tdtaylor Posted January 30, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 30, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have been looking at adding a 135mm to my lineup. Unfortunately I know little about this focal length on a Leica M. Thinking of buying used since it will not be used heavily. In surveying the on line offerings, there is a large range of price. What would be a reasonable price for this lens in excellent or mint condition. I have bought and sold many very expensive lenses, but this one has me baffled. Any help or guidance (including a different lens to look at) would be appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 Hi tdtaylor, Take a look here Leica 135/4 Tele-Elmar M. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dkCambridgeshire Posted January 31, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 31, 2010 There are two versions of this lens which might account for the different prices. Type 1: Detachable hood manufactured 1965 - 1985 Type 2: Built in hood manufactured 1992-1998 In the UK prices vary between £200 - £300 for an average condition Type 1 depending on the dealer. Both versions have the same optical design so personal preference as regards the hood design might determine price paid. It's an excellent lens. Cheers dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted January 31, 2010 Share #3 Posted January 31, 2010 Recent threads about this subject: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/113307-opinions-images-135-mm-tele-elmar.html http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/113843-tele-elmar-m-4-135-a.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 31, 2010 Share #4 Posted January 31, 2010 I think that only the first version has the removable head (correct?). This is useful if you ever intend to get a Visoflex mirror housing. The 135 is at about the limit of focusing with the Leica rangefinder with 0.68 magnification. It works much better on a Visoflex with a 16464K short focusing mount. BTW I have just bought S/H, the entire rifle lens kit of 400 and 500 Telyt heads, Televit fast focusing mount, pistol grip and shoulder stock (I also will need to buy a T shirt saying "please Mr. Policeman, I am not a terrorist with a rocket launcher"). As this kit comes with a Visoflex and I already have one, I will be putting the spare Visoflex on the buy and sell section soon. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michali Posted February 1, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 1, 2010 I recently purchased a mint 1961 Tele Elmar when I picked up a back focusing problem on my 135mm Apo-Telyt just prior to my departure for a safari. I paid EURO450.00 which is very much on the high side, but had no choice, that was the only one I could get hold of on short notice. Here are a couple available from various dealers: (mine is the previous version, it looks more like the Hektor but is f4) Red Dot Cameras: (nicely priced) Red Dot Cameras - Leica Cameras, Leica Binoculars, Metz Flashguns, Manfrotto Tripods, Leitz Classic Camera: Leitz 135mm f4 Tele-Elmar blk lens & hood Leica Shop in Vienna also have a number on offer https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/leica-lenses-tele-elmar-4135-c-1000_1004_100454.html I'm pleased with the results: 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/111214-leica-1354-tele-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=1208604'>More sharing options...
Ted99 Posted February 1, 2010 Share #6 Posted February 1, 2010 One of my favorite lens. /T 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/111214-leica-1354-tele-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=1208615'>More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted February 1, 2010 Share #7 Posted February 1, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ffordes in Scotland; https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm also have a couple at reasonable prices - both series one - check that they have the correct hood and lens cap, as these items would be difficult to find. Ffordes are really nice people to deal with as many Forum members would vouch, and they are very efficient. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted February 1, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 1, 2010 This is my 'BUNDESWEHR' Mk 1 135mm Tele-Elmar .. don't have a hood for it unfortunately. Cheers dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted February 2, 2010 Ended up purchasing a Mk1 135TE. I was enamored by the small size- don't know why a 39mm filter size surprised me. Should have it in a couple of days along with my repaired M9. Thanks for the input above. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted February 4, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 4, 2010 Thanks for posting these great images of the 135mm TE. I just noticed 2 things about my regular (no BUNDESWEHR engraving) 40 year old 135mm TE: • When I hold my lens in the middle (where the DOF markings are) and at the end (that attaches to the camera and where the red dot is) I observe about a mm of loose play between those two parts. When turning the focus ring towards the left or right, the loose middle part of the lens (and the attached front part) rotate with the focus ring by about that mm. Questions: - Is this supposed to be that way? - Does this affect focus accuracy? - How can this be corrected? • While trying to unscrew an adapter ring, the front part with all of the lens' glass elements can be completely unscrewed and taken out of the outer part of the lens (from DOF to red dot). Questions: - Is this the same on all 135 TEs? - Does this need to get corrected? Thanks for a reply. With best regards, k-hawinkler Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
