Telyt 280 f:4.8

[eLw-NH]

My first post here.

I could not find any written info online concerning assembly of this lens. I’ve had it since the mid 80’s. Bought sight unseen at a Christies auction, for not much. Tried it on a Leicaflex and on the viso’s but never a keeper print. Yesterday I took it apart and cleaned the groups, though I didn’t undo the front group as no haze there. Of course the blades all fell out 😱 and that took hours to get back in place. Upon final assembly, threading on the rear group, I made a shocking discovery. There is no “hard stop” to where this group ends up. There is a threaded ring that would allow a person to set the group, we’ll say plus or minus several millimeters! Could this be why so few speak highly of this lens?

Besides the haze I wanted to remove, in hopes of some serious performance improvements, there was a fingerprint on one of the elements. Materials used were Kimwipes, Windex, RoR, and breath.

If I can figure out how to post pics I’ll place a before and after. Isle Madame being the before and Tiger Lilly the after. Used LR to
squeeze down to 500 pixel, sure looks small..

I’m very very happy. It could only have come out better if I still had that nice Gokosha. As you can see from this after pic it still has a little bloom. I really like the bloom of the early 35 Summilux so I will think of this lens as my 280 Summilux! However perhaps just a few tads less maneuverable.

Anyway if you have this lens but gave up using it, there may still be hope,
Larry

ps. both images are cropped to apx same amount.

 

[presspass]

Which version of the lens do you have? Is it the one with the early scalloped focusing ring or the newer one that looks more like an SLR lens? BTW, I have used both and agree on the number of keepers. The 200 f4.0 is a wonderful lens but I've not been able to replicate the results with the 280. Thanks for the post.

 

[Rico]

I have a late version with the integrated V mount, and will admit buying it to enjoy the incredible build quality (even for the Leitz era). My copy needs a relube but the glass is clear as a bell. While I do have a small Visoflex II system, my normal deployment looks like the following. 🙂

The aperture preset feature is really helpful in this shooting mode. I'm not sold on this classic for landscape, but the rounder rendition is perfect for portraits:

At f/8, detail aplenty:

 

[eLw-NH]

Hi Presspass
Mine looks like Rico's, the nice old scallops. I think I'm going to have to "play" with that "adjustable rear group". Rico has an absolutely Wow spot on example. Inspirational -!!!- Thanks Rico

 

[Nokton48]

I had the scalloped version myself and it's a great lens.
I used it with the Viso II and III on my M-Leicas. Very enjoyable.

 

[presspass]

Do you find it easier to focus with the Viso II and the adjustable eyepiece or the Viso III? I wear glasses and seem to have more luck with the II, but I can't use it on the M7 or M8. BTW, did anyone ever make an adjustable eyepiece or adapter for the III?

 

[Nokton48]

I always preferred using the II, but needed the III to work with M5. You might ask DAG, he has a lot of Viso parts. My II screen was oily and I replaced it myself. It was easy to do.