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APO Telyt 280 f/4 - R prices


M9reno

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Presumably the two currently listed on eBay for £4-4.5 K are not at all realistically priced?

 

I say this knowing well that with only 2000 copies of this lens made (and none currently listed with any dealer I know) it is hard to calculate price. But even a sample sold recently at the Miami Leica Shop fetched less, and I can find no examples justifying anything close to that price, especially for a private sale.

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Given that they were extremely expensive when new and are still the best lens in their class nowadays, I would not call that too overpriced for a mint example.

Whether you would want to pay that price is another thing.

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Thanks Jaap. I'd pay that price, but only if it were extremely unlikely that a lower asking price can, with patience and luck, be found. So the issue is whether there is significant overpricing in these listings, in the region of 30%.

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Thanks Jaap. I'd pay that price, but only if it were extremely unlikely that a lower asking price can, with patience and luck, be found. So the issue is whether there is significant overpricing in these listings, in the region of 30%.

 

With a lot of patience and a lot of luck and personal connections with someone who is familiar with your work and would like to see you continue making your photographs a lower asking price can be found. Whether these listings are overpriced or not is a question for the market to answer.

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Glad I invested well. My 280/4 3 cam cost me Euro 1600 in 2007 - not that I would sell it, especially as It works on my S(006) with an adapter as well as my 2 DMRs.

 

To be honest, I don't think the price is too unreasonable given the rarity and undisputed quality of the lens, even for Leica. If you can't afford it, don't buy it.

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I collected a pristine copy of the lens yesterday. I took it out today and am now catching my breath at the amount of detail this thing delivers. I am also pleasantly surprised at how portable it is. This is shot handheld, struggling against very cold, strong wind on top of a hill. The enlargement speaks for itself. Thank you again to all who took the time to advise on the question of price.

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I bought this lens as a boxed mint copy in 2012 for $3,990. The 280/2.8 is optically just about perfect. On the M240 it is amazing. On the Sony A7r I had, it was even more amazing. It has contrast and sharpness that is well beyond either of these two cameras.

 

Going into the future with higher MP sensors, it is going to be interesting, for the 2,000 owners of this lens, to see just how much resolution this lens can produce on future sensors. It is always going to be about the optics. And this lens is as good as it gets at this point in time.

 

Odd as it may seem, this lens is the future.

 

Rick

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280 /2.8, Rick? I believe you own or owned both lenses. What is your feeling currently on how they compare?

 

I have had the 280/4 ASPO, the 280/2.8 APO (non modular) and the Tamron 300/2.8 LDIF with the adapt all 2 mount all at the same time a few years ago. The 280/4 was the best lens, but the Tamron and 280/2.8 APO were surprisingly close. I only have the 280/4 now, so I doubt I'll be able to post any pics to show sadly.

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280 /2.8, Rick? I believe you own or owned both lenses. What is your feeling currently on how they compare?

 

I used an early version of the 280/2.8 APO (no filter slot) for a few months pre-digital while my 280/4 was in Solms for repair. I found the 280/4 to be superior in nearly every respect:

 

  • closer minimum focus distance
  • better tripod mount
  • better bokeh
  • better image detail, particularly outside the central third of the picture area
  • higher contrast makes focussing quicker and easier

 

IMHO the 280/2.8's only advantage is the faster aperture, which was of little value to me since I often stop the lens down to f/5.6 or f/8 for DOF

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I recently did some tests on my S2, the 280/4 with 1.4x was sharper than the 400/4 Modular until the latter was stopped down to f8 where both lenses became similar....

 

john

 

I saw John's test images and all I can say is WOW and this was the 280 with an extender!!. The only advantage of the 400/4 - the combination of head and focus module that Puts says is the best of the modulars - is one stop of light.

 

I bought this lens as a boxed mint copy in 2012 for $3,990.

 

Does anyone wants to hear what I paid for a 280/4 ten years ago?

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wildlightphoto,

 

First off: Yes people do want know what was paid for the lens... that is the title of the discussion we are on. You are on the wrong thread if you think this is the pump the 280/4.0?

 

Secondly, the 280/2.8 is another killer lens. There is not a lot of difference between the two. The 280/4.0 is certainly the best. But, the 280/2.8 is also so close as to be another great Leica lens that is also a stop faster than the 280/4.0. Both are about the same once printed large.

 

I know you shot the 280/2.8 and you have an opinion on how they are not that close. But, I have owned both and still own both. They are so close. It is really hard to tell them apart. One is a stop faster at an enviable f2.8 and the other is that much sharper at f4.0. What's not to like. Peace.

 

Rick

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