photolandscape Posted November 9, 2007 Share #1 Posted November 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I love the M8. My longest lens is 90mm, giving me the equivalent of 120mm focal length. I would love to have a longer lens, like the 135mm Tele-Elmar. I can't afford a new 135mm at the moment. Would the Tele-Elmar work well with the M8? How do you frame your shots with it? Use the 90mm frame and visualize a frame line for 135mm? Other than the Tele-Elmar, would other 135mm's would be compatible and work especially well with the M8? Do any of the 135's not work so well--tend to have fungus on the inner elements, focus problems, or any other unusual things? Thanks in advance for any advice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 9, 2007 Posted November 9, 2007 Hi photolandscape, Take a look here Need Advice on 135mm Lens for M8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
hsw Posted November 9, 2007 Share #2 Posted November 9, 2007 Tele-Elmar is a great lens to use. Runs about $400 in Ex condition. I estimate framing by doubling the size of the rangefinder patch (and chimp). Examples: 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! 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/37638-need-advice-on-135mm-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=397561'>More sharing options...
thai.charlie Posted November 9, 2007 Share #3 Posted November 9, 2007 Just curious. Does anyone use the 135mm Elmarit (w/goggles) and the 1.25x eyepiece magnifier? What's your wide-open focus success rate? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogberry Posted November 9, 2007 Share #4 Posted November 9, 2007 I second Henry's recommendation of the Tele-Elmar. It's a great lens that's tack sharp and not at all expensive (at least by the standards of the Leica universe). The very narrow DOF of this lens at wide apertures can be used to good effect as well. Here's a couple of examples ... Best Gordon Cambridge, MA Martha's Vineyard, MA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasrancher Posted November 9, 2007 Share #5 Posted November 9, 2007 I had the 135mm 2.8 with eyes - found it too cumberson to pack & rather clumsy to use. Replaced if with the 135mm tele-elmarit that I frequently use from the stands to shoot my 5th grade son's football games. I push the finder lever in to show 90mm view and estimate from that - focus aided with 1.25 magnifier. Crisp lens, easy to transport with bag of other focal lengths, pleasure to use. 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! 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/37638-need-advice-on-135mm-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=397570'>More sharing options...
tbarker13 Posted November 9, 2007 Share #6 Posted November 9, 2007 I briefly tried out the 135 elmarit while visiting Scotland this summer. I dropped by Ffordes, where they had a couple of the goggled versions. After shooting a few frames with those lenses, I think that is the way I will go eventually. The goggles, combined with my 1.25 magnifier seemed to work very well together. Focused well wide open. Just a personal thing, but I'd certainly rather go that way (which uses the 90mm frame lines) than have to estimate my shots using the RF patch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 9, 2007 Share #7 Posted November 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Tim, as mentioned often before, the 135/4.0 ( and 3.4 aop btw) WILL bring up the 90 mm framelines as well, just press the lens release button and rotate it a few mm further. There can be no damage, as you rotate it against the stop provided, and the focussing is not affected, as the helical on this lens is internal, with a flat surface up to the roller-lever of the camera. I bought and sold the 2.8/135 three times in my Leica career now, each time I found the results of that lens disappointing compared to the 4.0 or 3.4. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhoersch Posted November 9, 2007 Share #8 Posted November 9, 2007 I can second that. The Elmar is great, the APO-Telyt spectacular - I will sell my 2.8/135 with goggles, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_S Posted November 9, 2007 Share #9 Posted November 9, 2007 I use the Elmarit 2.8/135 with goggles, bought it S/H, sent it to Solms for CLA and coding. Yes, it is a big and heavy lens, not easy to put in a small camera bag. I like it though because of proper frame lines, enlarged viewfinder (due to goggles) and I use the 1.25x magnifier with it as well. With this combination I find it easy to focus. Optics are fine, IMHO, very good at f/4 and f/5.6. I like the signature of the lens, like the 90cron pre-asph and the 75lux, how it draws a picture. Find some full res. examples in my iDisk (go to M8, Elmarit135). I had the Tele-Elmar 4/135 too, sold it because my copy not properly focussing and framing was guessing. Great optics though. Like to try the 135 apo another day. 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! 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/37638-need-advice-on-135mm-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=397911'>More sharing options...
