bpalme Posted July 29, 2012 Share #1 Posted July 29, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Any comments on this deal? ($327): Leica M 135 F4 ELMAR WETZLAR (39) 35MM RANGEFINDER MANUAL FOCUS TELEPHOTO LENS - KEH.com I don't really want to spend much more than that since it will won't be used very often. I may see a few wildlife shots next week so thought maybe I would like a long lens on the upcoming trip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 29, 2012 Posted July 29, 2012 Hi bpalme, Take a look here 135 Elmar. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bocaburger Posted July 29, 2012 Share #2 Posted July 29, 2012 I have that model lens, in addition to a late-model Hektor and a Tele-Elmar, and a now-sold APO-Telyt. The Elmar, at least my copy, is a remarkable lens. Longer but lighter than the T-E, and with a very useful tripod collar. The big performance jump came from the Hektor (not a bad lens itself) to the Elmar at wider apertures. Slight-if-any improvement from Elmar to the T-E, similar to the slight-if-any improvement from T-E to the APO-Telyt. IF the one you get happens to be spot-on focusing with the M9, you will not regret buying it. Major bang-for-the-buck. KEH gives you 2 weeks to try it out and send it back with no hassle or expense other than shipping (and this weekend the shipping to you is free). You can't lose much by trying it, so I say go for it. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motivsucher Posted July 29, 2012 Share #3 Posted July 29, 2012 Sorry, I do not speak as good English as it should be : Is it a srew mount connexion or directly for Leica M? Thanks for help in advance. Motivsucher Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted July 29, 2012 Share #4 Posted July 29, 2012 It is a useful lens, often discussed in the forums. If the price is in US $, for EX+ condition I think the price is marginally on the high side.Two years ago I bought a near mint example in the UK for £149 and that included the necessary detachable lens hood and the original 'keeper'.. Prices do vary reflecting supply and demand. I took mine to the Swiss Alps last year and got some stunning early morning sunrise shots from my hotel balcony. Although I have since added the Tele-Elmar, which succeeded the Elmar, and that has noticeably better clarity, I haven't parted with the Elmar which I now mostly use for outdoor portraiture.. For very occasional use, the Elmar is a sensible choice. If you have time, I suggest you intensify your search and try and find a specimen with the lens hood included. Some even have the original 'keeper'. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted July 29, 2012 Share #5 Posted July 29, 2012 Sorry, I do not speak as good English as it should be : Is it a srew mount connexion or directly for Leica M? Thanks for help in advance. Motivsucher I believe two versions were made, for screw and M-mount cameras. Can't speak for the OP, but the advert is for Leica-M version. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share #6 Posted July 29, 2012 Yeah, I think it is M mount.. It says Leica M anyway. I went ahead and ordered it since my trip is next week I don't have a bunch of time. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share #7 Posted July 29, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) If anyone has links for info about this lens let me know. All I can find is KRs website. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 29, 2012 Share #8 Posted July 29, 2012 It is a useful lens, often discussed in the forums. If the price is in US $, for EX+ condition I think the price is marginally on the high side.Two years ago I bought a near ...the Tele-Elmar, which succeeded the Elmar, and that has noticeably better clarity, I haven't parted with the Elmar which I now mostly use for outdoor portraiture.. For very occasional use, the Elmar is a sensible choice. Two years ago all Leica M lenses could be bought significantly cheaper. That was then, this is now. Probably could find one cheaper on eBay, but KEH tends to grade conservatively, gives 2 weeks to return, and a 6 month warranty, which IMO mitigates paying a little more. In the US, with the decline in independent camera stores, and retirement of major mailorder used Leica specialists like James Kuehl and Don Chatterton (who were never that inexpensive compared with KEH) the reputable sources are limited. As to the comparison with the T-E I think it has partly to do with sample variation. I've had four T-Es and two Elmars over the years and really couldn't see an appreciable difference in actual use, though I don't dispute that there is a difference. And for some reason it seems easier to find an Elmar that's calibrated well to the M9 than a T-E. I went through two of them recently, sent the second to a pro for adjustment and still had to mill down the optical cell housing in order to get it to focus spot-on with the M9. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 29, 2012 Share #9 Posted July 29, 2012 If anyone has links for info about this lens let me know. All I can find is KRs website. Eastland and Puts both have brief commentary in their respective compendia. Take them all, including KR, as the subjective assessments they are. Unless the one you're buying is out of whack, I'm confident you will like the lens. BTW if you have the clip-on hood for any of the e39 90mms (including the Makro-Elmar) it's the correct one for the 135 Elmar. The vented 35-50 hood or the rubber one for the thin 90 T-E are also better than nothing. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 30, 2012 Share #10 Posted July 30, 2012 (edited) I found the Elmar 135 is the best infrared lens I've ever seen. Edited July 30, 2012 by jaapv 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 30, 2012 Share #11 Posted July 30, 2012 AFAIK the Elmar 135/4 has been made in three versions: M (# 11850), LTM (# 11750) and head alone (# 11951) for use with Visoflex. Great lens indeed. It is the lightest Leica 135 ever made if i'm not wrong: 440g vs 450g for the Apo-Telyt 135/3.4 and 550g for the Tele-Elmars 135/4 # 11851 & 11861. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Elmar_1:4_/_135mm 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted July 30, 2012 Edit the OP.. The lens in the link is not there anymore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 30, 2012 Share #13 Posted July 30, 2012 Not a problem. They come up fairly often. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 30, 2012 Share #14 Posted July 30, 2012 Edit the OP.. The lens in the link is not there anymore. You said you ordered it, that might be why it's not on the KEH site anymore? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted July 30, 2012 Share #15 Posted July 30, 2012 The hood for the 135mm Elmar is the IUFOO/12575. This did fit the late 90mm Elmar, 90mm Elmarit, 90mm Tele-Elmarit 'thick' and 'thin' (though the later also uses a folding rubber hood), 135mm Elmar, 135mm Tele-Elmar first type mounts – and the current 90mm Macro-Elmar! So you can have it brand new as a replacement. The old man from th Age of Old Junk 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumen Posted July 30, 2012 Share #16 Posted July 30, 2012 Hi, I have this lens and a few observations to share if you'd like; physically its very tidy- beautifully made (aperture clicks perfect after 50+ years) and can be carried comfortably in the breast pocket of a coat without bulk or burden. Optically its capable of some really nice pictures- the colours and general look are lovely. Unfortunately, while this is clearly a very fine lens I've not been able to get the most out of it yet because of focusing issues which I'm trying to get to the bottom of. I will certainly persevere with this as once settled it'll be plenty 135mm for me. Anyway, here are some pictures taken with this lens (unfortunately haven't managed to execute a distance photo yet, despite use of tripod so mostly <20ft). p.s. there is also a visoflex bonus with the detachable lens head on this one! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share #17 Posted July 30, 2012 You said you ordered it, that might be why it's not on the KEH site anymore? Yes, I was trying to edit the OP because it is now gone. ( I bought it). But I can't edit the post. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 30, 2012 Share #18 Posted July 30, 2012 I often use one of THESE with my 135s. Life-size view, calibrated for infinity (with marks for close-up, plus mechanical parallax correction) and you can keep both eyes open and the frame seems to float in air. For landscapes etc it's very nice. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted July 30, 2012 Share #19 Posted July 30, 2012 Better still use an M3, all thats built in :-) Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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