DWatts Posted May 29, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 29, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Has anyone any experience of using lenses larger than 135 on the M8. I am thinking of trying out something in the region of 200mm +. David Watts, Cornwall Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 29, 2009 Posted May 29, 2009 Hi DWatts, Take a look here Large lenses for M8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
carstenw Posted May 29, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 29, 2009 Which lens would that be? I don't know of any lens with M mount longer than a 135mm. There are the Visoflex lenses, of course, and I used to own a copy of the later 280mm, a nice lens with sharp results. The whole Visoflex/tele experience is a little Frankenstein though, and I ended up not using it so often. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 29, 2009 Share #3 Posted May 29, 2009 Actually, the question I would ask is "why"? With the honourable exception of the Visoflex, longer lenses are the province of the SLR, surely? Regards, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 29, 2009 Share #4 Posted May 29, 2009 (edited) Which lens would that be? I don't know of any lens with M mount longer than a 135mm. I do. The Tele-Elmarit 180/2.8 from 1965. If you owned one, however, you could sell it and finally get that Bentley you crave....( well, a bit of a hyperbole. But there were about 250 sold in the USA and there are afaik no known examples.) Edited May 29, 2009 by jaapv Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted May 29, 2009 Share #5 Posted May 29, 2009 I do. The Tele-Elmarit 180/2.8 from 1965. If you owned one, however, you could sell it and finally get that Bentley you crave....( well, a bit of a hyperbole. But there were about 250 sold in the USA and there are afaik no known examples.) Ehi, Jaap, that sounds interesting, can you post a pic of this Holy Grail, please? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 29, 2009 Share #6 Posted May 29, 2009 (edited) Nope, I have only an image of the Viso version, rare enough in itself - those were the 250, as I erronously posted above. I believe there were only a few prototypes built. Edited May 29, 2009 by jaapv Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookeye Posted May 29, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 29, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Has anyone any experience of using lenses larger than 135 on the M8.I am thinking of trying out something in the region of 200mm +. David Watts, Cornwall David, as far as I understand, the focusing precision with a Leica M rangefinder is superior to an SLR in the range of 0 - 90 mm (in full frame format). It is basically a question of trigonometry and related to the base of (how wide) the rangefinder. At 135mm they are about equal, but after that the SLR technology is increasinly superior to the rangefinder. A 200mm -plus lens would be impossible to focus precisely enough with the Leica M rangefinder. Hence the Visoflex contraption. For the M8 with the 1.3 crop factor, the balance between the M rangefinder and the SLR is lower down on the scale, probably around 90mm. I believe that is why you have no 135mm frame lines in the M8. While some people use the M8 with the 135mm lenses and produce excellent results I believe it is hard to get an exact focus. The Leica M system is eminently suited to super fast normal- and wide-angle lens photography where precise focusing is required. But for long telephoto lenses it is virtually useless, unless you emulate an SLR like the Visoflex does. I believe you will have a very hard time finding rangefinder coupled lenses of focal lenghts above 135mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
firststream Posted May 29, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 29, 2009 Here is an 180mm f2.8 for sale in Toronto. I checked it out, and it seemed OK - with a crazy bokeh: Setadel Studios Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 29, 2009 Share #9 Posted May 29, 2009 Yes that is the Visoflex one - one of the very fewI have seen for sale I must admit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Negative Posted May 29, 2009 Share #10 Posted May 29, 2009 If I need a focal length longer than 90mm, I use an SLR... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 29, 2009 Share #11 Posted May 29, 2009 If I need a focal length longer than 90mm, I use an SLR... Do you now? 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/86311-large-lenses-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=915495'>More sharing options...
volkerhopf Posted May 30, 2009 Share #12 Posted May 30, 2009 David,as far as I understand, the focusing precision with a Leica M rangefinder is superior to an SLR in the range of 0 - 90 mm (in full frame format). It is basically a question of trigonometry and related to the base of (how wide) the rangefinder. At 135mm they are about equal, but after that the SLR technology is increasinly superior to the rangefinder. A 200mm -plus lens would be impossible to focus precisely enough with the Leica M rangefinder. Hence the Visoflex contraption. For the M8 with the 1.3 crop factor, the balance between the M rangefinder and the SLR is lower down on the scale, probably around 90mm. I believe that is why you have no 135mm frame lines in the M8. While some people use the M8 with the 135mm lenses and produce excellent results I believe it is hard to get an exact focus. The Leica M system is eminently suited to super fast normal- and wide-angle lens photography where precise focusing is required. But for long telephoto lenses it is virtually useless, unless you emulate an SLR like the Visoflex does. I believe you will have a very hard time finding rangefinder coupled lenses of focal lenghts above 135mm. I use a 135 2.8 with goggles and have no problems focussing (I wear glasses}, the only issue is that I can't get Exif to report the correct focal length. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 30, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 30, 2009 Nope, I have only an image of the Viso version, rare enough in itself - those were the 250, as I erronously posted above. I believe there were only a few prototypes built. Jaap, I think you did refer to THIS... 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! Rare, indeed, but the 200s perform better... (btw, this ill-fated lens was Schneider - built , Leitz branded) Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Rare, indeed, but the 200s perform better... (btw, this ill-fated lens was Schneider - built , Leitz branded) ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/86311-large-lenses-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=915720'>More sharing options...
