Jump to content

Tele-Elmar-M 135 mm F/4.0 vs Apo-Telyt-M 135mm on M240


kuau

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I Just got my M-P today and was looking to add a 135mm to my kit.

Has anyone done a direct comparisons between the two lens on a M240/M-P?
 

I would be shooting the lens at F5.6-F11 mainly. Do I need to spend the extra money on the new APO or will

the Tele-Elmar-M 135 mm F/4.0 do the job.

Thanks

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

It has been discussed often - do a search. The Apo-Telyt is a superb but challenging lens. It really requires faultless technique to get the full potential. However, the Tele-Elmar is surprisingly close, and stopped down there is virtually no difference to be seen. Given the price difference....;)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jaap, 

Thanks I will do a few more searches.

I understand both lenses stopped down a little and there is very little difference. Can you comment on the handling differences? I understand the APO is 20% lighter which is a good thing, yet I do have the Leica Grip installed on my M-P so I wonder if that would make a difference in handling the older Elmar.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I owned both, sold the APO because there just wasn't anything in the IQ to justify the difference in price.  I've had both versions of the T-E, prefer the older one because it takes e39 filters like the rest of my travel lenses.   If light weight is your criteria and you'll be shooting stopped down, you can extend your choices to include the f/4 Elmar as well.  Slightly longer than the others at nominally 135mm (it's a long-focus not a telephoto), but weighs in 10g lighter than the APO.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

If you fail to get the APO you will succeed at not being envy of your friends.

 

Is that really the kind of relationship you want to foster?

 

I gained so many friends, not having had any before, once I was seen in all the right places with my new 3.4/135 APO-Telyt-M. 

 

...and most importantly it is a great chick magnet  :p .

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jaap, 

Thanks I will do a few more searches.

I understand both lenses stopped down a little and there is very little difference. Can you comment on the handling differences? I understand the APO is 20% lighter which is a good thing, yet I do have the Leica Grip installed on my M-P so I wonder if that would make a difference in handling the older Elmar.

The old Tele-Elmar has very good handling characteristics. I do not see any reason to prefer the Apo-Telyt in this respect.The last version is virtually identical in shape.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Actually, I just moved from the APO back to the Tele-Elmar (skinny 39mm version), because the Telyt's lightness combined with its slightly longer length and larger front diameter made it more prone to visible shake - more lever arm hanging out in the breeze. About 1 stop's worth, which kinda mooted the Telyt's half-stop speed advantage and slightly better optics at/faster than f/5.6.

 

At 5.6-11 (which is where Leica says the 135s should be used on digital - and they are right, for fast-moving situations - you need the DoF, unless you can spend 10 seconds fiddling with the focus), the optical differences are microscopic.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I owned both, sold the APO because there just wasn't anything in the IQ to justify the difference in price.  I've had both versions of the T-E, prefer the older one because it takes e39 filters like the rest of my travel lenses.   If light weight is your criteria and you'll be shooting stopped down, you can extend your choices to include the f/4 Elmar as well.  Slightly longer than the others at nominally 135mm (it's a long-focus not a telephoto), but weighs in 10g lighter than the APO.

Me too.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Have both having bought APO in January.  Owned Tele-Elmar for 15 years.

 

Agree with all comments.  Slightly prefer APO images and like less weight and six bit coding.  If moolah big factor can't beat Tele, otherwise APO a wonderful lens and is my M long Tele so leaving 180 Flex lens home more often.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...

Having said that it produces spectacular images, but shooting at f3.4 can indeed be challenging.

 

However on an SL, this lens is performing beautifully at 3.4. I am going to really like this lens.

Link to post
Share on other sites

It has been discussed often - do a search. The Apo-Telyt is a superb but challenging lens. It really requires faultless technique to get the full potential. ;)

 

I am interested have you tried this lens on an SL and does it require the same faultless technique to get the full potential?

Link to post
Share on other sites

APO is a good thing if you use Deep Red filter and it is mandatory if you intend to use it with IR film in an analog-M. I own the old one but I bought the APO because of deep red filter; you can go right with aperture setting and obtain a perfectly in-focus image,

The lens is not so hard to focus at 3.4 or 4 if the rangefinder of your camera is well adjusted.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...