400mm f6.8 Telyt R lens on M9?

[wlaidlaw]

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Okay. Got it. Mine seems to be worn out. Is it better to repair it or leave it alone? Who could repair it? Thanks

 

K-H,

 

Every one I have tried has been worn out as well. What I think has happened is that the fingers on the inside of the knob, which provide a friction brake, have assumed a permanent "set" from being compressed over the years. If you look when you press the trigger, it moves the focus knob out from these friction brake fingers. I don't know if they are metal or plastic. I suspect they are plastic. If you are using the shoulder rest, it would improve matters quite a bit if the brake was working. Anyone got any ideas how to get these fingers working again?

 

Wilson

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[luigi bertolotti]

I think it is a not impossible but someway delicate repair : if you feel comfortable with the knob like it is, I'd suggest to leave it as is : probably, the trigger was considered important for action pics, when can happen that you point upwards/downwards the camera... if the focusing is very smooth and you move quickly, could happen that the Televit tube moves by gravity: I think that most of us, when using such gear, do it with care... they aren't anymore the times of sport photojournalists running franticly here and there with their Leica+Viso+Telyt...

[k-hawinkler]

Luigi, Wilson,

 

Many thanks for your help. Being new to all of this, I greatly appreciate your insights.

 

If I put my 400 F5.6 TELYT lens vertically on the table, resting on the front, and turn the focus know to the left for maximum protrusion of the back part of the lens, it stays that way. Gravity doesn't pull it down. However, if I have a camera attached, then the weight is too much and it slides down. Not too bad for a lens made in 1967.

 

I also noticed on the other side from the focus knob two little knobs, sliding back and forth in a slit, that can be used to lock down whatever focus position one has established. That seems to be useful when the lens is attached to a tripod at an angle. One can focus, lock that focus down, and then take one's time to shoot pictures.

 

Examining the lens further, there seem to be 3 locations where the lens can be attached to a tripod, namely:

 

• in front of the hand grip,

• at the bottom of the hand grip, and

• behind the hand grip

 

Depending on the extension of the hood, focussing section, and weight of the attached Visoflex with M9 or other camera with adapter, e.g. a Nikon D3, the optimum balance point moves around. Also, when attaching a rather large camera such as the D3, it is getting rather tight to attach a tripod behind the hand grip. In Wilson's image the tripod is attached in front of the hand grip. I was thinking of attaching the tripod at the bottom of the hand grip, in particular when a rather large and heavy camera is attached in the back.

 

I am wondering what you think is the best point to attach a tripod.

 

Thanks again. With best regards, K-H.

[wlaidlaw]

K-H,

 

Certainly with the 560, where I have shown in my photo, balances pretty well. It is not at all bad with the 400 as well. Putting a QR plate helps a lot. I would very strongly recommend the Manfrotto 222 joystick head. It makes using the whole combo hugely easier on a tripod. The heavier the tripod the better. I have a weapons grade Manfrotto 074B.

 

Wilson

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[luigi bertolotti]

Luigi, Wilson,

 

Many thanks for your help. Being new to all of this, I greatly appreciate your insights.

 

If I put my 400 F5.6 TELYT lens vertically on the table, resting on the front, and turn the focus know to the left for maximum protrusion of the back part of the lens, it stays that way. Gravity doesn't pull it down. However, if I have a camera attached, then the weight is too much and it slides down. Not too bad for a lens made in 1967.

 

I also noticed on the other side from the focus knob two little knobs, sliding back and forth in a slit, that can be used to lock down whatever focus position one has established. That seems to be useful when the lens is attached to a tripod at an angle. One can focus, lock that focus down, and then take one's time to shoot pictures.

 

Examining the lens further, there seem to be 3 locations where the lens can be attached to a tripod, namely:

 

• in front of the hand grip,

• at the bottom of the hand grip, and

• behind the hand grip

 

Depending on the extension of the hood, focussing section, and weight of the attached Visoflex with M9 or other camera with adapter, e.g. a Nikon D3, the optimum balance point moves around. Also, when attaching a rather large camera such as the D3, it is getting rather tight to attach a tripod behind the hand grip. In Wilson's image the tripod is attached in front of the hand grip. I was thinking of attaching the tripod at the bottom of the hand grip, in particular when a rather large and heavy camera is attached in the back.

 

I am wondering what you think is the best point to attach a tripod.

 

Thanks again. With best regards, K-H.

Yes, it was a system to "preset" focus distances, made to quickly move to a certain place to focus, for instance in sports photo when one is in a fixed position and has a pair of "important" locations (the two gates in football, or similar in basket) where has to be sure to focus correctly. Interesting is that Leitz,previously, made an accessory named Focorapid, which provided 3 presetted focus position... it worked, with proper rings, with 200-280-400 (the old 400 f5) lenses... it's a rather rare accessory...

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[k-hawinkler]

... and expensive, for example here Leica Focorapid 14111 - eBay (item 370341407006 end time Mar-28-10 04:09:05 PDT)

 

Luigi,

 

You have an amazing encyclopedic knowledge of this area.

Thanks for making that knowledge available.

 

With best regards, K-H.

[ohdannyboy]

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Not sure if this will help someone in locating a 400 Telyt, but I noticed that someone was selling there's. Looking at the picture, I have no idea what kind it is:

leica lens 400 mm telephoto

[jaapv]

It looks like the R version.

