View Full Version : Leica 135/2.8
merciful
12-03-2004, 04:43
What's the word on this lens, guys? I've started to develop the feeling I need one. I should probably suppress it, but I suppose I could dump my Hexanon 50mm, since I've got my two fast 50s and access to a Nokton if I want to use a modern lens.
Don't think too many people have 135's here. I believe Rich Silfver bought one recently, but he doesn't seem to visit any more, and he may have gotten an f4 anyway.
I'm getting a 135, and I looked at Leica lenses and they are pretty inexpensive. But I'm getting a Russian lens to try, they are even cheaper and the feedback about the 135mm Jupiter-11 is that it's very competitive.
The J-11 is an f4 lens so it may be too slow for you. If you don't get many responses here try the Leica forum (http://www.leica-camera.com/cgi-bin/discus_e/discus.pl).
merciful
12-03-2004, 05:40
Thanks, Peter.
I'm an available-darkness speed-freak, but let's face it: a 135 just isn't a proper tool for that sort of thing; it'd be for reasonable-light portraiture. And at f4, from say, 6 ft., the DOF would be... limited.
I'll think about the 11 or a Leica f4.
back alley
12-03-2004, 05:43
nikkor 135/3.5 cheap (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30063&item=3857729039&rd=1)
No idea of the reputation of that Nikkor but it sure is a nice looking lens! Hmmm... time to do some research. ;)
back alley
12-03-2004, 06:51
135/3.5 Nikkor: in chrome or black versions. One of the best 135 LTMs
135/3.5 Canon: in chrome or black versions. One of the best 135 LTMs.
135/4 Russian: a copy of the pre-war Zeiss Sonnar, usually chrome. Low priced but spotty quality control.
135/4.5 Leitz Hektor(1933-1960): Leica's best LTM 135. Uncoated Black pre-war or Coated post-war chrome. Lens head removable for Visoflex reflex housing. Watch out for fogging and cleaning scratches.
135/4.5 Leitz Elmar(1931-1936): an early uncoated black lens. Not great in the sharpness department, but it can give interesting effects. Watch for fogging. Lens head removable for Visoflex reflex housing.
hey - I was supposed to do that! Thanks, Joe!! :)
Merciful, how much for the 50mm Hexanon?
SolaresLarrave
12-03-2004, 08:22
The word on that Leica glass is that Francisco would like one very much and you should send it to him. :)
I'd actually stick to the 50s and go for shorter focal lengths. A lens that long with a Leica... unless it's a relatively new one, can be a pain to hand-hold.
back alley
12-03-2004, 08:23
francisco, not so bad the longer lenses.
on the canon a bit heavy for sure. surprise to me, nice balance on the bessa r.
joe
Originally posted by peter_n
No idea of the reputation of that Nikkor but it sure is a nice looking lens! Hmmm... time to do some research. ;)
I once owned a Nikkor 135 in LTM. "Made in Occupied Japan". Solid brass construction and very heavy. Also very sharp and contrasty.... an excellent lens. I sold it some years ago but presently I own a Canon 135 in LTM which is also heavy so I don't really use it.
Additionally I have two 135 Hektors in LTM - a chrome model and a black model - and a Jupiter-11 which I haven't had time to wring out.
Below is a picture I took at f/4.5 with the black model Hektor for which I paid the outrageous sum of $9.99 plus $10 shipping. If I recall correctly, the black Hektor was made in 1946. It's coated.
Walker
Walker, I'd say that was $20 well spent!
Originally posted by FrankS
Walker, I'd say that was $20 well spent!
Thanks, Frank. The Hektor is often overlooked and underrated...... perhaps it's maximum aperature of f/4.5 doesn't impress people but the lens is capable. The nice thing about it is that examples can be found at very reasonable prices, especially when compared to other Leitz lenses.
I just took a quick snap shot of the three lenses I spoke of above. The black Hektor doesn't have a proper cap so I keep a skylight filter on it to protect the front element. I also have an M-mount adapter on it at the moment. I've had the chrome Hektor and the Canon 135 for many years.
Walker
I found that the lens cap from my Nikkor 75mm f4 (or was it the 50mm f4) enlarging lens fits my 135mm Hektor lens. I don't have any shots from the Hektor yet. During the Christmas holidays I'll try some portraits with it.
Walker, my black Hektor looks exactly the same - paint peeling and all. Well, maybe a bit worse than yours :D
The same type of filter - only mine is yellow.
And here's what the lowly Hektor can do...
(PS: HekTor, not Hekor...)
Originally posted by Brian Sweeney
I have a telephoto Gallery with shots from the 85 through 135 lenses.
