Leica LTM The Lowly 135 Hektor

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

MichaelHarris

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She doesn't get any respect:

Hektor135a.jpg


Hektor135b.jpg


Ya know........never mind, you never saw these pictures. Gotta keep that price down, gotta keep that price down.
 
I was just thinking about the Hektor family of lenses the other day.

I was wondering why they don't get any love so I looked in the gallery with a search for "Hektor" and it seems Memphis loves his 135 Hektor. The 135 doesn't seem like a bad lens at all from what I've seen.

I saw a 28 Hektor with a really really slow aperture and I'm not sure what the 50's aperture is but maybe its because they are slow they aren't liked.

-Mitch
 
Nice sharpness, looks like it may make a nice close portrait lens at F/4.5 or 5.6.
I have been looking on Ebay, don't come up too often, wander why? Maybe it IS a good close portrait lens to have. Not very expensive to buy. About the same as a J9 (85/2) in a LTM. But no need to blow a roll of film to check focusing errors it might have. PLUS the Bessa's should be fine with RF focusing at F/4.5.

Are you giving it some respect now ?? We all need to feel needed once in a while.
 
Thanks,LOL yup I'm giving it the love. When I first got it and shot a roll I didn't like it. Later I decided to check the rangefinder on my camera and found it was off. Now that's adjusted the lens really does a nice job. I think these were around 5.6.

What's really cool about the lens is they can be found for under 100 dollars. I put a little more into mine, had it CLAed by focal point.
 
Leitz doesn't usually make a bad lens. In addition to its simple optical formula, the build is real nice and the tripod mount solves the centering problem when mounting a Leica on a tripod.
 
The 135mm Hektor - great lens

The 135mm Hektor - great lens

Here are couple pics using the Hektor on my M8. First is full size, second is 100% .
 

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I’ve thought about a 135 for occasional use, especially since they seem to be inexpensive. Just checked KEH & they’ve got a few Hektors, with f4.0 & f4.5 max apertures. Also a couple of f2.8 Elmarits with goggles that turn the M2 90 framelines into 135 framelines (those aren’t cheap). None of the above are under $100, unless you go for KEH “ugly”. My original impulse was the Nikkor 135, which seems to cost less than a Hektor, yet Merciful & Vince C have posted some wonderful shots with the Nikkor. Any opinions about relative merits, or simply merits/shortcomings of any or all of the above?

Edit: a] Don’t mean to hijack the thread. b] As always, Daniel’s shot is excellent & means the Hektor is on the ‘will consider’ list.
 
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I really liked my Hektor, but the focusing seized up solid. Any guesses as to how to unseize it?

Peter
 
Just won a 135 F/4.5 Hektor for $34.00

Just won a 135 F/4.5 Hektor for $34.00

This thread has cost me money to read ;)

I was inspired to bid on a Hektor and give it a spin if I won. My high bid was $45.00.
well I got home today and checked EBay, I had won at $34.00 Plus $7.00 S/H. Not a bad price for an IMPULSE BUY.

Now, Q1:

How much smaller is the RF Area when looking trough the 90 frame. Is it like using the 35 frame for a 40, You know, close enough. Or do I need a shoe Finder for it.?

Anyway, Thanks for the inspiration guys/gals.
 
Congratulations on winning the 135 Hektor. They really are fine lenses. The frame line for the 135 is definitely smaller than the 90 by a bit but you can get by without an external viewfinder if you envision the frame line between the rangefinder patch and the 90mm frame.

Don



arbib said:
This thread has cost me money to read ;)

I was inspired to bid on a Hektor and give it a spin if I won. My high bid was $45.00.
well I got home today and checked EBay, I had won at $34.00 Plus $7.00 S/H. Not a bad price for an IMPULSE BUY.

Now, Q1:

How much smaller is the RF Area when looking trough the 90 frame. Is it like using the 35 frame for a 40, You know, close enough. Or do I need a shoe Finder for it.?

Anyway, Thanks for the inspiration guys/gals.
 
d30gaijin said:
Congratulations on winning the 135 Hektor. They really are fine lenses. The frame line for the 135 is definitely smaller than the 90 by a bit but you can get by without an external viewfinder if you envision the frame line between the rangefinder patch and the 90mm frame.

Don

That is what I thought, a frame in between the RF Patch and 90 Frame...like 1/2 the distance in. .. Will have practice this with some subjects like Buoldings that have some visual aid as part of the structure, till I get the hang of it. Thanks
 
For price/performance, I doubt anything beats the Canon LTM 135/3.5. (The Canon 135/4.0 is no lighter, and not as sharp.) But, the Canon is a decent bit heavier than the Hektor.

Myself, I've never been much of a 135mm lens user. I like 90 and 100mm lenses.
 
John,

True words about the Canon 135 f/3.5, a fine performer. I've had a couple of them but could not get past the paranoid part of thinking that sucker was going to rip the front right off my IIIc as heavy as it was.:p

Don

John Shriver said:
For price/performance, I doubt anything beats the Canon LTM 135/3.5. (The Canon 135/4.0 is no lighter, and not as sharp.) But, the Canon is a decent bit heavier than the Hektor.

Myself, I've never been much of a 135mm lens user. I like 90 and 100mm lenses.
 
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