photolandscape Posted February 4, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 4, 2010 I have had two 135/4 Tele-Elmars and used both on my M8. I sold both. They were both Type 1's. Even under the best circumstances, focus and sharpness were a big issue. I don't know why, but I even had one sent out for CLA, and it really never was right. Occasionally, I was able to get a pretty outstanding result with the lens, but usually it was woefully out of focus, whether at f/4 or f/22. If it had worked well, I would have used it constantly, as I really like to be able to pull in and isolate subjects from a distance. If I could get one today that would work reliably on my M9, I'd buy it in a heart beat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted February 4, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 4, 2010 I have a 135/4 Tele-Elmar that I really like but I don't use it that much. It has a very nice signature. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted February 4, 2010 Share #13 Posted February 4, 2010 • When I hold my lens in the middle (where the DOF markings are) and at the end (that attaches to the camera and where the red dot is) I observe about a mm of loose play between those two parts. When turning the focus ring towards the left or right, the loose middle part of the lens (and the attached front part) rotate with the focus ring by about that mm. Questions: - Is this supposed to be that way? - Does this affect focus accuracy? - How can this be corrected? Do you refer to a small ROTATION between the two parts ? If so it could be normal and does not affect focusing in itself, even if the distance indication can be a bit unprecise; my one was like this... it can be fixed by a lab, anyway: the central element (thin black cylindric element with DOF scale) has to be properly tightened. • While trying to unscrew an adapter ring, the front part with all of the lens' glass elements can be completely unscrewed and taken out of the outer part of the lens (from DOF to red dot). Questions: - Is this the same on all 135 TEs? - Does this need to get corrected? It MUST be like that.. all the first generations of TE have the glass assembly that is removable, to mount it on the Visoflex device, with various adapters: with those configurations , the TE is an excellent Macro Lens (several pics in the forum, if you search: herunder, an example of a configuration with TE lens head, focusing ring + extender ring). Thanks for a reply. With best regards, k-hawinkler - 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/111214-leica-1354-tele-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=1212331'>More sharing options...
swamiji Posted February 4, 2010 Share #14 Posted February 4, 2010 Photo taken with M9, Visoflex III, Bellows II, TE 135/4 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/111214-leica-1354-tele-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=1212916'>More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted February 4, 2010 Share #15 Posted February 4, 2010 Thanks. Great shot. I love the colors and the bokeh and the composition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted February 4, 2010 Share #16 Posted February 4, 2010 Thanks. Great lens, Hated it on the M8, Love it on the M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted February 4, 2010 Share #17 Posted February 4, 2010 - luigi, Many thanks for your information. It helps me a lot to better understand this lens. I was planning to send it to Don Goldberg anyway to have him work on it. In any case, I believe my lens actually takes pretty sharp pictures. Here is an example: This particular image is really best viewed in full resolution. More images in that sequence are here: 2010-01-24 Black Mesa at Dusk - winklers' Photos Thanks again. With best regards, k-hawinkler Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted February 4, 2010 Share #18 Posted February 4, 2010 Ok, ok- I'm going out with it this afternoon! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sclamb Posted February 11, 2010 Share #19 Posted February 11, 2010 After all the talk of the 135mm f/4 I decided to find one and I did find one that is really mint condition for the bargain price of £299. In days gone by I used to have the 135mm f/3.4 and it was a superb lens. Well, this old 135mm is as good as I remember the APO Telyt used to be. I like being able to snap away and be further from things. My daughter in these looks very unkempt! Had I been closer she would have started tidying her hair. Had to use flash as light was very low. These are crops and only have the default sharpening that is applied by C1 during raw conversion. Both taken wide open at f/4. I really like this lens and am glad that there has been some activity here and on other forums concerning it versus the 135mm f/2.8 and 135mm f/3.4. The f/4 is a wonderful lens. Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted February 11, 2010 Share #20 Posted February 11, 2010 Simon, Now if you really want to get far from your subjects....... Wilson 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/111214-leica-1354-tele-elmar-m/?do=findComment&comment=1222439'>More sharing options...
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