[ohdannyboy]

I'm new to the Telyt series, so bear with me as I ask newbie questions.

 

Can it be used (straight out of the box) on my M9?

[jaapv]

No - you need a Visoflex III.

[k-hawinkler]

K-H,

 

Certainly with the 560, where I have shown in my photo, balances pretty well. It is not at all bad with the 400 as well. Putting a QR plate helps a lot. I would very strongly recommend the Manfrotto 222 joystick head. It makes using the whole combo hugely easier on a tripod. The heavier the tripod the better. I have a weapons grade Manfrotto 074B.

 

Wilson

 

Wilson,

 

Many thanks. That's an impressive tripod. The Manfrotto 222 joystick head looks very intriguing. I already have a Gitzo GT3541XLS tripod with RRS BH-55 ballhead that support the 400 F5.6 TELYT lens very well.

 

It's a lot of fun shooting with this lens and either the M9 or a Nikon camera attached. I also noticed the two rings used for aperture control. One is set to the fnumber one wants to use. But the other ring is left at f5.6 - wide open - for better focusing. Once focus is established, one then rotates this ring, that actually operates the aperture blades, until the other preset ring blocks further rotation and the correct fnumber is obtained. Very nice.

 

I also noticed that on the 400 F5.6 TELYT the order of these rings and their direction of rotation is reversed relative to the 200 f4 Telyt that I also have.

 

As noted on this forum, the 400 F5.6 TELYT produces a sharp image near the lens center and a pretty soft out of focus image at the boundaries. The Nikon D300 should work very well with this lens because of its crop factor of 1.5x, thus avoiding the soft parts. Also the FOV is that of a 600mm lens. As soon as the weather permits I will find out how the lens performs on my cameras.

 

When used with the M9 there also seems to occur some vignetting. I only noticed it in the upper image corners but not the lower ones. I wonder whether this is peculiar to my particular copy of the lens? It's not a big deal for me anyway.

 

My lens didn't come with caps. The back of the lens I can protect with either the VisoFlex III or adapter and a cap. I wonder what size cap or filter the front of the lens needs to be protected?

 

Thanks again for your help and the images of your lens that got me interested in this lens.

 

With best regards, K-H.

[jaapv]

The 5.6 400 98 mm and the 5.6 560 120mm The 6.8 versions 78 mm and 98 mm respectively. That is the cap. The filters are series 7in the filter adapter at the back.

[wlaidlaw]

K-H,

 

The lens head back caps are 14166 - N caps. Leica no longer have them but they are findable as they are also used on some R lenses. My friends at Collectible Collectible Cameras had one for me. The front caps have no number on them but are 9.9mm and 12.1mm in diameter for the 400/5.6 and 560/5.6 respectively (10 and 12 mm would probably do). I imagine they are pretty difficult to find - the phrases "hens' teeth and rocking horse pucky" spring to mind. Your best bet is probably a telescope supplier, who keep large end caps in various sizes.

 

Wilson

[jaapv]

I suppose you mean cm

[jaapv]

The numbers of the caps:

 

98: 14295

78: 14152

120 no number

[k-hawinkler]

Jaap, Wilson,

 

Somebody has for sale under "Leica R New" the following:

Lens Cap A98 (for 560mm Etc) code 14295 NEW.

 

I suppose that would work?

 

Many thanks, K-H.

[lovelyleica]

Just quickly pictured my gear and added reference numbers. For M9 you need :

Visoflex III + M Tube 11905 + Telyt 6.8/400 lenshead 11903 (or 6.8/560)

 

R Tube 11906 is made for Leicaflex or Leica with R mount. It will not work on M or Visoflex.

 

Extension tube is made to reduce closest focusing from 3.66m to 2.26m for 400mm.

 

 

[k-hawinkler]

Just quickly pictured my gear and added reference numbers. For M9 you need :

Visoflex III + M Tube 11905 + Telyt 6.8/400 lenshead 11903 (or 6.8/560)

 

R Tube 11906 is made for Leicaflex or Leica with R mount. It will not work on M or Visoflex.

 

Extension tube is made to reduce closest focusing from 3.66m to 2.26m for 400mm.

 

Thanks for the great information.

What function does an 14127F adapter have in this?

Would it allow the M Tube 11905 to attach to a Leica R body?

 

I am not really interested in an R body, but somebody had a Leica 400mm F6.8 Telyt R Lens with M adapter (14127F) for Visoflex M system for sale.

I wonder whether the lens without adapter would work on an M9 with Visoflex III or whether I have a misunderstanding?

 

Thank for a reply, K-H.

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[wlaidlaw]

For cleaning the back of the glass on the 560, the front (and only) group unscrews in a sub-housing from the main lens head body. If you notice a rattling noise, it is likely it is just this come loose.

 

Wilson

[jaapv]

Thanks for the great information.

What function does an 14127F adapter have in this?

Would it allow the M Tube 11905 to attach to a Leica R body?

 

I am not really interested in an R body, but somebody had a Leica 400mm F6.8 Telyt R Lens with M adapter (14127F) for Visoflex M system for sale.

I wonder whether the lens without adapter would work on an M9 with Visoflex III or whether I have a misunderstanding?

 

Thank for a reply, K-H.

No - an R lens will not focus to infinity on the Visoflex and the bayonet is bigger