DWatts Posted February 18, 2009 Share #1 Posted February 18, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Has anyone any experience of using 135mm on an M8. What were the good and bad points. Thank you. David Watts, Cornwall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 18, 2009 Posted February 18, 2009 Hi DWatts, Take a look here Using 135mm on M8 cameras. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted February 18, 2009 Share #2 Posted February 18, 2009 David, there are many interesting threads on the subject, some even quite recent. If you use the search function, you'll find them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted February 18, 2009 Share #3 Posted February 18, 2009 Hi David, Welcome to the forum. The 135mm works beautifully on the M8. The reason that Leica does not recommend this lens is that there are no frame lines for 135mm built in. This is no problem - many users simply make use of the 90mm lines (which on the standard M8 are not that accurate anyway), or, the coverage is roughly twice the size of the rangefinder patch. Some users make use of a magnifier to make focusing easier, others do without - this is trial and error and comes down to personal choice. Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tollie Posted February 18, 2009 Share #4 Posted February 18, 2009 I recently acquired an older 135 f4.0. The newer f3.4 is reported to be a bit sharper... although much more expensive. I'm delighted with its performance. Its a long and heavy lens and needs a lot of light. because it is heavy shooting without a tripod means, for me, a shutter speed of 250 to avoid camera shake. With the focus on infinity I have had no problems with focus but it is a bit hit or miss at other distances. At f8 or f11 it is really sharp. It will not be an every day lens but for some situations it has really extended my M8's utility. For example this shot of the French Ventose coming into San Juan harbor. At 100% you can see the Special Forces marines above the bridge... with automatic weapons at the ready. 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/77126-using-135mm-on-m8-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=812788'>More sharing options...
Anguish Posted February 22, 2009 Share #5 Posted February 22, 2009 I find the 135 Tele-Elmar f4 useful outdoors with strong light. 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/77126-using-135mm-on-m8-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=817211'>More sharing options...
lecycliste Posted February 22, 2009 Share #6 Posted February 22, 2009 Here's an M8 picture with the 135mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt, taken at Moss Landing, California. I used an Optimus shoe-mounted finder to see the 180mm field of view. It was at infinity focus. For closer shots, I'd want to use a viewfinder magnifier with the M8 for focusing accuracy. It's hard enough to see details focusing 90mm lenses on the M8. I use a 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit for live theater photography and really have to work to get accurate focus. 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/77126-using-135mm-on-m8-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=817276'>More sharing options...
glenerrolrd Posted February 23, 2009 Share #7 Posted February 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Here's an M8 picture with the 135mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt, taken at Moss Landing, California. I used an Optimus shoe-mounted finder to see the 180mm field of view. It was at infinity focus. For closer shots, I'd want to use a viewfinder magnifier with the M8 for focusing accuracy. It's hard enough to see details focusing 90mm lenses on the M8. I use a 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit for live theater photography and really have to work to get accurate focus. Mark Have you had any difficulties in using the lens at the infinity setting. I have had my 135apo calibrated twice ....it can be dead on at close focus (for this lens inside 15 ft ) but once you get beyond 100ft ...my lens front focuses and at infinity ..I have to ignore the rangefinder and just push it to the infinity setting. Your picture made me think of a test situation for infinity focus. Puts refers to this on his blog post of a few weeks ago on the 135apo on the M8. Roger Dunham Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigrmurray Posted February 23, 2009 Share #8 Posted February 23, 2009 "I want to be like David Watts"... -- R. Davies, 1967 I use the older 135 f2.8 Elmarit that has the "goggles" attached. Mounting this lens brings up the 90mm bright framelines, and magnifies the image. I'm sure the lens isn't as good as the more modern glass, but does simplify the framing problem a bit. Also, the lens head unscrews and can be mounted into a shorter focusing helical (same one as for the older 90 f2.0 Summicron) for use on the Visoflex, if you are so inclined. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lecycliste Posted February 23, 2009 Share #9 Posted February 23, 2009 Mark Have you had any difficulties in using the lens at the infinity setting. I have had my 135apo calibrated twice ....it can be dead on at close focus (for this lens inside 15 ft ) but once you get beyond 100ft ...my lens front focuses and at infinity ..I have to ignore the rangefinder and just push it to the infinity setting. Your picture made me think of a test situation for infinity focus. Puts refers to this on his blog post of a few weeks ago on the 135apo on the M8. Roger Dunham Roger - No trouble with the 135mm APO-Telyt at infinity. I just have trouble seeing well enough to focus closer. My equipment's maintained mainly by Fred Muller at International Camera Technicians in Mountain View, California. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
