Leica Viso on Nikon F

jke

jke

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I recently got a couple Leica Viso lens w/focusing helicals, but the Telyt 200mm f4.0 is a short-mount LTM viso lens and the Elmarit-M 135mm f2.8 has the proper Viso helical but is missing the standard mount. Price was right though, so I got a couple adapters and put them on my Nikons. I make no claims to these photos being great art, just samples that show it works. The lenses' abilities currently exceed the pilot here.

200mm Telyt

4009403983_3a7f18348b_b.jpg


135mm Elmarit-M

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The little monsters.

4010169498_eb7a4b642b.jpg
 
I recently picked up both of these lenses, to use on my Visoflex III. Absolutely delightful experience so far, very similar to your Nikon F's. Also like to use the 135 F2.8 with the goggles, I find the lens is a good fit on my M5, and is easy to view and focus. I like both of these lenses!
 
Now that you have the adapter there are lots of lenses you might run across in the short mount. The 65mm f/3.5 Emar is a real killer!. It has a pre-set diaphragm. The black version is a slightly improved formula with better coatings compared to the chrome, and the focusing mount came in both chrome and black so you can drive the purists crazy with your Panda combos.
 
Visofixation

Visofixation

been also tempted on 200/f4 Telyt, but decided to pass some opportunities and wait for longer 280.

here's Summicron-M 90 & FE.

3926517204_437a3b9d4a.jpg
 
The Visoflex II lens to find is the preset version of the 180mm f/2.8 Elmarit. I passed up on one about 25 years ago. Supposedly only 100 were made.
 
Great - now I have a list of other lenses I need! :bang:

:)

One question: The Telyt has two aperture rings - one clicks and one just pivots. They seem interconnected though, as the position of the clicking ring determines how much "throw" the non-click ring can travel. So if the clicking ring is on f5.6, then the non-click ring can only move between f4.0 and f5.6. What is that feature for exactly?

I got the adapters (one LTM Viso > Nikon F and one M Viso > Nikon F) from Fotodiox. They have all manner of Viso adapters. I did figure out that their ebay prices are as much as $20 less than their website prices, so check both places if you get one. Prompt shipment and the adapters come with their own little leatherette cases & Nikon end caps. Nice.

Hey Jim - thanks again. I can see the separation in the 135mm when I look for it, but so far no evidence in the photos. And that's good enough for this bottom-feeder. :)
 
jke said:
One question: The Telyt has two aperture rings - one clicks and one just pivots. They seem interconnected though, as the position of the clicking ring determines how much "throw" the non-click ring can travel. So if the clicking ring is on f5.6, then the non-click ring can only move between f4.0 and f5.6. What is that feature for exactly?:)
Click to expand...

That is why it is a "Preset" lens. You preset the aperture you want to use, with the one ring. Then you can open the lens for brighter focusing, then slide it into stopdown, to your preset aperture. Nice that you can do it while looking through the camera, very quick. That's about it.
 
wow, I am very interested now...
how many adapters do I need then? any related websites/
Thank you.
 
That is why it is a "Preset" lens. You preset the aperture you want to use, with the one ring. Then you can open the lens for brighter focusing, then slide it into stopdown, to your preset aperture. Nice that you can do it while looking through the camera, very quick. That's about it.
Click to expand...

Brilliant! Makes complete sense. Thank you, Nokton.

fbf - For the standard mount Viso lenses (i.e. lenses like the 135mm or the 90mm that can be used either as Viso lenses or as standard lenses attached directly to a Leica body,) you need the focusing helical and the lens mount adapter. The focusing helical is the semi-confusing part, but this is a good website for beginning for puzzling it out.

http://elshaw.tripod.com/Visoflex/Visoflex.html

I suggest printing out the little diagram towards the bottom entitled "Combinations w/the Visoflex III". That's pretty helpful.

For the other type of lens, the short-mount Viso lenses, you just need the lens mount adapter. The 200mm Telyt is a short mount lens.

Cameraquest has a pretty decent break-down on which lenses are which.

http://www.cameraquest.com/viso4.htm

And there is a difference between LTM Viso lenses and M-Mount Viso lenses. Both have the typical mounts as per their names, but they won't mount directly to a camera body due to flanges, and if they could be mounted, wouldn't focus properly due to the missing chunk of the Visoflex body.

Kinda nuts, but the image quality is pretty durn good. Of course, you could just go out and get a Leicaflex and some lenses for the same or better results, but that would require actual money. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for sharing.

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Those beautifull Machines are still hard to beat after 50 years.
Monsters indeed.
:D

Kiu
 
Yep, definitely tough cameras. That's a 649XXXX and a 642XXXX. Nippon Photo Clinic has been very kind to them, even fixing the prism lock on the older one while I waited for $10. :)
 
They work on a digi D700 Nikon just fine.

400 and 560 are great. But the best is a 125 2.5 Hector. Yummy. But all the viso glass is great on my digi D700 & 200.
 
Here's My Visoflex Stuff. 400mm F5, 280mm F4.8, 200mm F4, 135mm F2.8, and 90mm F2.
 

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