280mm F4.8 Telyt for Visoflex

[Nokton48]

Just picked this one up. This -pretty-much- completes my Viso stuff, have the 90mm F2 Summicron, the 200mm F4 Telyt, and the 400mm F5 Telyt. The price was good, so I couldn't resist the GAS. According to one site I checked, the serial number is from 1962? Did they have all-black lenses back then?
I have Series 8 filters, so that is all set.

What do you Guys using this lens think of it? Seems hand-holdable, I have done that (for a bit) with the 400mm F5. I like it alot.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130324747616&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

 

[awilder]

I use to own one when I had a Visoflex and even made an adapter to use with my Nikon bodies. The lens is plenty sharp but not as practical as a used auto 300/4.5 or 300/4 available almost just as cheaply for most SLR's like Nikon or Canon if you have one of these lying around. The lens suffers from slow focus from a long focusing ring throw and close focus on these older lenses is pretty far. The lens was later improved slightly optically and close focus distance was also improved by a reworked mount. If you're really into the Visoflex gear, enjoy it, as long as you don't mind taking your time when using this gear.

 

[Tom A]

The 280f4.8 is a very good medium tele - but as stated - miserably slow on the Visoflex. I used one for many years with a Nikon F adapter ( a friend now has it and occasionally uses it on a D3). It is sharp at f4.8 - which is good as with the SLR's (and the Viso) it is stop-down only.
I find the 200f4 is sharper though and also a bit more comfortable with a SLR adapter.

 

[Nokton48]

I actually enjoy the slowness of using the Visoflex. It's good to hear it's sharp wide-open, too. Time to spool up more Eastman XX for testing all these new lenses.

 

[Nokton48]

The 280mm f4.8 Telyt arrived yesterday, and I just finished taking it out for a little spin, on M2. I love it, it's perfect for me, comfortable, like an old pair of shoes. Close-focus is half-way decent (I also have the correct MOOSP extension tube, which also works with the 200), and it takes E58 filters, just like my 200mm f4. It's real easy to handhold, too.

Mine focuses a bit past infinity, are they like that? My 200 & 400 go to infinity, and that's it. It does sharply focus at extreme long distances, I have to say thats one nice thing about the Visoflex Mirror Box and Prism. Really bright and easy to focus, maybe it's the Leitz groundglass? Sure looks mighty sharp through the finder.

I'm happy with my new lens. Adding to my pile of Eastman XX to develop.