holgerf Posted February 23, 2009 Share #10 Posted February 23, 2009 Has anyone any experience of using 135mm on an M8. What were the good and bad points.Thank you. David Watts, Cornwall @ David I Just bought the APO-Telyt 3.4/135. The good point: very sharp at every aperture, very nice bokeh. The bad points: (1) Not easy to focus. Though the lens is well adjusted, no front- or backfocus and though I’m using a correct diopter and the 1.25 lupe not every shot is on spot. (2) No 135 frame on M8. But you can key in the 90 mm frame which really helps (see other threads to this topic). Some shots below, no use of tripod. @Roger I have no problems to focus at special distances. But I tried out the lens before buying to make sure that it is perfect except the problems you have with every 135 lens on the M8. If you want to have a look at the original DNG files send me a PM. Best Holger APO-Telyt 3.4/135 | ASA 640 | 1/180s 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! APO-Telyt 3.4/135 | ASA 320 | 1/125s APO-Telyt 3.4/135 | ASA 160 | 1/2000s Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! APO-Telyt 3.4/135 | ASA 320 | 1/125s APO-Telyt 3.4/135 | ASA 160 | 1/2000s ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/77126-using-135mm-on-m8-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=817641'>More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 23, 2009 Share #11 Posted February 23, 2009 Holger--Gorgeous work! The first and second really catch my fancy. There's an earlier thread where Guy Mancuso also showed good results from the 135 apo on the M8. But for folks wondering whether to get the 135/3.4, keep in mind (as Holger and others have mentioned here) that the M8 lacks a 135 frame because its effective rangefinder base length is too short to focus that focal length accurately. You need a focus magnifier or the 1.5x of the Elmarit's goggles. Some people are satisfied with their results without the extra magnification. They've got better eyes than most. But technically, according to the standard formulas, the M8's 0.68x finder magnification is too little for a 135 mm. The 0.72x of the standard M series is the bottom limit for a 135/3.4 without additional magnification, and even that requires good eyesight and viewing conditions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted February 23, 2009 Share #12 Posted February 23, 2009 There has been a lot of discussion of this lens else where and Jaap, I and others have posted images which demonstrates that it works: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/49821-135-asph-apo-telyt-3-4-a.html#post524622 http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/43086-what-surprise-leica-135-apo-telyt.html#post451369 http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/30688-135-apo-very-sharp-lens.html#post321563 Point made? On the frameline issue, when I had my lens coded, I also got Leica to put on the 90mm adaptor so that it brings up the 90 mm framelines (which you can achieve by twisting the lens past the stop in the body - but somehow I never fancied doing that... ) This makes framing much easier to me. On focus - yes, it can be tough, but it's so rewarding when you get it. A correction diopter makes focusing much easier for me than using the x1.4 magnifier - I keep on trying this, but it doesn't really do it for me. And in the long run -- especially when I'm trekking, I'm much more likely to have an M8 + 135 in a belt pouch than I am to be humping the 5D mk2 + 200 prime or (please no) 70-200 2.8! For results you might like to check: http://www.ctribble.co.uk/_gallery/Lakes_2009/index.html These were made with my favourite trekking combination ever - M8 (upgraded framelines) + 28 summicron asph + 135 apo-telyt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 23, 2009 Share #13 Posted February 23, 2009 I just had a look at that portrait Guy posted- It is a spectacularly good portrait lens. I honestly don't understand all the stuff about focussing - it is really not THAT hard. I tried magnifiers, all three of them. I found using a diopter lens to correct the viewfinder to my eye far more effective. For one thing one does not lose contrast that way - and in my experience that is far more important than magnification in getting the focus right. Having a fingerprint on one of the windows - that makes focussing difficult. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodor Heinrichsohn Posted February 23, 2009 Share #14 Posted February 23, 2009 Christ, Lovely pictures. Reminds me of our many family visits 30 years ago (when our kids were little). We rented a self catering house near Ambleside on a hill overlooking the lake and toured the whole Lake District for 3-4 weeks each summer. Unfortunately, my pictures taken with slide film have deteriorated so much that they are not usable any more. Leica M5 and M4 + several lenses including 135/2.8 first version. I used the 135/4 and 135/3.4 on the M8, mostly at infinity, on Bali and have some useful shots of rice terraces etc. In my experience, using a diopter correction is good enough. The results with the Leica magnifier were not better. I twist the lense a bit beyond the normal point and more or less guess at the exact coverage in the manner proposed by you and jappv. Teddy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rami G Posted February 23, 2009 Share #15 Posted February 23, 2009 Here is a rather large file taken with the apo: L1000489 copy.jpg photo - ramig photos at pbase.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted February 23, 2009 Share #16 Posted February 23, 2009 Rami - Yep - get it focused right and it gives winners! Jaap - my experience completely - the correct diopter can transform the M experience - for me infinitely preferrable to magnifiers or other devices (and to wearing glasses myself!) Teddy - thanks for kind words. The Lake District is well worth the visit if you don't know it. The weather can be vile - not something to guarantee - but when you get it like we had this January, it's spectacular. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