msendin Posted November 10, 2007 Share #10 Posted November 10, 2007 I have the 135 Elmarit with goggles (second version). I find the lense soft at f2.8 and f4, decent at f5.6 and good at f8. As has been said it is very unconfortable to carry because of the goggles. Also if you use the hand grip you have to take it out to mount the lense because The goggles hits it. On the good side it is usually a cheap lense and framing is correct. There where 3 versions of the lense, the last one , with different optics, had better contrast wide open and was clearly better than previous versions. The serial number when the last version started is not certain and figures vary a lot, from 2404001 to 2655901. If you decide for the Elmarit try finding one of the last version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 10, 2007 Share #11 Posted November 10, 2007 Find a good TE 135 f4 and you'll be deeply satisfied : at present prices, an excellent buy. No external VF : bring up the 90 frame as Jaap explained and mentally interpolate between it and the RF window: very easy to get accustomed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecaton Posted November 10, 2007 Share #12 Posted November 10, 2007 Does anybody know how the Tele Elmar 135 performance compares with the older Leica Elmar 135mm F4. I recently could try the Leica Elmar on the M8 and was quite pleased with its relatively compact size and low weight. The Tele Elmar seems to be somewhat bulkier. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted November 10, 2007 Share #13 Posted November 10, 2007 I have both version of the Elmarit f/2.8 and the first version does fit on the camera without taking the grip base off, on the second version the eyes are mounted differently and on a bigger frame so with that version you do need to take the grip base off, if you use one, to mount and dismount the lens. I find the image quality about equal and not to shabby. The only thing the second version has going for it is that it takes a standard 55mm filter where as the first version used a series filter and you need a step-up ring to go from 54mm to 55mm to mount a filter. I just had my first version CLA'd, coded and the eyes adjusted. It was not cheap to have Leica Solms do this but without the eyes properly adjusted the lens is just about useless. I am sending the second version off to DAG for the eye adjustment and then sending it to NJ for coding ONLY using one of my many vouchers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted November 10, 2007 Share #14 Posted November 10, 2007 Another tele-elmar vote. In addition to it's excellent performance in regular use, it also has a detachable head that can be used with visoflex-bellows. Here's a regular shot....Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 10, 2007 Share #15 Posted November 10, 2007 Does anybody know how the Tele Elmar 135 performance compares with the older Leica Elmar 135mm F4. I recently could try the Leica Elmar on the M8 and was quite pleased with its relatively compact size and low weight. The Tele Elmar seems to be somewhat bulkier. I had and used both for years on M4 - IIIf (the Elmar was a LTM version, but the lens is exactly the same): frankly, my simple conclusion is that the Tele is better : better contrast and sharpness at 4-5,6, and, regarding the size, true that Elmar is about 20% lighter (440g vs. 550g) but is a little longer and this poses a little more risk of shaking, and the less-advanced position of the focusing ring is appreciable for a stable tenure of the assembly when hand-held. The Elmar reatained the old Hektor-style tripod attachment, and this is its (relatively) only advantage... apart the fact that it's CHROME... and lot of people (me included) like chromes... Regarding the use on Visoflex (and bellows in case of, a GREAT add-on value on M8, the reason for I do not chase for an Apo Telyt) the two are equivalent: with the proper splendid-diabolic set of accessories you can achieve the same macro ratios. Here is a TE head on Visoflex shot 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! 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/37638-need-advice-on-135mm-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=398779'>More sharing options...
carstenw Posted November 10, 2007 Share #16 Posted November 10, 2007 Isn't it only the older Tele-Elmar which has a removable head? The older one which is sort of cone-shaped and has coloured lines on the side: Objectif LEICA Tele-Elmar 135 mm f/4 (1965-1985) The newest one looks almost identical to the Apo-135 f/3.4: http://www.namyong.co.kr/system/upload/mall/2007040122492711.JPG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 10, 2007 Share #17 Posted November 10, 2007 You're right, Carsten, really the last version of the Tele Elmar LACKS the capability to remove the lens head... and this precludes the numbers of configurations you can achieve with Viso-rings-extenders-bellows... a pity... I do not know if the last version is different (better ?) on the optical side... surely has a different filter thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted November 10, 2007 Share #18 Posted November 10, 2007 Right gentleman. A "they don't make em' like they used to" for sure....Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted November 10, 2007 Share #19 Posted November 10, 2007 Luigi, the Leica Pocket Guide claims that they are optically identical in every way, and places them both on the same page, with the same MTF graphs, and the rest. The book even states that it was unusual for Leica to do something like that. I presume it was done for the more modern look, and the built-in lens shade, and at the time of the later version, the Visoflex was probably already gone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howardeisemann Posted November 10, 2007 Share #20 Posted November 10, 2007 This shot, with my M8, was made using a 70 year old Black Paint HEKTOR F135/4.5 and an equally aged VIOOH viewfinder. 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! 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/37638-need-advice-on-135mm-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=398879'>More sharing options...
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