Focorapid and Telyt 280mm/4.8 v3

[jbockste]

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Dear knowledgeable members of this forum,

15 years ago, user Gast presented several pictures made with the Telyt 280mm/4.8 v3 and the Focorapid rapid focusing device:

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/gallery/album/4113-telyt-28048-v3-with-focorapid-visoflex-and-m8/

Does anybody here have an idea what stated "modification" of the Telyt 280 v3 head is needed so that it can be used with the (older and less heavy) Focorapid (instead of with the newer and heavier Televit)?

I have already been looking for several kinds of adapters and went through different other threads here, but have not yet found any "ready to go" solution for the fact that the v3 lenshead is just a bit to thick to fit the Focorapid and would need a kind of fitting extension to be mounted to it.

I am very much looking forward to any further ideas on this issue!

Many thanks and best regards,

Johannes

[jaapv]

It depends on the  model. There is one with an R mount and one with a Visoflex (M bayonet but with shorter register) For the Focorapid that is not a problem. The M mount one can be used with M adapters on most cameras, but the R mount one must be modified by a technician for use on the Visoflex. However an M-R adapter should make it usable like an M mount lens. At least that is for the Televit, but I assume it is the same for the Focorapid. Personally I would prefer the Televit (I own a modified R one) and because it has a practical handgrip making is easy and fast to use and it balances better. The Focorapid is more fiddly to focus. The weight difference is not really significant. 

https://the.me/henri-in-africa-the-leica-monochrom-as-a-travel-camera/

I used a modified Televit here.

[dg4mgr]

Note the text:

"... because the type3 head can NOT be screwed into the Focorapid adapter 14112 (made for the earlier types of Telyt 280 heads), albeit the threads are identical. However, after a minor modification, also the Telyt 280/4,8 type3 head will fit into the Focorapid"

could mean that the Focorapid has been modified, not the lens head.

[jaapv]

Ah- wasn't aware of that one. 

[dg4mgr]

When looking at the Telyt 280mm/4.8 v3 lens head - which I have here - and pictures of the Focorapid, my guess is you need to remove the front collar of the 14112 ring thus allowing the threads to touch.

[zeitz]

The 15 year old post seems contradictory.  In one place Gast says the threads of V2 and V3 are the same.  When discussing the Bellows II, Gast says the threads are not the same.  I don't think the lens head was modified.  Gast must be talking about modifying the adapter.  I don't have a V3 to try.

I think the Focorapid is brilliant except with the 400mm f5 using the 98311 adapter made by E. Leitz NY.  The center of gravity of this combination is way outside the movement of the Focorapid.  This causes the Focorapid to bind.  And the rig is hard to hold because the center of gravity is so far forward.

[jbockste]

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Dear all,

Thanks a lot for all your thoughts so far! The modification of the Focorapid might be the key for this riddle, I will look deeper into that!

And of course, the use of a Televit-M (in my case) would, for sure, be the easiest solution!

However, further suggestions are still very welcome!

Best regards,

Johannes

[dg4mgr]

Did you read this one? However @Telyt2003 talks about modifying the lens head and leaving the 14112 out.

 

[zeitz]

I have not read this one.  Thanks for pointing it out; it is interesting.  But I still don't know what modification is being performed for V3 on Focorapid.

I did some tests 18 years ago with a Leica M8.  f4.8 is pretty bad; f8.0 was pretty good.  I would like to do more scientific testing on a variety of lenses including this one.

The attached photo that was taken with an M8, 280mm 4.8 V2, Visoflex III, and regular focusing mount, also in 2007.  Without exif data, with just my memory, I can't be totally sure.  Uncropped and unedited; just converted to jpeg.

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[luigi bertolotti]

One fact is sure by my direct experience : the threads of the heads of 280 V2 and V3 ARE THE SAME :

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With 2 important details :

1) the V3's is partially covered by a ring, but it can be removed safely (there is a retaining screw to be unscrewed, see the small hole hereunder)

2) The V3 protrudes significantly more than V2 towards its back end

And this can be the issue about Focorapid , which I have... but have not the 280 adapter : is there some issue of interference ? 

As Jaap said, in my opinion 280 is better manageable on Televit, though heavy

 

Edited June 30 by luigi bertolotti

[dg4mgr]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb luigi bertolotti:

but have not the 280 adapter : is there some issue of interference ? 

from these pictures

https://irohascamera.com/products/leica-leitz-canada-focorapid-14111-14112-g-adapter-23672f3

it looks like the thread in the 14112 adapter is recessed and the unthreaded collar prevents the v3 head from engaging the thread. Your idea to remove the ring might solve this, great!

[luigi bertolotti]

Well spotted !  I'd say that surely the problem is what you say. 

Btw... there are several complicated details about Telyt 280 V3.. several years ago (15 around) we han incredibly deep discussion on the matter.. dozens of posts... 😁 a thread that is probably linked in the Wiki Section about Viso lenses...

[UliWer]

I think that‘s the thread luigi mentioned:

And looking for the relevant information about your question you‘ll have the pleasure to read it completely…

[jbockste]

Dear Luigi,

Many, many thanks and CONGRATULATIONS, you solved my personal riddle  ;-)): After removing the described ring, the v3 head can be directly mounted in the Focorapid without the adapter 14112 (G).

Thus, this obviously is the "minor modification" mentioned in other threads!

YOU FINALLY MADE MY DAY!!! (I secretly hoped you would join this thread as you contributed a lot to a very long, 15 years old thread on the Telyt 280mm v3 head and the Bellows II.)

And also MANY THANKS to all the others for your contributions and demonstrations of what this lens still is capable of! I especially liked the B/W scenes from Africa and the picture of the car race (a bit like in the old Focorapid demo brochure).

