HELP! Quick decision on telephoto lens for M240

macmx

macmx

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In one week, I will be heading off to Africa for 14 days of safari. Luckily, my local photo shop called me yesterday, to tell me that my M240 had arrived. Hurray!

So now, I have 5 days to decide on a telephoto lens. My main considerations are the 135mm APO or 90mm APO. I think the 135mm would be better for this trip and the live view of the M240 eliminates focussing issues I would have had with my MP, however the 90mm would probably be better for general work once I get back.

Any helpful tips on making this quick decision would be great. I would in particular like to hear from people, who have used the 135mm.

Many thanks!

Mc
 
Well, one thing to consider is the 24MP of m240 gives you quite a bit of crop headroom while keeping a good resolution image. Of course, you'll have to sort of frame in your head (or force the frame lines) to imagine the 135 crop. Personally I'd be inclined to go with the 90mm. If you are used to shooting on a tripod regularly, maybe the 135.
 
I'd bring the M240 for wide and normal shots and a different camera set-up for telephoto. Ergo I'd get the 90mm, as you will get more use out of it.
 
I'm not sure, but am I right thinking that using liveview, you can pretty much put any conceivable lens on your camera via an adapter?
If so, why not use a really long lens?
 
Just came back from Africa (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134098). You will need an SLR with longer lens anyways (300mm or longer). I suggest to cover the shorter tele with the SLR as well; then you can cover macro too, very useful, given exotic bugs, snakes, etc. For example, I took a 105/2.8 Micro Nikkor. Outstanding lens if you shoot Nikons, and on par with anything Leica has to offer. Cost me 300 bucks.

Roland.
 
Doolittle and Roland have it right. Bring a Reflex for longer lens work.
You're going on Safari 135mm will not seem long enough as your tele lens.
Not to mention you will be becoming acquainted with a new way of using a Leica (EVF).
In my case reflex is Canon 5Dii. I would take a 100-400 along with a 60 and 100 Macro. And of course the RF kit :)
 
I worked at a camera store answering these types of questions quite often. The new Nikon 80-400 AF-S lens is a great safari lens and it should pair nicely with a D800. If you need to take a Leica M lens, 135 is the longest you can find.

I would *highly* recommend packing a DSLR if this is a safari trip.
 
The Nikon 300mm f/4.5 ED IF AIS.
It's lightweight. Extraordinarily durable. Fantastic image maker.
And a used Nikon DSLR to shoot that lens with. A D2x or D3. The lesser Nikons don't like heat as much as the pro series and the pro cameras are very well sealed. A D2x can be had for $500 in excellent condition with a low shutter count.

Phil Forrest
 
What I'd do, is to get the Summicron R 90 and Elmarit R 135. Both lenses will cost you far less than a single APO lens, which I doubt, you will really need, if you can stop these lenses down to f5.6, and that should be easier with the higher ISO capabilities of digital cameras. Moreover, you can crop, which could actually mean, that if you use the live view with magnification, you might avoid having to toggle between high magnification for precise focusing and framing through the VF. Lastly, these older R lenses, are absolutely top for portraiture, which should be more of a stable theme, than a safari in Africa.
The last suggestion, would be, to avoid buying lenses you will only use once in your life, concentrate on the landscape, and for the safari shots, resort to postcards.
 
A 135 finder is very helpful, but I go along with the DSLR for Safari -- I returned to RFs to carry lighter more compact equipment in place of the two full Domkes I had been carrying, and for a more compact kit to photograph people and places.

135's seemed to come with everything else I have bought, including an R, so I have them, like a number of them, and have used them, but without the finder-- you are sighting down a distant barrel. I may have some listed somewhere for sale, don't remember for sure.

The right club for these shots would be the DSLR, good thing, the Leica kit is small enough you can use it when that club is the right one.

Regards, John
 
I wouldn't bring a camera that new on a trip that serious.

The camera or you as a user might fail due to it being that new.

My choice would be a camera that is broken in and that I am sufficiently acquainted with.

Just my 2 cents
 
Hi all,

Thanks for the many replies and helpful tips.

A DSLR is not an option. Too big, heavy and completely missing the point of having the light travel kit of the rangefinder. I agree that the 135mm is too short for real safari work, but I find I get good images anyway - just different than regular safari images.

@johannielscom: I really don't see the point of buying a new camera and not using it. It does not make sense to me. I am bringing my MP as a backup.

I have decided to get a used 135/4.0 Tele-Elmar from my local shop for 500 USD and see how I get on with that.

Thanks again.

Mc
 
In your position if I wanted a tele for a live view Leica I would grab a good quality and small size SLR 135mm or even 200mm. That wouldn't play well with your film Leicas but it sounds like this is a one-off thing in which case the extra choice and good value would sway me.
 
My 2 cents:

There are some pretty big spaces out there. The only thing I regret about the time I spent in Tanzania and Kenya, is that did I not bring a longer tele (at least 200+, then it gets interesting). No doubt, you can do some fun stuff with shorter focal lengths, but being in a car 99.9% of the time (it's not allowed to get out of the car in the national parks, for obvious reasons) limits your options to get up close and personal with a hippo or a lion. Unless you want to be lunch. :D
 
Maybe an OMD with adapter as backup? 2x crop works in its favour.
Live view on the M240 is best for static subjects. Depends on what you're after I suppose.
 
JSU said:
With the live view capacity of the M 240, I would definitely have THIS lens in the bag with a F to M adapter.

Seems to me one of the whole motivations of the new M is the ability to use just about any lens that can be adapted to the M mount.

Get the Tele-Elmar 135/4, but also carry the paper towel tube Nikon 300/4.5 IF-ED.

I would not go on such a trip with a personally untested camera, familiarity is essential for best results. I would want some form of digital backup as well, if only a M8 or something else digital with the M mount.
Click to expand...

I have to second this. A 135mm lens has a very wide field of view considering your subject matter is likely to be at least more than 10meters away. You do not want to be too close to a lion anyway. Some photographer got too close once and got eaten alive in front of his wife and kids. Respect your subject, and remember that it doesn't take a lot of effort for some animals to cross a few meters in distance.
 
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