holgerf Posted February 23, 2009 Share #17 Posted February 23, 2009 On the frameline issue, when I had my lens coded, I also got Leica to put on the 90mm adaptor so that it brings up the 90 mm framelines (which you can achieve by twisting the lens past the stop in the body - but somehow I never fancied doing that... ) This makes framing much easier to me. I’ll probably do the same with mine BUT there is the disadvantage that you also get the 90mm frame if you use the 135 with a FF M6 or future M9 It talked to a guy at Leica last week. There is no official way to avoid this drawback. Maybe Leica will offer a correctly coded mount, if a FF M arrives. The inofficial way is like this: (1) Get the 90 mm frame with a M8 by turning in the APO-Telyt to the 90mm-frame-position as described in sereral threads. (2) Code the lens by yourself. But in this case you need a different position for coding to reflect the wrong position the code gets in relation to the sensors due the point (1). I’d like to try this out if once I have the time. Anybody tried this already? Best Holger Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted February 23, 2009 Share #18 Posted February 23, 2009 re using the 135 on film - it's such a low priority I don't feel too concerned (+ I can guess in from the 90 on the framelines as I do with the M8...) re M9 - as I'm not holding my breath for this + as I've spend the better part of £6000 on the two M8 bodies () I'll probably stay with the system I've got until a truly compelling reason to change comes along... As it is, a FF M9 with Nikon beating ISO above 1250 seems like too big a call within the M form factor, and within Leica's capacity to invest at the moment. Not that I'll never say never, but.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted July 12, 2009 Share #19 Posted July 12, 2009 Four other reasons for using 135 on an M8 are given below. I'm travelling in China at the moment and as a break from the other stuff went to the circus in Shanghai. I've got the M8s with me and a range of lenses - this evening I had 28 / 50 / 135 in the bag. Sitting 10 rows back from the stage I was able to hand hold these (mostly around 1/45th to 1/60) shooting fully open manual / ISO 640. I could have got these shots with SLR and if I'd had my 300 / f2.8 on the 5D2 would have been able to do all sorts of things. The point here is that I had the M8 with me because I'd never carry the other system with me on a trip like this and with the 135 I've got a seriously useful telephoto lens I can focus and frame with easily - and it weighs next to nothing. My favourite is the dove that's just come out of the handkerchief... you can see the eye + the movement of the wings... 1/45th of a second. No monopod, no Image Stabilisation - just a good old RF camera. 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/77126-using-135mm-on-m8-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=960317'>More sharing options...
Simon Baker Posted July 12, 2009 Share #20 Posted July 12, 2009 There has been a lot of discussion of this lens else where and Jaap, I and others have posted images which demonstrates that it works:http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/49821-135-asph-apo-telyt-3-4-a.html#post524622 http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/43086-what-surprise-leica-135-apo-telyt.html#post451369 http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/30688-135-apo-very-sharp-lens.html#post321563 Point made? On the frameline issue, when I had my lens coded, I also got Leica to put on the 90mm adaptor so that it brings up the 90 mm framelines (which you can achieve by twisting the lens past the stop in the body - but somehow I never fancied doing that... ) This makes framing much easier to me. On focus - yes, it can be tough, but it's so rewarding when you get it. A correction diopter makes focusing much easier for me than using the x1.4 magnifier - I keep on trying this, but it doesn't really do it for me. And in the long run -- especially when I'm trekking, I'm much more likely to have an M8 + 135 in a belt pouch than I am to be humping the 5D mk2 + 200 prime or (please no) 70-200 2.8! For results you might like to check: The English Lake District - January 2009 These were made with my favourite trekking combination ever - M8 (upgraded framelines) + 28 summicron asph + 135 apo-telyt. Hi Chris, I believe you have the F3.4 APO version of the 135mm lens, Leica coded it for you ? I thought they would only code the F2.8 version. BTW, the circus shots you posted today, taken with this lens are very nice. Also, off topic I know, how is your Malcolm Taylor "coded" Zeiss 18mm working out ? I would like to get mine coded by Malcolm and would be grateful for your thoughts on coding the Zeiss. Kind regards Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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