Visoflex Telyt-M lenses on the SL

[ldhrads]

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New to the SL, only about a week with the 24-90 zoom and I'm getting used to it compared to my M9-p.  Today I fooled around with mounting a bunch of my M-lenses with great success.  Even used a OUFRO to try some macro with a 50/2.0.  Also seemed to work.

 

My problem is that I have some nice long Telyt-M glass, the 280 and 560 and a Heinz Kilfitt 400.  Mounting these works, but I can't get them to focus.  I assume I need some space between the lens and the sensor to make up for lack of the Visoflex III.  

 

I know someone out there knows how to do this!  Let me know please what I need to look for to use thes poor neglected lenses.

 

Thanks

 

Lawrence

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Lawrence,

 

If you look at various tables for using Visoflex lenses in the WIKI at the top of this page, it will tell you which, if any, adapter is needed for which lens.

 

Look under "Visoflex Accessories" & go to the LAST entry at the bottom of the page.

 

Keep in mind that a Visoflex II, IIa or III, which would have been used with these lenses, is 41mm thick. This additional length has to be added to the lens with or without an adapter.

 

If your lenses are designed to be used on a Visoflex I then you ALSO have to add a 16466, which is a 22.5mm adapter to adapt Visoflex I lenses to the later, thinner Visoflex II, IIa & III.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[thighslapper]

I wouldn't expend a lot of effort trying to get them to work ....... the results will be disappointing. Generally my Telyt lenses are rather soft, low contrast and exhibit a fair bit of chromatic aberration wide open on both the M and even more obviously on the SL. 

 

Leica made a specific adapter - TXB00- to connect direct to the M which occasionally appears on eBay. I played a lot with various Telyts and Visoflex/adapter combos on the M and the only good point was the cheapness of the lenses .... not the photos. 

 

No doubt Dunk will chime in with a more optimistic viewpoint ...... he's attached almost everything, including the kitchen sink to a Leica at some time or other, often with good results  

 

Depends on your use and expectations ...... an entertaining way to while away an afternoon ...... but for me the end results were not worth the effort. 

[rafael_macia]

New to the SL, only about a week with the 24-90 zoom and I'm getting used to it compared to my M9-p.  Today I fooled around with mounting a bunch of my M-lenses with great success.  Even used a OUFRO to try some macro with a 50/2.0.  Also seemed to work.

 

My problem is that I have some nice long Telyt-M glass, the 280 and 560 and a Heinz Kilfitt 400.  Mounting these works, but I can't get them to focus.  I assume I need some space between the lens and the sensor to make up for lack of the Visoflex III.  

 

I know someone out there knows how to do this!  Let me know please what I need to look for to use thes poor neglected lenses.

 

Thanks

 

Lawrence

 

I wonder if perhaps you are plugging a Visoflex lens bayonet directly into an R flange?   Not a good idea. You need a 14167 or a 14127 adapter which is a Viso to R adapter. The 14167 is the better one to get, for various reasons. Anyway, I regularly use a 65 Elmar Macro Visoflex lens, and two Telyts made for both Visoflex or R. The 400 6.8 Telyt, and the 560 6.8 Telyt. Both are spectacular. As recommended above I urge you to study the extensive Visoflex "plumbing" diagrams. The Visoflex device itself is virtually useless with live view, and focus peaking. My Visoflex III sits unused. The lenses are invaluable!

[rafael_macia]

This is with the 560mm Telyt 6.8 lens. Originally shot in 4K the 4K had me use the Super 35 crop area of about 1.5x

So this, then, is an 840mm lens equivalent.

Aperture about F22.

Good Gitzo tripod and an old but still great Miller fluid head.

 

 

Old is good !

 

Rafael

[ModernMan]

Novoflex make a Leica M to Visoflex adapter (LEM-VIS or LEM-VIS-II if I recall correctly) which substitutes in where a Visoflex II, IIa or III would normally go. It works fine on the SL stacked on a Leica SL to M adapter. The particular example Novoflex adapter I had exhibited a problem with certain Visoflex focus mounts (90/2 and 135/2.8, they could not be attached to do mechanical interference) but that may have been corrected in subsequent versions.

 

Alternatively, you could us a Leica SL to Leicaflex adapter, stacked with a Leicaflex to Visoflex adapter (14127 or 14167). For me that was more satisfactory as the fabrication quality of the Leica adapters I found to be superior to the Novoflex adapter.

 

Its fun to try the older Telyts on the SL, but the 90-280 SL zoom was far superior for my taste, albeit at an order of magnitude greater expense.

[ldhrads]

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Thanks for all of your input.  I ordered a LEM-VIS II and expect that this should work with the M-SL adapter stacked.  I want to give these old lenses a chance since I rarely use them!  I don't see myself going wiht the 90-280 zoom any time soon!