1960 135mm f:4 Elmar M mount

[likalar]

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Hello, lens sub-forum,

I get as much pleasure as the next guy dreaming about the newer, faster M lenses, but I own nothing more exotic than f:2 Summicrons. A photographer friend came to visit, and I pulled out the old 1960 135 Elmar that I've had for quite some time (I don't use it very much). He also shoots with a digital M, and a favorite lens is his new 90 Summicron. We fooled around a bit with each, and he admits he's very impressed with the results of my Elmar. Here's a shot of him, full frame and cropped, with the old lens. Specs: M9, auto exposure, window light, ISO 1000, wide-open @ f:4.0, hand held, converted from DNG to jpeg. No sharpening added.

I'm not posting this to brag, but as a friendly reminder that older (and much cheaper) lenses can still give much pleasure while waiting for the modern, faster ones to arrive. Thanks for taking a look.

Larry

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Edited February 9, 2013 by likalar

[Einst_Stein]

This one is cropped, perhaps only the 1/12 of the original (1/3 x 1/4).

 

elmar_135_1965 (1 - 1): Einst Stein: Galleries: Digital Photography Review

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[kcnarf]

Hey, Likalar, my 135mm. Elmar may be quite a bit younger than yours, this photo convinces me that I need to schedule it for more frequent use. What is the lowest shutter speed you ever use with it?

Edited February 9, 2013 by kcnarf
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[k-hawinkler]

Larry,

 

Very nice.

An equally outstanding lens is the Tele-Elmar 135/4.

It's one of my favorite landscape lenses.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/165871-bandelier.html

But it also does portraits, for example:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/people/199288-dr-melvin-l-prueitt.html

Edited February 9, 2013 by k-hawinkler

[likalar]

Very nice, Einst.

 

kcnarf, I usually bump up the ISO high enough to keep the speed about 1/125 if possible (this was at 1/250). I definitely try to use it as wide-open as possible. I've used it at slower speeds now and then with mixed results. A bigger issue is focus accuracy. These longer lenses are just so finicky about focus, and the old eyes ain't what they used to be.....I'm finally considering a magnifier.

 

K-H, very impressive. Now I have to research the difference between a 135 Elmar and a 135 Tele-Elmar, which I am not at all familiar with.

 

For those wondering what a 135 Elmar looks/acts like: http://kenrockwell.com/leica/135mm-f4.htm Thanks Mr. Rockwell.

Larry

Edited February 9, 2013 by likalar

[kcnarf]

I've just gotten around to visiting your online gallery. There's a lot of there there, a lot of wow!

[bideford]

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Hi Larry,

 

I have just today got my hands on a 1960 vintage Elmar in remarkably good condition. Clean optics, unmarked vulcanite - just some minor marks on the aluminum body. Better condition than me for the age!

 

Only managed to get out for a quick tryout early this evening as the light was fading but initial worries (picked up from the forums) about focusing would appear to be less of a concern. Even tried it indoors this evening with a flash on board (apologies to some out there) - with surprisingly good results. Not bad considering I have it on an M8.2 body with no 135 framelines.

 

I will post some images in the Photo Forums another time.

 

Yes it does require a steady hand, appropriate shutter speed and care to focus - but at the price (less than £150) it is certainly worth keeping!

 

Looking forward to using it in some decent light.

 

James

[A miller]

I briefly had an old 135 elmar, and thought the results were really nice.

I recently purchased a 1965 135 tele-elmar from ebay for $161! It was banged up to hell on the exterior but the glass is in immaculate condition. Not a speck of dust! I thought it was probably too good to be true when I read the description on ebay and was mroe than pleasantly surprised to find out that the seller was 100% accurate.

 

The 135 tele-elmar is really very tack sharp, along the lines of the results in your photo of your friend. Another aspect of it that I love is the design and ergonomics. I have the earlier version that has the broad, indented focus ring. I find the grip on this to be spot on and it makes it meaningfully more manageable to focus, all things considering.

