What happens if you use a 135 APO-Telyt on the M8?

es888 · 10-12-2006

My question is in the heading. I like the lens. I like the idea of a 180mm lens on my M8 - when I get it. Apparently the lens can't be coded, but will it still work? How well? What will be the problems?

jaapv · 10-12-2006

You will get a great photograph. I tried it out at the Photokina. Easy to focus with the 1.25 Okular, even in low light, difficult to frame, no framelines so you have to guesstimate, but of course there is the chimping screen. No special problems at all.It works fine.Welcome on the forum.

AndyPiper · 10-12-2006

I haven't tried the APO yet, but have tried my f/4 Tele-Elmar. Focuses fine - or at least as well as on any .68-.72x Leica body. The magnifier would be a good accesory (for some reason I find the magnifier less uncomfortable on the M8 - less tunnel vision effect. I guess because the view is a touch wider to begin with).

There is no framing in the viewfinder for the 135, but the image area is essentially twice as long and twice as tall as the rangefinder patch, so it becomes fairly easy to learn to aim the camera with a bit of practice.

The coding is essentially meaningless - especially for a lens that long (far from the sensor). No vignetting to correct, and no color fringing with an APO lens.

Both these 135s LUV digital sensors. They produced astounding detail on my Epson R-D1 - when I could get them in focus (shorter RF base).

gogopix · 10-13-2006

Dear jaap

Even though I would likely use the R system for tele I am sure there will besituations where having a RF with "180mm" would be good.

How does 135 feel on the M7. Sounds like the 1.25 is important though to aid focus.

regards
Victor

jaapv · 10-13-2006

Lets put it this way: I changed my 135 apo for the 2.8 tele-elmarit with goggles.

Ben Z · 10-13-2006

I picked up a shoe-mount multi-focal zoomfinder that goes from 35-200mm and includes a stop at 180, which is the correct framing for a 135 on an M8. If I get an M8 I will see if the rangefinder focusing is accurate enough (I suspect it will be, it isn't that different from an 0.72 which has always been fine) and get a 1.25 magnifier if absolutely necessary. I have sadly missed the 180-200mm focal length since switching to Leica from Pentax SLR so the 1.3-crop is an attraction for me in that case.