Brian, those are all very nice shots and if that's your daughter, she's a beautiful subject. It seems like she's completely unaware that a camera is focused on her. I'm anxious for Christmas to arrive so I can get some new pictures of my granddaughter who is similarly a lovely subject. Below is a shot I took last March but with a Fuji 602S digital camera.
Walker
"And here's what the lowly Hektor can do.."
Denis, there's nothing "lowly" about that picture. A great shot of a cat with obvious character and personality.
If we keep showing what the Hektor can do, prices are gonna go up, up, up.... ;)
Walker
Walker, psssst....
Not a word any more....
What, a Hektor? Naaaah, it's a dog :)
A paperweight at best.
Really....
merciful
12-03-2004, 11:22
Could someone PLEASE BUY THAT NIKKOR 13.5CM THAT JOE FOUND!!!
OK, since you insist.
back alley
12-03-2004, 11:25
excellent! and about time....
joe
merciful
12-03-2004, 11:34
excellent! and about time....
Thanks for the tip. Once I confirmed that Gandy was down with it, I couldn't be stopped.
Beautiful, Walker!! :D
And congrats merciful! I'm going for a "spotty quality control" J-11 myself... :)
You went and dunnit. You all made me go and bid on a Canon 135. What do I do if I win it?
back alley
12-03-2004, 12:32
take a picture and then send it to me! ;)
seems we may have a run on 135 lenses soon.
i packed my new camera bag with the canon 7 w/ 85 lens attached and put the 135 in there also.
i want to start using them more and see what they/we can do together.
joe
merciful
12-03-2004, 12:50
I have found that the longer focal lengths are great for taking pictures of Kids.
Yes, that's a prime reason for my purchase. When I shot digital, I had a nice 70-200/2.8 for my D30 that was beautiful for candid kid shots.
Hey isn't it great when plans just... work ? :D
Love to see the RFF-brotherhood machine leading to a good end, Merciful, please don't forget to post one or two (or three or four or...) of your wide open shots with it please ! :)
Btw, I 'accidentallly' won one of those Jupiter-11 lenses, have an old Vivitar 135/2.8 in MD mount which I like, but would be interesting to try the Jupiter on the Canon 7.
Do I need a kid to use this lens properly ?
yeh you do - get one quick!! ;)
Be interested to hear what you think of the lens, Oscar. I'm getting one too... :)
:eek:
Will do Peter ! That lens is a huge "?" mark for me just now.
:eek:
And some people say I have good memory, lol !
That will made me learn not to ignore Master Sweeney wise advices anymore !
;)
Originally posted by denishr
Walker, my black Hektor looks exactly the same - paint peeling and all. Well, maybe a bit worse than yours :D
The same type of filter - only mine is yellow.
Denis, your Hektor really does look the same as mine. Sometimes I see one on ebay that is pristine and too nice for words. I have yellow, orange and red filters for it too. The filters are also used on my Elmars.
Walker
OK, 3 hours left. EVERYONE, feel free to out bid me on that Canon 135/3.5 LTM lens. It looks really nice. Please, pretty please.
I actually came up with a different idea last night and it relies on the snipping skills of, well, anyone.
It's a really pretty one...
back alley
12-04-2004, 08:39
ralph, what's the new idea?
get the 135 anyway, it's really heavy and will be good exercise to use regularly ;)
joe
Well, I was side tracked again my the 90 Tele-Elmerit this morning, but that is a passing phase.
I am thinking of finally getting a Kiev 4a. Hopefully the cover will be peeling off so I can cover it in a nice navy blue. If possible I will get one with a J8 and J3. Then I can hunt down a turrit finder, a J12 and J9 and J4.68....
But I have to LOOSE the 135!
back alley
12-04-2004, 09:20
oh oh!
another contax clone attraction!
i keep going there myself but have resisted thus far.
for what it's worth, i know a guy locally who has a contax 11a, recently cla'd and working like new and would like to sell it.
i didn't have the nerve to ask the price...
joe
Ask the price.
Why did you do that to me Joe? It most likely will be more than I have to spend, but just in case...
Now I really have to loose that auction!
I really would like a Contax IIa. Is it pretty?
Originally posted by rover
I am thinking of finally getting a Kiev 4a. Hopefully the cover will be peeling off so I can cover it in a nice navy blue. If possible I will get one with a J8 and J3. Then I can hunt down a turrit finder, a J12 and J9 and J4.68....
But I have to LOOSE the 135!
Ralph, the Kiev is really a nice machine.