I wish you all a great remaining week and lot of fun with your Leicas!

Best,

Johannes

[jbockste]

Apologies, I did not update the thread and just missed Luigi's and UliWer's last contributions. I knew the old Bellows II thread, but was not able to draw the right conclusions for my case. All the best again, Johannes

[luigi bertolotti]

Thanks for your compliments, jbockste : remember, this is a GREAT Forum 😎

[Robert_M]

The 280 v3 head can indeed be screwed in directly to the Focorapid, however this does NOT position the optics at the correct focal distance.  It is about 27mm too close to the focal plane.  So, using the focorapid, one has to extend the focus way out (~27mm) to get infinity focus and little room is left for focusing on closer objects.  About 100m to infinity is the approximate focal range using that setup.

The 14112 (G) adapter is intended for the 280v2 head.  That adapter places the optics at the correct focal plane distance and the entire range of the focorapid can be used.  However, the v3 head can not be screwed into the 14112 adapter because there are a set of threads at the lower end of the adapter which stop the v3 head's extended optics.  The upper threads (which fasten the head to the adapter or directly to the focorapid) do not reach the adapter to couple.

Several years ago, I was going to try modifying the 14112 adapter to make it work with the v3 head.  So I went and purchased a second 14112 adapter on ebay so that if I messed it up, at least I still had an original 14112 adapter.  Well by shear luck, the adapter I purchased had already been modified by someone and worked directly with the 280v3 lens head !!!  The basic modification is to machine out a 5mm length of the lower threads in 14112 adapter.  This is the inside 5mm, not the end 5mm.  Then those remaining threads act as a stop to position the unit roughly where it should be for the infinity focus on the focorapid.  One could remove all of those threads at the end (which interfere with the extended optics head) but then the v3 head could be screwed into the adapter too far.

Attached is a picture of the modified adapter (left) and the original adapter (right).  It is that green zone at the bottom which is the modification.  The upper green zone is not modified and I do not know why some machinist painted that also.

The other two pictures illustrate the adapted system to a focorapid, an M10, and Rayquel viso-LM instead of Visoflex housing.

 

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[Robert_M]

On 6/30/2025 at 5:16 AM, luigi bertolotti said:

With 2 important details :

1) the V3's is partially covered by a ring, but it can be removed safely (there is a retaining screw to be unscrewed, see the small hole hereunder)

 

 

There is NOT a set screw or retaining screw on that 280v3 ring.  That is just a small hole (not a thru hole) that can be used with one of those ring wrenches if the ring is on too tight.  At least, that is what is on the thread protection ring of two 280v3 heads I've used.

 

 

[luigi bertolotti]

On 7/3/2025 at 12:54 AM, Robert_M said:

 

There is NOT a set screw or retaining screw on that 280v3 ring.  That is just a small hole (not a thru hole) that can be used with one of those ring wrenches if the ring is on too tight.  At least, that is what is on the thread protection ring of two 280v3 heads I've used.

 

 

You  are right, I think: also my 280V3 head has just the small hole, without a screw inside :  indeed, I simply speculated that originally it could have accomodated a small screw (a nut, to be precise, like the one that is on the Super Angulon 21 f4 M mount to secure the factory M adapter to the underlying 39x1 mount)... I had the vague feel, looking at the hole, that it was finely threaded inside... but can surely be wrong. 

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[luigi bertolotti]

On 7/3/2025 at 12:44 AM, Robert_M said:

The 280 v3 head can indeed be screwed in directly to the Focorapid, however this does NOT position the optics at the correct focal distance.  It is about 27mm too close to the focal plane.  So, using the focorapid, one has to extend the focus way out (~27mm) to get infinity focus and little room is left for focusing on closer objects.  About 100m to infinity is the approximate focal range using that setup.

The 14112 (G) adapter is intended for the 280v2 head.  That adapter places the optics at the correct focal plane distance and the entire range of the focorapid can be used.  However, the v3 head can not be screwed into the 14112 adapter because there are a set of threads at the lower end of the adapter which stop the v3 head's extended optics.  The upper threads (which fasten the head to the adapter or directly to the focorapid) do not reach the adapter to couple.

Several years ago, I was going to try modifying the 14112 adapter to make it work with the v3 head.  So I went and purchased a second 14112 adapter on ebay so that if I messed it up, at least I still had an original 14112 adapter.  Well by shear luck, the adapter I purchased had already been modified by someone and worked directly with the 280v3 lens head !!!  The basic modification is to machine out a 5mm length of the lower threads in 14112 adapter.  This is the inside 5mm, not the end 5mm.  Then those remaining threads act as a stop to position the unit roughly where it should be for the infinity focus on the focorapid.  One could remove all of those threads at the end (which interfere with the extended optics head) but then the v3 head could be screwed into the adapter too far.

Attached is a picture of the modified adapter (left) and the original adapter (right).  It is that green zone at the bottom which is the modification.  The upper green zone is not modified and I do not know why some machinist painted that also.

The other two pictures illustrate the adapted system to a focorapid, an M10, and Rayquel viso-LM instead of Visoflex housing.

 

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Interesting, thanks ! So, if I understand right, the original problem arises from both the details I evidenced in post #10 : the (removable) ring and interference with the 14112 adapter... just a further curiosity (I haven't the 14112) .. after the modification of 14112, is is still mandatory to remove the ring ? 

Incidentally... how is the quality of the Rayqual adapter ? I think it has, of course, the flange to flange length of Viso II/III : I have the Novoflex LEM/VIS (V1 - single tube) and is the first time I see a similar device from another vendor.

Edited July 4 by luigi bertolotti