 

I just posted yesterday how annoyed I am with the design of my 90m APO summicron, given the aperture ring and focus ring are so close together, and even that the focus ring is so close to the back of the lens that connects to the camera. I sure wish the design of the 135 tele-elmar would have considered in making the 90mm. Ergonomics are supposed to get better with advancement in engineering and technology!!

[IkarusJohn]

I have a 1960 135 Elmar as well, in excellent condition. A very nice lens - going to try it on my Monochrom this weekend, if I get the chance.

[Orient XI]

Yes the f/4 135mm Elmar is a fine lens. It has the advantage over the similar Tele-Elmarit in that it can be used on the Visoflex. I find it very useful for macro work where the long lens to subject distance avoids the difficulty of trying to take photos of objects inside the lenshood! I do find, however, that its rendering is rather blue — has anybody else noticed this problem? Using a Skylight filter seems to overcome the problem.

[k-hawinkler]

Hi Larry,

 

Here is one more shot with a 1965 TE 135/4.

 

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More images here.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/nature-wildlife/272579-hairy-woodpecker-female.html#post2317862

[stack62]

An alternative to the Elmar might be the Hektor. I just purchased a 135mm f/4.5 Hektor in M mount for my M3. Once I adjusted it's cam arm, it focused perfectly, and is much sharper than I thought it would be. Should make a great portrait lens, although haven't had the chance to shoot any yet. It's in beautiful condition and only $47.00!! I call it my hotdog lens. The only lens I've ever owned with a 15 blade aperture!!

[algrove]

Sadly my Hector's blades locked up at f8. Looked inside and one is bent.So now I will have to sell the leather case. Might even include the lens. Hate to part with it.

[A miller]

some examples from my $161 135 TE circa 1965 (taken with my M9)

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Edited February 17, 2013 by A miller

[MarkP]

I should sell my 4.3/135 APO-Telyt, buy a 50 year old 4.0/135 TE, and put the change towards a nice holiday

[gyoung]

.... but this thread is about the 135/4 Elmar, of which I have one since over 40 years and is very nice.

 

NOT about later and probably 'better' and more expensive lenses....

 

Gerry

[MarkP]

.... but this thread is about the 135/4 Elmar, of which I have one since over 40 years and is very nice.

 

NOT about later and probably 'better' and more expensive lenses....

 

Gerry

 

If that was for me, 4.0/135 Elmar (or Tele-Elmar) my comment applies to both .

[lct]

OK folks but Elmar 135/4 and Tele-Elmar 135/4 are not the same lenses at all.

And the "head" of both can be used on a Visoflex if the Tele-Elmar is not the latest version.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Elmar_1:4_/_135mm

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/135mm_f/4_Tele-Elmar

[bideford]

Managed to give the Elmar a run out on my M8.2 this weekend. Focusing can be a challenge but certainly possible and definitely worthwhile. Shots at infinity (with light!) are easy keepers - and are of an optical quality that is at complete odds with the price of the lens.

 

Focusing at infinity:

 

 

Just short of infinity (on the clock tower):

 

 

Again, less than infinity (closer than the clock tower):

 

 

Near focus - with a Canon 580II on the hot shoe! The long reach allows me to lose some of the harshness of the flash. I tried this on the evening I got the lens as I could not wait to give it a try! On a separate note, using a Canon 580II flash, with the Manual External metering custom function, either on the hot shoe or with cheap wireless units can produce some good results.

 

 

My lens came without a hood so I use a cheap ebay threaded one that I had previously bought for a 90mm Tele-Elmarit 2.8 (but that's a different story!).

 

James

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[stray cat]

My 135mm Elmar has a bit of history. It was bought new in 1960 by Elliott Erwitt, who used it until about 1965 or 1966 before giving it along with his M3 and some other gear to his former assistant of the time, another wonderful photographer named Okky Offerhaus. She used it until the '90s and I was fortunate enough to acquire the Elmar a few years back.

 

It was pretty rough by the time I got it and had some fungus but I had it bent back into shape and the fungus removed, and it is indeed a fine lens.

 

Since I acquired it, this is my favourite image so far:

 

 

I call it "Leaping Sheep".

 

Cheers, Cat