Re: [Leica] Use 135mm Anymore?

[dmm@bronze.lcs.mit.edu (Andrew M. Moore)]

> << I have heard very little discussion regarding 135mm lenses, M
>  and R, here.  Do people on this list still use the 135mm lenses
>  anymore?  >>
> 
> The 135 focal length is my favorite.

Yes, we still use them!  Well, I plan to this weekend, anyway.  I just
picked up a Hektor 135/4.5 for $80 at a show last Sunday.  It's a good
user lens, smooth aperture action, focusing is mildly stiff, and the
glass looks "okay".  I can't wait to try it out.  If the glass proves
to be really poor, I can always replace the lens head, I assume.  It's
in a screw mount, so I'll be using on the IIIf and the M6 body.

For some reason, I get a different sense of satisfaction (maybe even
greater) out of acquiring that lens that I do from a more modern one
costing over ten times as much.  I was excited to show my wife this
great "find" when I returned, and she was equally excited to show me a
pair of "Bally" shoes she bought at a thrift strore for $7.99.  As you
may have guessed, neither of us quite understood the other!  I've never
rushed home to tell her about the more expensive purchases...

I bought it primarily for Viso/Bellows macro work (now I need to
find those), but as it's my only 135, I'm sure I'll be using it for
other purposes.

Is anyone parting with a Viso/Bellows setup that I could use on
an M6 or IIIf?

Andrew