JLV Posted June 28, 2009 Share #1 Posted June 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It is very tempting to push the limits... Thanks to those who accept to share their experience. I have seen an hektor 135 4.5 for 190 euros, is it worth it? What about the 135 2.8? All the best, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 28, 2009 Posted June 28, 2009 Hi JLV, Take a look here A 135 for the M8? and if yes, wich one?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Walt Calahan Posted June 28, 2009 Share #2 Posted June 28, 2009 Good question. I have the 135 f/3.4, which is spectacular on my M6 TTL. Don't own an M8 yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted June 28, 2009 Share #3 Posted June 28, 2009 A 135 Tele-Elmar f4 can usually be found for a very reasonable price. I have one and use it on my M8 from time to time. It's an amazing lens. - Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted June 28, 2009 Share #4 Posted June 28, 2009 Hektor was the name of mr. Barnack's dog:D What more do you need to know?? Some have reported quite nice - period style - results with the 135 Hektor on the M8. 190 euros sounds about right. Mint = 350 euro or so, B = 125 euro, so it depends on the condition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Bébèrt Posted June 28, 2009 Share #5 Posted June 28, 2009 I'm very happy with the Leica Tele Elmar 135 - f4, the version with the detachable head that can be mounted on the Visoflex system. Paid it €480 in almost perfect condition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted June 28, 2009 Share #6 Posted June 28, 2009 Another vote for the Tele-Elmar f: 4.0, superb image quality at a reasonable price (I paid $295 US) for a very clean one. The lens works well with the M8, being able to see the exact cropping and focus via the LCD display. Probably not an everyday lens, but an excellent 180mm equivalent telephoto. 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/89332-a-135-for-the-m8-and-if-yes-wich-one/?do=findComment&comment=947224'>More sharing options...
hdrmd Posted June 28, 2009 Share #7 Posted June 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have had both the 3.4 and the 4.0. No doubt, the 3.4 is very sharp, and in my hands a little easier to use, but the 4.0 is very reasonably priced, and it is the one I still use. DR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_Thompson Posted June 29, 2009 Share #8 Posted June 29, 2009 I echo the opinions of others concerning the 4.0 Tele-Elmar. It's fast and sharp enough for my purposes and was really an eBay bargain at only $200, complete with hood. Accurate framing can sometimes be hit or miss but I can live with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted June 29, 2009 Share #9 Posted June 29, 2009 ................I have seen an hektor 135 4.5 for 190 euros, is it worth it?What about the 135 2.8? All the best, The 135mm Hektor was designed and introduced in the 1930's. And yes, Hektor was Oscar Barnack's dog...... While that gives the lens an interesting provenance, I would much rather spend a few more shekels and go for the 4/135mm Tele-Elmar. It is a vastly superior lens, at f-stops smaller than 5.6 equal to the much more expensive 3.4/135mm Apo-Telyt. In my opinion, the Tele-Elmar is one of the best bargains in the Leica lens family as far as price to performance ratio is concerned. The 2.8/135mm Elmarit is not as good as the Tele-Elmar, is quite heavy (read that as very heavy...). The goggles will often go out of alignment and the lens is prone to de-cementing. Its only advantage is that its 'goggles' magnify the rangefinder image 1.5x, thus increasing focusing accuracy. Also, it is the only 135mm lens that can be coded by Leica (though it is not necessary) and will provide accurate in-finder framing with the M8, using a magnified 90mm frame (90mm x 1.5 = 135mm). I believe however, that those advantages do not outweigh its disadvantages, nor its weight (sorry for the pun.....). Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 29, 2009 Share #10 Posted June 29, 2009 Nor the tunnel vision of the goggles. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLV Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted June 29, 2009 Thanks to all of you for this great bunch of advices. Jan, I will spend few more shekels (I have some in stock) and try to get a tele Elmar f4. Thanks again. Jean-Luc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLV Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted June 29, 2009 I'm very happy with the Leica Tele Elmar 135 - f4, the version with the detachable headthat can be mounted on the Visoflex system. Paid it €480 in almost perfect condition. Bébèrt, Stunning shot. Extremely sharp and clear. I am convinced. Best regards, Jean-Luc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted June 29, 2009 Share #13 Posted June 29, 2009 A 135 Tele-Elmar f4 can usually be found for a very reasonable price. I have one and use it on my M8 from time to time. It's an amazing lens. - Carl I have one as well, a damn difficult lens to focus, but when you get the right picture... Wow!! Paid it less than 200 euros like new with original hood and