaflex Way" (any edition) which is available at bargain prices. It is a great source for all older Leica "stuff". Regards, Ron

[swamiji]

If you are going to do macro with a non-LV M, Visoflex with a bellows can't be beat.

 

However back to the OP, older Visoflex glass is not on par with more recent M or R lenses, but that can be a good thing for truly unique images. My tylet 560 is a pretty poor performer, which I would not trade for the world.

[jaapv]

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Friends, as I was perusing recent threads I came across a splendid image of a mother and baby rhino jaapv took with a lens identified as a 400mm Noflexar T. Whilst I have a lovely 90mm Elmarit M, it did not occur to me that there may be vintage long lenses that may be compatible with the M9, even if they do not couple with the camera's metering system. I suppose mounting adapters would be a consideration. And there are likely other factors beyond my limited technical imagination.

Anyone out there shooting mixing this millennium's technology with glass from another era?

Naturally, image samples most welcomed.

Much obliged.

David

Thanks for the nice comment . I sold the Noflexar T - a great lens with excellent image quality- for being too big and heavy and replaced by the Vario-Elmar 105-280 plus extenders on the DMR.

Of course all long lenses on M cameras before the M240 had to be Visoflex lenses. I have been using quite a few over the years. If you search the forum you will find a considerable number of threads on the subject, including the 800 mm monster-Telyt.

[bocaburger]

I have a 400mm f/6.8 Telyt-V which I use on my M9 via a Visoflex-III. This lens is light weight, comes apart in two for traveling, and produces excellent results. The Visoflex is cumbersome and slow compared to live view on an M240, but the viewfinder image in a Visoflex is (for me) much, much crisper and easier to focus than the EVF. That said, I have an adapter that lets me use that lens on Canon EOS, and using it on my 5D is by far the best for me. I had the 560mm head for it at one time, but it was just too huge and awkward.

[fotoism]

David:

The world of Visoflex and Telyt sould indeed be mesmerizing, depending on your personality. I have multiple copies of Telyts from 200mm all the way to both versions of 560mm and Visoflex II and III housings (plus bellows for macro) and they provide pleasure very different from today's modern technology. There is no auto-focus, and lenses of yesteryears are not clinically sharp, but they just come out with a unique look. Yes, you may run into chromatic aberration or vinynetting but nothing cannot be fixed in post. Please take your time to browse around and you will find quite a few threads discussing related topics here on this forum.

[Deliberate1]

David:

The world of Visoflex and Telyt sould indeed be mesmerizing, depending on your personality. I have multiple copies of Telyts from 200mm all the way to both versions of 560mm and Visoflex II and III housings (plus bellows for macro) and they provide pleasure very different from today's modern technology.

 

Phil, thanks for your contribution.

True, my foray into the Visoflex world is revealing all manners of remarkable optical creatures. Just the appearance of the III, with its viewfinder appendage, and that "arm" conjures a device inspired by Jules Verne.

As to more practical matters, I assume that the adapter and viewfinder substitute for the camera's viewing/focusing system? Does one just take a manual reading and dial it in with the correct f stop, lock up the mirror and release the shutter?

And while I am sure that you love all your Telyts children equally, do you happen to favor a particular iteration just a bit more than the rest? That is, what to look for as a first lens purchase.

Much obliged,

Regards,

David

[fotoism]

I usually just leave the rangefinder window alone and look through the Visoflex viewfinder for composing and focusing. Usually I open up the aperture to focus, then stop down to the preset (whatever the final aperture you wish) for exposure.

 

You can use auto-exposure (stopped down unelss you intend to use full aperture later) for the first shot to get an idea then fine tune it for subsequent shots.

 

Depending on the subject I do not always lock up the mirror, although that would reduce vibration. For moving subjects like wildlife you just don't have time to focus, adjust aperture, lock mirror, and press shutter. Instead, I set the mirror to the black dot so it starts rising when I start pressing down the shutter arm. That should give the camera enough time to determine exposure properly. I don't use the yellow dot because I find sometimes the exposure would be off as mentioned by other members. In situtations where I must reduce vibration to an absolute minimum and when subject matters allow (such as more stationary objects) I would lock up the mirror and even use a shutter release cable (or self timer) to trigger the shutter release button.

[Deliberate1]

Great process explanation.

Did you intentionally duck my "favorite child" question so as not to play favorites?

David

[fotoism]

No, I didn't answer because I couldn't.

[Deliberate1]

No, I didn't answer because I couldn't.

 

A gentleman never tells.....