Kittyphoto Posted May 30, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 30, 2009 Do you now? Wow! I think you can't carry this set in many places. Some securities guard might consider this as some kinds of weapon, not camera. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 30, 2009 Share #15 Posted May 30, 2009 Wow! I think you can't carry this set in many places.Some securities guard might consider this as some kinds of weapon, not camera. Better to carry a less threatening luggage... 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/86311-large-lenses-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=915737'>More sharing options...
wstotler Posted May 31, 2009 Share #16 Posted May 31, 2009 Do you now? Jaapv--LOL. Love the shoulder-mounted rigs. But I'd be afraid to use it in public. Talk about sending the Local Law Enforcement people right over the edge: "Suspect is armed with rocket launcher. I say again a rocket launcher. Notify SWAT." However, I DO want one of those as a mod for Halflife, Quake, or Unreal Tournament. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telyt2003 Posted June 4, 2009 Share #17 Posted June 4, 2009 Hello, this is my first post after reading for a while. I want to express my thankfulness to the many extremely helpful people and their postings in this (sub)forum, esp. in helping me to deal with some of the issues that I had with focussing my M8 that in I think is a great little camera. In this thread, I would like to mention that the M8 albeit a rangefinder, added greatly to my fun using it via its capability to also use long lenses (with the Visoflex). Since the purchase of the M8, my interest in long lens photography has vastly extended (I don't say that more modern DSLR cameras can't do better, more conveniently and efficiently; sure, they can). In the beginning, it was really just for fun, in the meantime ist has become a passion (I for sure don't have to earn a living with it). I know that using the M8 (or any M) with a mirror box such as the Visoflexes is mostly regarded as at best exotic, however from time to time the notion of the relaxing simplicity of this set-up has come up in this forum. Since the question of the OP has already been answered in principle, I would like to add a few hints from somebody who actually does use longer than 135mm objectives with the M8 on a regular basis. As others have stated elsewhere, I also admire to use the sliding-focus Telyt400/6.8 with the M8 (and Visoflex2 and original shoulder stock): easy to carry and extremely stable in hand-hold photographing (after some practise). Also the other relatively light-weight manual rapid-focus virus from Leitz that is mentioned in this forum occasionally has infected me: The Focorapid with focal lengths from 135 to 280 mm. Thanks for sharing and your encouragment! Best wishes, Telyt2003 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telyt2003 Posted June 4, 2009 Share #18 Posted June 4, 2009 Do you now? Hello jaapv, the image of the Novoflex system that you have posted here made me curious. I am not an expert on Novoflex Pigrifs, thus my ignorance: Is that a Pigrif-C (or D?) with built-in extending tube at its camera-sided end? Is it adapted to the Visoflex on a regular basis (as to say, can this set-up be focused to infinity)? With many thanks for your help, Telyt2003 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2009 Share #19 Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) Yes - Pigriff - C, modified for Visoflex with VISA ring. It was the very last one modified by Novoflex themselves. The technician who was able to do it was brought out of retirement for me. Not that it is that difficult to do; a 25 mm ring must be taken out and threaded. I suspect John Milich could do it. The VISA adapter is still available from Novoflex afaik. Edited June 4, 2009 by jaapv Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telyt2003 Posted June 4, 2009 Share #20 Posted June 4, 2009 Yes - Pigriff - C, modified for Visoflex with VISA ring. It was the very last one modified by Novoflex themselves. The technician who was able to do it was brought out of retirement for me. Not that it is that difficult to do; a 25 mm ring must be taken out and threaded. I suspect John Milich could do it. The VISA adapter is still available from Novoflex afaik. Hello jaapv, thank you very much, that is exactly what I wanted to know. So, it's custom-made, but not too difficult, AND it retains the extending tube functional! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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