caps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstotler Posted June 29, 2009 Share #14 Posted June 29, 2009 I know you asked about the Hektor specifically. . . . But, in terms of "cheap" 135mm lenses, the 135mm Elmar-M f/4 might also bear some consideration at the price-point you're talking. Thread about the 135mm Elmar-M I bought here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/54150-135-elmar-m-f-4-elmarit.html#post565661 Shot these with it (at f/4): Hello on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Feet on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Sleep on Flickr - Photo Sharing! And some others that aren't posted online. With the one I have, it's a hit or miss proposition for closer focusing distances at f/4, even with the 1.25x magnifier. I bracket focus, shoot a lot, and then pull the working shots in post. (RE this: "If you work close-up, the Hector may be a better choice as the Elmar is a tele construction calculated for best performance at infinity with relatively low performance at short distances.") When stopped down to f/8 or f/11, it works great for shooting things 20+ feet away (to "infinity")--but the images are flat (to be expected). My wife commented on image quality and lack of OOF areas: "My camera can do that." Maybe. Maybe so. Anyway, here's an thread comparing the Hektor and Elmar: Leica 135mm F/4.5 Hector vs 135mm f/4 Elmar - Photo.net Leica and Rangefinders Forum Mine probably needs a CLA. Maybe later. Good luck! Will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted June 29, 2009 Share #15 Posted June 29, 2009 @ Rich: The Canon 3.5/135mm is a very well built lens, particularly the black one. I have tried a few specimens on the M8 however, and picture quality-wise it does not even come close to the Tele-Elmar. It also has one disadvantage - its focusing mount is not 'parallel', which means that the whole front of the lens rotates as you focus. The part that rotates is also the f-stop ring, this makes it quite awkward to adjust the aperture. At times, one can disturb the focus setting after having adjusted the f-stop. @Will: The 4/135mm Elmar was an improvement over the Hektor, using rare earth glass - Lanthanum. It was however produced for a relatively short period of time and when purchasing, one may have to battle with collectors - this will bring the price up unnecessarilly for somebody who 'just' wants a lens to use.... In the end, the 4/135mm Elmar and the 4/135mm Tele-Elmar will probably cost the same and the Tele-Elmar is still a better lens in terms of picture quality and ease of hancdling. Just 2 cents from somebody who actually owned and used all these lenses........ Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted June 30, 2009 Share #16 Posted June 30, 2009 The 135mm Hektor was designed and introduced in the 1930's. And yes, Hektor was Oscar Barnack's dog...... Jan Not to be pedantic... but Hektor (and Rex too - Summarex) was the name of a dog belonging not to Barnack, but to Max Berek (Leitz chief lens designer, Barnack was the "mechanical man"). The famous Elmar was previously named ELMax=Ernst Leitz + Max Berek Of course, I haven't direct evidence of this... ... but so is written in various books. As for the 135s... another vote for the Tele Elmar - better than the oder Elmar and Hektors, and easier to manage than the 135 2,8, even if the magnification of the goggles can be appreciable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbayon Posted June 30, 2009 Share #17 Posted June 30, 2009 Find the 135mm difficult to focus. But when you succeed it's a gorgeous lens on the M8. this picture taken with a 135 f3,4 Apo M. 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/89332-a-135-for-the-m8-and-if-yes-wich-one/?do=findComment&comment=948646'>More sharing options...
epand56 Posted June 30, 2009 Share #18 Posted June 30, 2009 Just had a try with my Tele Elmar 135/4 after I got it back from assistence. I'm quite happy with performances. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstotler Posted June 30, 2009 Share #19 Posted June 30, 2009 It was however produced for a relatively short period of time and when purchasing, one may have to battle with collectors - this will bring the price up unnecessarilly for somebody who 'just' wants a lens to use.... In the end, the 4/135mm Elmar and the 4/135mm Tele-Elmar will probably cost the same and the Tele-Elmar is still a better lens in terms of picture quality and ease of handling. Jan--thanks much for the comment. I didn't consider this lens "collectable" (didn't think about that, actually). When I purchased it, it was half the price of the Tele-Elmars--why I bought the Elmar and not a Tele-Elmar. I'm not a big 135 user (or even a 90 user, except for portraits), but just wanted one to try that focal length and see how it went. Appears I had some luck with the pricing! Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigfeet Posted June 30, 2009 Share #20 Posted June 30, 2009 Just to chime in here, I use the 135 mm APO-TELYT f/3.4 ASPH on my M8. I absolutely love it, and love the pictures that I get from it. Bigfeet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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