Thought + Experience on Leica 135mm f/3.4

[bocaburger]

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I agree if I had to use the EVF I would go for an adapted SLR lens. I had the APO back in the film days and sold it because I didn't see it outperforming my T-E in practical use and didn't consider the APO worth what it cost me. LOLOL $1300 at the time. Wish I'd kept it, but only so I could have sold it now

 

I used my T-E and the previous Elmar f/4 (about 90% as good) with no trouble on my M9 and now the M240 rangefinders. I did have to do a DIY milling down the lens head rear ledge so it seats 1mm deeper into the focus mount, as sending it to a repair person did nothing to cure it's misfocusing, but now it's spot-on. Funnily my older Elmar and an even older Hektor LTM always focused perfectly on the M digitals.

[uhoh7]

I paid 2250 on Ebay in June. Lens in LN but not perfectly calibrated. With practice it's no problem.

 

L1019116 by unoh7, on Flickr

 

L1019266 by unoh7, on Flickr

 

L1018066 by unoh7, on Flickr

 

A big plus is the handling, which is way better than the TE135. However the Canon LTM handles even better, and is quite sharp for about 90USD LOL

 

I also use the 135/2.8 v3 quite often.

[bocaburger]

There is a final version of the T-E with a 46mm filter size and the aperture ring at the back. I had one of those and the handling is very similar to the APO. They don't come up for sale often, I imagine there weren't that many of them made. One (big to me) advantage of the older T-E is the removable lens head. Fit that puppy to the short focus mount and you can use it on a Visoflex. Add a 14167 adapter and you can use it on an R body, or with additional R-to-EOS adapter can be used on a 5D.

[uhoh7]

There is a final version of the T-E with a 46mm filter size and the aperture ring at the back. I had one of those and the handling is very similar to the APO. They don't come up for sale often, I imagine there weren't that many of them made. One (big to me) advantage of the older T-E is the removable lens head. Fit that puppy to the short focus mount and you can use it on a Visoflex. Add a 14167 adapter and you can use it on an R body, or with additional R-to-EOS adapter can be used on a 5D.

 

Yes, the very late TE would be nice, but they easily run 1k, or even much higher.

 

Every time I look at the little Canon 100/3.5 LTM, I think, why can't we have an ultralight 135?

 

I tried two of the early TEs from Keh but had to send both back for different reasons.

more from the 135/3.4:

L1023714 by unoh7, on Flickr

 

Camus Grain Silos by unoh7, on Flickr

 

Last Light by unoh7, on Flickr

 

Ridgeline by unoh7, on Flickr

 

According to DAG it can be very tricky to calibrate this lens. Mine is a bit out, but I'm used to it now and compensate on the fly pretty well.