Visoflex Elmar 65mm/f3.5 on R8

[Leitzfan]

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One probably doesn't see this everyday (at least I don't).  But it works great--in full focal range--macro to infinity!

Depth of field fall-off at wide open iris is fabulous--especially in macro.  Landscape images are also Leica-trademark precise, to infinity.

What a gem of a find--and fairly economical, as Leicas go...  This propelled me to a Visoflex-crazed buying spree--culminating in four Visoflex/conversion lenses:

- This 65mm/f3.5 Elmar.

- 90mm/f4 Elmar.

- 125mm/f2.5 Hektor.

- 135mm/f4 Elmar.

All of which mate perfectly to my R8/9s, Digilux 3 & digital CL, w/ a Leica 14167 adapter--which converts all of these Visoflex lenses to "R lenses" (from there, you'd use a mount-specific adapter:  R-L, R-D, R-M, etc.).  Auto functions are retained, except for auto focus & auto aperture--but who cares?!

I'm having a lot of fun w/ these "oddball" wonderful Leica lenses--not to mention how handsome they look on the camera. 😄

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Edited March 14 by Leitzfan

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[Dao De Leitz]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb Leitzfan:

 ... I'm having a lot of fun w/ these "oddball" wonderful Leica lenses--not to mention how handsome they look on the camera. 😄 ...

 

Hello, I can well understand the enthusiasm for these lens heads and focal length combinations. I really like the silver ones in this combination.

 

 

Am 1.4.2018 um 07:37 schrieb Dao De Leitz:

... ...

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  The topic is:  quasi -  SATEs - Small Angle Tri Elmars : 65mm 90mm 135mm & Apo-Extender-M

... (Edit)

WATE - Wide Angle Tri Elmar : TRI-ELMAR-M 16-18-21 mm ASPH

MATE - Medium Angle Tri Elmar :  TRI-ELMAR-M 28-35-50 mm ASPH

SATE's - Small Angle Tri Elmar's  : ...

Some of us would like to see Leica revising and extending the Tri-Elmar concept - ...  very useful for hiking and travelling.  { WATE & MATE }

Whether the new Vario-Elmar-M will go into series production is not yet clear ( *... ).

With the introduction of system cameras with 'real-time image display' and electronic viewfinder, the proven Visoflex housing with M bayonet can be omitted if required.

 

 

The use of E. Leitz Visoflex components is a weight-, volume- and cost-optimized alternative:

...

In contrast to my combination, the original 'L. APO-Extender R 2x' could work well with them also. (;-) 

Thorsten

Edited March 14 by Dao De Leitz

[Leitzfan]

On 3/14/2025 at 12:14 PM, Dao De Leitz said:

 

Hello, I can well understand the enthusiasm for these lens heads and focal length combinations. I really like the silver ones in this combination.

 

 

In contrast to my combination, the original 'L. APO-Extender R 2x' could work well with them also. (;-) 

Thorsten

Interesting; hadn't thought of that.  I've a couple of the 2x APO-Extender-Rs.  Will try them w/ the Visoflex combo...

Edited March 16 by Leitzfan

[Leitzfan]

It's Visoflex city!  Here's one of the Visoflex 125mm Hektor, 65mm Elmar & 90mm Elmar (left to right) on my assorted Leicas.  Really fun mating them up & shooting w/ them--all with Leica OEM adapters = Leica-perfect images.  Astounding to think that these lenses, from the 1950s & 60s, render crystal-perfect images, today!

My two steadfast requirements are:
1)  They must focus to infinty (macro-to-lanscape).  (*Macro-only* is insufficient--most any Leica lens combo can do *that*).
2)  They must all work w/ my Leica system cameras: R8/9, Digilux 3 & digital CL.

 

 

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Edited March 16 by Leitzfan

[Dao De Leitz]

Ref. #3: The APO-Extender 2x is practically only useful for the longer focal length. Here a test photo with the  E. Leitz Tele-Elmar 1:4 / 135mm  with APO-Extender 2x #15 . (crop 1:1)

Ref. #4:

Carrying  only one OTZFO focusing mount for the three M lens heads can give you a weight advantage and space reduction. That was the starting point for my considerations.

Am 1.4.2018 um 07:42 schrieb Dao De Leitz:

...

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 - lens head E. Leitz Elmar 1:3.5 / 65mm (120g)
 - lens head E. Leitz Elmarit 1:2.8 / 90mm (131g)
 - lens head E. Leitz Tele-Elmar 1:4 / 135mm (182g)   ...

 

In the R system, you are certainly better equipped with a Vario zoom. (;-)

Thorsten

Edited March 17 by Dao De Leitz

[Leitzfan]

20 hours ago, Dao De Leitz said:

Ref. #3: The APO-Extender 2x is practically only useful for the longer focal length. Here a test photo with the  E. Leitz Tele-Elmar 1:4 / 135mm  with APO-Extender 2x #15 . (crop 1:1)

Ref. #4:

Carrying  only one OTZFO focusing mount for the three M lens heads can give you a weight advantage and space reduction. That was the starting point for my considerations.

 

In the R system, you are certainly better equipped with a Vario zoom. (;-)

Thorsten

- Re. 2x Ext., agreed.  Additionally, the APO-Ext. is better than the basic 2x Ext., for what it's worth...

  -- Nice study of the 2X Apo-Ext. in your test shots. 👍

- Yes, a single focusing mount would be desirable.  Alas, my heads are all different diameters, so that wouldn't work for me...

Edited March 18 by Leitzfan