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I am thinking of picking up a 135 3.4. It doesn't seem like this is a very popular lens, relative to others I the line based upon availability). In the past, I believe it was challenging to use with the rangefinder window. But now, with the EVF option, it seems like focusing and framing might be much easier with this lens. I also recognize that the Leica look typically is more three dimensional thus favoring wider lenses with wide apertures. But sometimes a telephoto can helps to flatten the image and to enhance juxtaposition.

 

Anyone have the 135 3.4 and could comment on the lens?

 

While waiting for my M tp arrive, I picked up a Sony Nex. I could just buy a telephoto for that camera. Again, thoughts and recommendations would be appreciated.

Edited by Appmax
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Great lens, one of the best leica has ever made. The 135mm focal length has never been too popular on the rangefinder system because of the difficulties some people have in composing (I've never had such an issue). Then with the intro of the M8 (which doesn't have 135mm frames), then the M9 (with its .68x VF) which--according to Leica--isn't compatible with 135mm lens focusing, leica seemed to be pushing its digital customer base away from the focal length...until now

 

The telyt is a favorite of mine for landscape and portraiture. It can be a bit difficult to hold steady at slower speeds, but with the higher ISO capabilities of the M (or your current NEX) you won't have too much of an issue.

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My "coded" 135 was shipped by Leica NJ yesterday to me. My dealer sent it back to Leica directly and they are shipping it to me. It took about three weeks to get it coded. Hopefully I will have it by tomorrow.:D

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I'm also interested in this lens and was wondering if anyone's used it on the M 240, using EVF to focus (especially wide open). Any comments would be appreciated.

 

Cheers,

 

Edmond

 

I use it on the M with a 1.35 Japan exposures magnifier and find focussing accurate even without the EVF. With the EVF its a doddle.

 

To be honest I never had much trouble with the M9. If your rangefinder is perfectly adjusted and you use a magnifier there is no problem....

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I use it on the M with a 1.35 Japan exposures magnifier and find focussing accurate even without the EVF. With the EVF its a doddle.

 

To be honest I never had much trouble with the M9. If your rangefinder is perfectly adjusted and you use a magnifier there is no problem....

 

Super, thanks :-)

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My coded 135 arrived from Leica today. I took several test shots with my Monochrom and a 1.4 magnifier. It is not that hard to focus and my shots were for the most part very sharp even at 200% in PS. So far I am pleased. From the point I bought the lens it took Leica about three weeks to change the mounting plates. And it does show 135 f3.4 in the exif data

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My coded 135 arrived from Leica today. I took several test shots with my Monochrom and a 1.4 magnifier. It is not that hard to focus and my shots were for the most part very sharp even at 200% in PS. So far I am pleased. From the point I bought the lens it took Leica about three weeks to change the mounting plates. And it does show 135 f3.4 in the exif data

 

 

You did well if you got it back in 3 weeks. I sent 2 lenses in for coding and I didn't see them again for 6 weeks. Most of that time was waiting in line.

 

JCA

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Knowing how long others had waited to have their 135's coded, when the lens became available and it was not coded, I said no thanks. My dealer said according to Leica, it would only take a week to 10 days. I said OK and when two weeks went by I got a "repair order" from Leica that said it would be done by May 30th. I emailed my dealer and I guess they were able to get if completed in the next week and shipped. Had it been May 30th that would have been over 8 to 10 weeks. I cannot complain.

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How possible is a portrait, wide open, with the 135 APO? Obviously tricky to do but does anybody have any experience with this or even better some samples? As the lens isn't so popular it's hard to find quality samples which show the characteristics of it. I find the 135mm length really useful and would like to add it to my tool box.

 

Also I heard of people stacking magnifiers for the 135mm. Does anybody do this?

 

Lastly any experiences with the 135mm elmarit 2.8 at apertures 2.8-4? How sharp etc?

 

Thanks

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I asked a similar question recently . Maybe you can find some answers there.

I have never had problems focusing the APO 135 on my M9, but only used it briefly on my M to make any assessment. The focusing was easy, but no easier than the M9. I still prefer RF focusing.

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How possible is a portrait, wide open, with the 135 APO? Obviously tricky to do but does anybody have any experience with this or even better some samples? As the lens isn't so popular it's hard to find quality samples which show the characteristics of it. I find the 135mm length really useful and would like to add it to my tool box.

 

Also I heard of people stacking magnifiers for the 135mm. Does anybody do this?

 

...

 

Yes I usually use the 1.4-magnifier with the lens.

 

There has been a thread for the lens: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/other/163957-apo-telyt-m8-m9-challenge.html#post1597777

And here another one: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/124337-m9-135-apo-telyt.html

 

Though maybe the results were not so good, as all the lenses were uncoded ;) (SCNR)

 

I don't find many portraits yet. Perhaps this one will do for the moment:

 

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Yes I usually use the 1.4-magnifier with the lens.

 

There has been a thread for the lens: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/other/163957-apo-telyt-m8-m9-challenge.html#post1597777

And here another one: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/124337-m9-135-apo-telyt.html

 

Though maybe the results were not so good, as all the lenses were uncoded ;) (SCNR)

 

I don't find many portraits yet. Perhaps this one will do for the moment:

 

[ATTACH]374215[/ATTACH]

I am glad that mine is coded. I guess i can get these same results:D

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Coding a 135 is mostly for convenience of the exif info. The general consensus is that coding matters on 35s and shorter. Vignetting for the lens is reported at .6 stops which is not a lot. Firmware may have a slight correction for it, but I can't test that as mine isn't coded. Looking at my own shots it is a stellar lens, when I get the focus right. I'll see if I can't get some examples posted later. I do see some veiling flare in some if the shots, but I will attribute that to the filter I have mounted on it.

Carl

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Using my M9, I have found that focusing the 135 is much easier than the 90 cron, 75 lux and noctilix. But the only complain of this lens is the small aperture compared with the 90 cron. And that is really my only complain. Mine is not coded, but is perfectly fine for me.

 

FRieD.eGG

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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I had an APO 135/3.4 a few days but I had to return it, because the MM and the tax service came along. Now I am the lucky owner of the Tele-Elmar 135, thanks to this site, where terrific captures with this lens were shown. It's about 5 times cheaper and has that classic smooth Leica bo-keh and for a lens from 1973 it is remarkably sharp. That one half stop more speed is negligible.

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Guest malland

Same here, I think the difference between the Tele-Elmar 135 and the newest APO lens is virtually indistinguishable in real world shooting, and the difference in maximum aperture is trivial. The older lens may, in fact, have somewhat better bokeh. Indeed, before the APO lens came out, people used to write the Tele-Elmar 135 lens was effectively an APO without being called so. Also the lens head of the Tele-Elmar 135 unscrews and can be used on the Visoflex.

 

See the write-up by Ashwin Rao. The used price of of the Tele-Elmar 135 is abut 1/5th of that of a new APO lens.

 

—Mitch/Paris

Paris au rythme de Basquiat and Other Poems [download link for book project]

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