When my M2 was away on CLA, and before Brian's M3 arrived, I was shooting with my Kiev 4A exclusively for about 2 weeks (see the photo in my gallery of my younger son with a patterned tablecloth :D). And, lo and behold, it has grown on me! I even find myself wanting to put it in the bag instead of my Leica M2 or M3!
It sure is the camera I'll take with me when I fear Leicas would be damaged...
I can really tell you that Kiev 4A is definitely the camera that I would without hesitation proclaim as THE best-buy of all times. If you get one with reliable shutter, everything else is pretty easy to repair - and even if you send it to someone like Oleg for a CLA, it will definitely cost less than any Leica CLA....
The RF is pretty accurate, and again easy to correct or adjust... My only gripe is small viewfinder. Pretty difficult to use if you wear glasses, too.
I wear glasses, and I often wish the VF was a bit bigger. Another thing - glue some protective material around the VF, so you don't scratch your glasses...
The photo below shows the VF, and the little leatherette "ring" I glued around it - same material as my "custom cover". You can see that the little viewfinder "window" is really small...
Ralph, forget the Contax, and get a Kiev! :D
I plan on buying directly from Oleg Denis. I figure that will save me a step. I printed off a couple pages from some sites, including the users manual, so I am all set to roll.
Pherdinand
12-04-2004, 09:43
Ralph - you know, if you ever thought of a Contax, you will never forget it. It will haunt you till the moment of your lowest resistance and then it will strike.
There's no way out.
Joe's friend probably wants $600 for his. That is $600 US. I can probably send about a couple hundred his way. That is a couple Canadian hundred. So I am sure it won't work out, but some day...You are right Pherdinand, I will be haunted until the day comes.
Of course with a buying agent like Joe, I may make out.
OK, off to get my Christmas tree put up. I will have to check back shortly to see if I am the proud owner of a lovely Canon 135mm lens though.
Hey, I won the Canon!!!
But I found some nice golf clubs to put on ebay while I was in my attic!!!!
Originally posted by rover
Hey, I won the Canon!!!
But I found some nice golf clubs to put on ebay while I was in my attic!!!!
So everything is in peace again :)
Now you may have another reason to GO for that IIa...
Isn't it great to have friends ? ... :D
And congrats for the Canon ! ;)
back alley
12-04-2004, 11:22
hey good on you rover!
finally, some good canon glass for you!! lol
will this go on the r2?
are you worried about the baselength?
joe
R3a should have a long enough EBL to handle this bad boy. That is unless someone here is looking for a 135. Then it will go on their camera. This may make its way to the "for trade" thread. I should give it a chance first though.
I need a finder now.
back alley
12-04-2004, 11:41
i have one that i'm not using.
joe
What are you going to use for your 135?
How much are they worth?
Do you need a PING putter or Ti Bubble 2 Driver?
back alley
12-04-2004, 11:59
i have a new finder called the canon 7,...sorry smart ass alert...
i'm sure they are worth a lot!;)
i traded with brian, got the finder and some trinkets for a 285 flash.
i hate golf, sorry once again.
do you have anything left on your trade post? maybe i should take a look.
joe
Everything on the traded list is available other than the things I have already sent you. I also have a Hove book for the Canon EOS 10s.
back alley
12-04-2004, 12:29
now if you only had that canon history book, by peter d????
nothing on the trade list is ringin' my bell rover.
if you want the finder i can send it your way and keep this end of the trade open till later.
joe
Yeah, my list is pretty thin.
I do have the Canon book, and read it very regularly.
I will get another copy though to complete the trade if you wish.
back alley
12-04-2004, 14:04
that's a deal!
it will be in the mail tomorrow.
joe
Good deal!!!
Is this the lens hood that you have for the 135?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3857769867&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
It takes 48mm filters right, I have lots of those.
I will send my book Monday and replace it with another.
And what is the story with that Contax?
back alley
12-04-2004, 16:06
so many questions!
i'm waiting for my lens hood that was made for the 135 lens and yes, it's just like that one.
i have that on my watch list also. interesting side note, the only bidder so far is the guy who sold me the p.
yes, 48mm filters, easy to come by.
the contax?
i know he wants top dollar for it. he has a nice collection of leicas that he uses to make money, he also works as a camera salesman in the local pro shop and has done some business on ebay. (with a partner as he isn't so computer savvy - but the other guy died suddenly) i bought my 'new' billingham from him this past week.
if you want i can ask him about a price. the camera was recently cleaned up by the canadian leica importers and it cost over 300 bucks cdn for the cla. (nothing is cheap here - except maybe gas)
as for that book, i hope there are no thumb prints in it ;)
joe
The book looks brand new, you will love it.
back alley
12-04-2004, 16:28
just sent you a p.m.
joe
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.