M8 with a 135 lens...

A

ajpat

ajpat
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Hi,

Anyone using the 135mm f3.4 or f4.0 lens with an M8/9? Would like to know the quality of the images.

Thanks--ajpat
 
Here's one with the 135. I just use the focus patch on whatever is of interest. Not exact, but workable.

3976058442_ba94af1b3f_o.jpg
 
Taken with an old Canon 135mm rangefinder lens on my M8.

Clicking on the thumbnail below, then on the "Full Size" link (or the image itself) on the ImageShack page will take you to a full size version (approx. 2500 x 3700 pixels) of this photo so you see the quality (sorry about the squares and lines - my agency would be unhappy if I released pristine images into the wild!).

I say full size - I have cropped it a little, but haven't reduced the size.

As an aside, you may be interested in why I use this Canon lens and not a more modern Leica one. The reason is that the latter will give a higher contrast image but not one appreciably sharper. But I prefer lenses from the 60s-80s with digital, as I feel that the modern taste for high contrast does not suit digital, leading to loss of detail in shadows and highlights (the situation is much improved with modern cameras, but it's still there). With an older lens, I can always create a more contrasty look if I prefer, but it's harder to reduce contrast as information required for better tonality may be missing in light and dark areas in photos taken with a modern high-contrast lens.

PS: I place imaginary framelines between the 90mm lines and the focusing patch. Oner of those cheap-ish eBay viewfinder magnifiers helps, as does chimping. Despite the long focal length, focusing seems to be as accurate as with a 90mm lens (i.e. not problematic, though care is needed).

 
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The 135 Tele Elmar is one of my favorite lenses. I use just the lens head on my Canon digitals with a short focus mount, on an M/Viso-to-R adaptor, plus an R-to-EOS adaptor. At first used it on the M8 that way on a visoflex, but then started using it on its regular long mount. I found an old Canon rangefinder 135mm accessory finder that because of my glasses I can only see a cropped area, which just by luck turns out to be just right for the M8.
 
The antepenultimate (pardon me) version of the 135/4 Tele-Elmar must be just about the best value there is at the moment. I have recently moved back into Leica after wandering in dSLR territory for a while, and picked up a nearly mint version for £169. I can see no real difference to the results I got on a 3.4 APO I used to have. I'm using it on an 8.2 and it's fine.

As a previous poster said, put what's interesting right in the middle and if it's not too big, all should be well.
 
Is there a difference ( image quality wise) between the older designed and the new design of the Tele Elmar lens?
 
paulhart said:
The antepenultimate (pardon me) version of the 135/4 Tele-Elmar must be just about the best value there is at the moment. I have recently moved back into Leica after wandering in dSLR territory for a while, and picked up a nearly mint version for £169.
Click to expand...

It certainly is - that was a great price but they can be found for even less: I picked up an excellent example for £77 earlier this year and have used it more than I expected to. £ per picture it's definitely my most cost efficient lens and a great performer - though mine is on an M3 as I don't have a dM.
 
ajpat said:
Is there a difference ( image quality wise) between the older designed and the new design of the Tele Elmar lens?
Click to expand...
No - the optical part is the same, it was purely a cosmetic change to the barrel to bring it in line with the rest of the lenses.
 
does this mean that coding is unnecessary/optional? that's one thing i have pondered--whether coding is necessary and, if so, how much it costs. (i use an M8.)

JSU said:
I use the 135/4 Tele-Elmar on my M8.2. When mounting I depress the lens lock button and overturn the lens beyond it's intended stop. This causes no harm and brings-up the 90mm frames instead of the 35mm marks. I imagine a rectangle halfway between the 90mm lines and the rangefinder frame. Image review helps but with only a little practice I do fairly well with this method.

The images look nice, it is somewhat of a foreign experience to be shooting a 180mm field of view with a Leica M.
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I has almost no keepers using the 135mm APO with the M8/M8.2 cameras. Almost sold the 135mm until I got the M9. Works like a charm and is indeed an exceptional lens.
 
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