retcheto Posted October 29, 2020 Share #1 Â Posted October 29, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have the Tele-Elmar-M 135MM f3.4, but I'd like to get something a little longer than 135mm. Does anyone have a recommendation? I'll mainly be using it on a tripod for landscapes. I'm thinking that maybe the 400mm f6.8 could work, I'll shoot it pretty stopped down anyways. Do you need a Visoflex adapter for that lens? I'm little confused as to what I'd actually need to mount on an M Monochrom 246 or M10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 29, 2020 Posted October 29, 2020 Hi retcheto, Take a look here Long lens recommendations?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
a.noctilux Posted October 29, 2020 Share #2  Posted October 29, 2020 (edited) For longer than 135mm the M system needs Visoflex optical older type or EVF. I've used Leica R lenses not available in M mount like Apo-Telyt-R 4/280mm with R to M adapter. I've used Telyt V 6.8/400 and 6.8/560 with Visoflex III for decades. Digital M like M246 or M10 can be used with EVF and "lighter" system, have a look in this thread Not seen here, we can mount other longer lenses in M (Visoflex) mount twin Visoflex 😉 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  M8 can give lovely results  Edited October 29, 2020 by a.noctilux 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  M8 can give lovely results  ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/314642-long-lens-recommendations/?do=findComment&comment=4070596'>More sharing options...
retcheto Posted October 30, 2020 Author Share #3 Â Posted October 30, 2020 Thanks very much, the Visoflex confused me a bit and I wasn't exactly sure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
retcheto Posted October 30, 2020 Author Share #4 Â Posted October 30, 2020 a.noctilux - just to confirm, to use the 400/6.8 I would need the R-M adapter and a Visoflex III? That's what I'm assuming Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jankap Posted October 30, 2020 Share #5  Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) Look for the adapter Leica 14167 to use R lenses on an M body. Further the Visoflex EVF (not the Viso III)  is useful, of course. Edited October 30, 2020 by jankap Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Nordvik Posted October 30, 2020 Share #6  Posted October 30, 2020 I use a Leica R APO-Telyt 3,4/180 with APO-Extender x 2. That will give you a 6,8/360. Very compact, but a little bit heavy. (The other lens is a Sigma 150-500) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/314642-long-lens-recommendations/?do=findComment&comment=4070729'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted October 30, 2020 Share #7  Posted October 30, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) The Vario-Elmar-R 105-280 served me wellon many safaris, only to be re;placed by more modern 100-400 lenses on smaller formats. The VE IQ is superior, though. Still guess I'll have to sell it at some point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted October 30, 2020 Share #8  Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) 10 hours ago, retcheto said: a.noctilux - just to confirm, to use the 400/6.8 I would need the R-M adapter and a Visoflex III? That's what I'm assuming We have some "solutions" 😉. Telyt 6.8/400 ( in Wiki ) is a very clever "system" that I use for decades in different M/R/etc. bodies. Modular system that the 6.8/400 shares some parts with the Telyt 6.8/560 ( Wiki ... ). Two + two types Telyt- V for Visoflex III (or II) and Telyt-R for R Leica : 1 - same optical part ( 11903 - 6.8/400 ) can be used on  a - Visoflex II/III M mount associate with part n° 11905  b - R mount when associate with part n° 11906 2 - same optical part ( 11907 - 6.8/560 ) can be used on  a - Visoflex II/III M mount associate with part n° 11905  b - R mount when associate with part n° 11906 ... So if you have the Telyt-R 6.8/400 ( 11903 + 11906 ) , you need R to M adapter (like 14127, 14167 or modern R-M adapter 14642 ), this combo in M mount can be put directly on the M10 = no need of optical Visoflex II/III (but needing electronic Visoflex 020, link , for easy use ) ... If you happen to have the Telyt- V 6.8/400 ( 11903 + 11905 ) you would need Visoflex II/III or something to simulate this 40mm "ring" to be used on the M10 this is what I did and using the electronic Visoflex 020 on M10 in place of the heavy prism of the Visoflex III  Have a reading here for more opinions on Visoflex lenses (...Wildlightphoto)    Edited October 30, 2020 by a.noctilux Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted October 30, 2020 Share #9 Â Posted October 30, 2020 One could also use the Televit-RÂ 14137 plus R-M adapter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardbeg Posted October 30, 2020 Share #10  Posted October 30, 2020 To the OP, beware. If you go down this long lens path you may just end up with an SL/SL2. First you adapt to your M10 via analog Visoflex or R/M + 020 EVF. The 020 EVF, while ok, leads to desires for a better viewfinder to focus those long lenses, you buy a 280 or 400 R, you then start to want/need IBIS for those really long lenses, and then you wake up one day having bought an SL2. It happened to me so fair warning. