chris_tribble Posted June 25, 2007 Share #1 Posted June 25, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thought people might like to know I got the 135 Apo Telyt back from Leica. Tested it this morning working hand held in low light alongside a Canon 70-200 L (non I.S.)on a 5D. 1 / this isn't Canon bashing - I love my 5D and the 70-200 is a workhorse that I'll be using for years to come. I know I should maybe shell out for an IS version, but I've spent so much on Leica recently, this will have to wait until I've earned some of the costs + I kind of like the dependability of the old non-IS model. 2/ Hand held and in poor light I've found I can hand hold the M8+135 consistently more steadily than I can the Canon + it's rock solid on a monopod. 3/ the 90mm framelines really help - I'm happy. 4/ Focusing works very easily with the magnifier (NB - it really helps to make sure the viewfiner / magnifier and diopter are CLEAN! - I was a bit worried when I started out...) I'll be using the lens for real in a concert documentation tomorrow, but thought there would be some interest in seeing the Leica shots. Sheet music - monopod / ISO 640 + 1/15th of a second, f3.5 no sharpening (NB - the music was at around 30% to the camera, hence the softness to the right...) Books - ISO 640 + 1/8th of a second, f3.5 no sharpening (NB - also at an angle to the camera) Garden (very wet in Cheshire today!) ISO 640 + 1/250th, f5.6 no sharpening CONCLUSION: I now have a 7 lens setup based on lens purchases over the last 15 years and which fits into a Domke satchel: - M8 body #1 (with the magnifier) 50 lux / 75 lux / 135 Apo-Telyt - M8 body #2 15 CV / 21 Elmarit pre-asph / 28 ASPH cron (the lens cap) / 35 pre-asph cron The good news is that OK I've had to buy the bodies, but I only had to buy ONE new lens (the VC) to make myself functional, 4 of the filters were supplied by Leica (still waiting for the E60), and the 135 now has the effective reach of a 180... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 Hi chris_tribble, Take a look here Coded 135 / 90mm Framelines. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
gabriel Posted June 25, 2007 Share #2 Posted June 25, 2007 How did you frame the shots? Do you know if Leica will code a 135 f4 lens? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 25, 2007 Share #3 Posted June 25, 2007 Any 135 will bring up 90 mm framelines. Push the release button and rotate it a few degrees further to its stop. There is really no need to code a 135 - unless you want it to give EXIF information, but the coding will not work if you use the above trick to bring up 90 mm framelines (which are very useful btw), so in that case the mount must be changed as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted June 25, 2007 How did you frame the shots? Do you know if Leica will code a 135 f4 lens? re framing - like Guy says - roughly half way between the 90mm framelines and the focus patch. I find this much easier than guessing + prefer it Jaap's approach (which does work) with pushing past the stop... re coding - I see no reason why they shouldn't if asked nicely (and persistently...) Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted June 25, 2007 Share #5 Posted June 25, 2007 I really like this setup and it does work much better for guidance. Chris glad that you are liking this option to the 135mm apo. I think folks should consider this as a good way to use the 135mm/ Now i think don't quote me is they can only code to the 135mm 2.8. i would certainly call and check on this with leica NJ and i would ask for Robert Fisk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidigital Posted June 25, 2007 Share #6 Posted June 25, 2007 I must say that I find I'm having a lot of fun with the 135 apo on the M8. For the first time, I used Jaap's suggestion of twisting it a bit beyond its clicked in setting. It's a very impressive lens. It's kind of a shame that the lack of frame lines might discourage some M8 users from embracing using the lens on the M8. I spent a night at the ballpark on Friday with the lens on the M8 for the entire night except for one shot with the CV15. Here's one sample. I have a few more at: http://mequon.zenfolio.com/p307971990/ Kurt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyspedden Posted June 27, 2007 Share #7 Posted June 27, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I must say that I find I'm having a lot of fun with the 135 apo on the M8. For the first time, I used Jaap's suggestion of twisting it a bit beyond its clicked in setting. It's a very impressive lens. It's kind of a shame that the lack of frame lines might discourage some M8 users from embracing using the lens on the M8. I spent a night at the ballpark on Friday with the lens on the M8 for the entire night except for one shot with the CV15. Here's one sample. I have a few more at: Zenfolio | Kurt Kamka | Miller Park, Milwaukee, June 22nd, 2007 Kurt Good stuff Kurt In Germany, particularly at Neuschwanstein Castle, both Guy and I did a ton of shooting from the parking lot/restaurant level with the 135 APO. Lots of success and the sharpness was wonderful. Of course CA is virtually non-existent so the lens is an all around great performer IMHO. Woody Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted June 27, 2007 Share #8 Posted June 27, 2007 Here is the shot. 135 apo . Woody and I just waited for the light to hit the castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffreyg Posted June 27, 2007 Share #9 Posted June 27, 2007 Great shots. Is there a lot of difference amongst the 135's? Are the earlier (cheaper?) ones almost as good? Geoff G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 27, 2007 Share #10 Posted June 27, 2007 The 135/4.0 is nearly as good, I defy anybody to see a difference in handheld shots in print. The 2.8/135 is a bit less, especially the first version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdrmd Posted June 27, 2007 Share #11 Posted June 27, 2007 I love the crispness of the 135mm. I use the 90 mm frame in the way that Jaap explained, and have good result. This heron was shot during a round of golf. DR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted June 28, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted June 28, 2007 David - could you maybe resend with less aggressive JPEG compression - difficult to evaluate as it is... re the 135, I have two thoughts. ONE - I love it. Below are a couple of shots from a concert shoot I did for Tord Gustavsen. Working backstage with the M8 on a monopod. Very difficult to get good angles, but some shots are winners. I was shooting in parallel with a 5D + 70-200. The 135 is NOT a substitute for DSLR + L series lense - HOWEVER, it is a really viable true telephoto for rangefinder - and surprisingly easy to get consistent framing using the 90 lines + the patch as guides. Some examples below - shot at 1250 (which works really well for me, rendered B+W because they look better that way... TWO - on the M8 I can focus the 135 SO much more easily than the 75 lux (non-asph) and 90 cron (old series - Canadian model). The 90's OK, but the 75 is a SO hard to get pin-sharp. Any one with similar experience? My 75 may be a lens to have checked if this is the case ... It's currently not coded, so maybe back to Leica and have it looked at... Whatever - I can't recommend the 135 more strongly as a beautifully sharp, light, compact tele-lens. Beginning to feel that my dream trio is 28 Apo Cron, 50 lux and 135 Apo-Telyt Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted June 28, 2007 Author Share #13 Posted June 28, 2007 And a question ... I find the aperture ring on the 135 a bit slack... Does any one know if this is an item that can be tightened? DIY??? Frustrating as the lens just came back from Solms... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted June 28, 2007 Share #14 Posted June 28, 2007 And a question ... I find the aperture ring on the 135 a bit slack... Does any one know if this is an item that can be tightened? DIY??? Frustrating as the lens just came back from Solms... I don't think it is something that any user can do, except for someone like DAG. I also have a loose aperture ring on my NEW Cron 75. I sent it in with my old M8 that was replaced and they sent me a note that it would need to go back to Solms to have that adjustment done, they also stated that it is in spec. Not wanting to wait 1-2-3-4 months for it's return I asked them to send it back to me, which they did. So it seems that not even Leica USA can make that type of adjustment. More then likely the lens need to come apart to make that adjustment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted June 28, 2007 Author Share #15 Posted June 28, 2007 Ed - thanks for this - I'll probably live with it - it's just lighter than other lenses I have so feels a bit weird... Certainly not worth being without it... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.