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommonego@gmail.com Posted October 30, 2020 Share #11  Posted October 30, 2020 I do most of my photography with a CL but I do have long lenses. I have a 400 Telyt f5.6 with a Televit focusing adapter, this could fix directly on an M camera as the Televit has extended focus range, but it would be at the price of close focusing. On my CL I have about 30 ft closest focus point with out the Visoflex as a space and about 12-15 ft with the Viso should be about the same on an M camera. In both cases the Televit allows infintiy focusingand the ability to set the infinity focus point. I have used the 400 on my M3 with a Visoflex 2. I have a 200 f4 Telyt. That I use on my CL with a TZOON adapter, Viso (LTM) screw thread to M, then on the CL with an M to L adaptor, would go directly to an M camera. If I want to use it with my Visoflex say on the M3, then I need an OUBIO adapter, Viso screw thread to Viso M. The 200 has its own focusing. On an M without an optical Visoflex you would need an electronic one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted October 30, 2020 Share #12  Posted October 30, 2020 If you do occasional telephoto work and if you want more "classic" lens rendering, all the solutions mentioned above will work. But if you are serious about telephoto work, you really need to move to a through-the-lens camera, either with a mirror or mirrorless, with automatic diaphragm and autofocus and image stabilization and modern lens design.  The f5.6 and f6.8 lenses are ancient design doublet achromats.  By ancient design I mean 1750's for telescopes.  The Leica designs are the height of doublet achromats, but doublet achromats can only focus two wavelengths to a single point.  Chromatic aberration can be bad.  Doublet achromats are also subject to field curvature and barrel distortion.  The multi-element R lenses do not fall in this category and are excellent optics. But none of these classic or R Leica lenses along with all the adapters and Visoflexes are cheap, especially in like-new condition. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Michel Posted October 30, 2020 Share #13  Posted October 30, 2020 The cheap solution !: A friend gave me his Canon A-1 camera and his 28, 50 and f/4 70-210 zoom for my old cameras display. I thanked him and just put up the equipment on a shelf as for curiosity. At the time I was using an M9 and a couple of Canon 5D-2 for my work; then I purchased an M-P. So, just for fun, I purchased a Fotodiox (FD-L/M) adapter to see  what the Canon FD 70-210 would do on the M-P. Well, it works quite nicely – I use the EVF-2 for that, not just the LV screen – and, bonus, the lens has a macro capability at the 70 mm end. Still, that lens is left on the shelf 99.9% of the time. Canon FD lenses were/are quite high quality as proven by my friend's images that he made with those lenses in the past, on film of course. I agree with ardbeg. By the time you add up all the costs, etc, of making an M sort of usable for telephoto work an SL2 ends up being the better choice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommonego@gmail.com Posted October 30, 2020 Share #14  Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) I have a 200 Canon, and a 90-180 Vivitar true macro left over from my Canon days. With a FD to L adapter I have used both on my CL, the 90-180 is a nice close in macro but is not good at infinity. The Canon 200 is about equal to my 200 Telyt, so I use the Leica lens, the Canon is slimmer and lighter. I tried the Canon with a Canon 2x extender, so they should be fairly well matched, but I got tons of CA in the corners of the image and that was on a CL. As for cost the 2 Telyts and a Visoflex set me back about $700, I have a Visoflex II so add $100 for the Viso III which works better with digital Ms. The 400 Telyt on my M3 portra 160 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited October 30, 2020 by tommonego@gmail.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/314642-long-lens-recommendations/?do=findComment&comment=4070937'>More sharing options...
retcheto Posted October 30, 2020 Author Share #15  Posted October 30, 2020 Hmm, thanks everyone, really good info in here, this gives me a lot to think about. I can see how you could easily end up with an SL2. I like the idea of a Leica R APO-Telyt 3,4/180 with APO-Extender x 2, that could get me started and then if I keep going on the telephoto route, I'll have to look at an SL2 or something like that. thanks everyone! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timkr Posted October 30, 2020 Share #16 Â Posted October 30, 2020 I happen to have 180 2.8 apo, 240 f4 apo and the 1.4xand 2x extenders listed over on FM Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted October 30, 2020 Share #17 Â Posted October 30, 2020 If you don't have deep pockets and are looking for an intermediate length telephoto lens, the older LTM 200mm 4.5 Telyt on a 16466 + Viso (or adapter and mirrorless body)Â is a reasonably compact, inexpensive, lens capable of delivering good results. I frequently use it in lieu of the Tele-Elmar 135, and significantly longer lenses due to its smaller size and weight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Nordvik Posted October 30, 2020 Share #18  Posted October 30, 2020 I tried to take a picture of the moon. My first and only try. Leica TL + APO-Telyt R 3,4/180 + APO Extender 2x: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/314642-long-lens-recommendations/?do=findComment&comment=4071093'>More sharing options...
J.Nordvik Posted October 30, 2020 Share #19  Posted October 30, 2020 Sorry. M10, not TL. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/314642-long-lens-recommendations/?do=findComment&comment=4071095'>More sharing options...
J.Nordvik Posted October 31, 2020 Share #20  Posted October 31, 2020 You could also try some non-Leica lenses. Modern autofocus lenses are generally better than older manual ones, but they are difficult to focus. Or impossible if they are focus by wire. This Nikkor lens have internal focus and are difficult to focus. They were made for sport and wildlife, not to get precise focus at infinity. I would guess Pentax, Olympus or any other manufactures have a good tele lens also. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/314642-long-lens-recommendations/?do=findComment&comment=4071099'>More sharing options...
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