[Leica] R 250 Telyt for my Nikon D700

[cummer at netvigator.com (H&ECummer)]

> Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 23:08:20 -0500 (EST)
> From: Doug Herr <wildlightphoto at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] R 250 Telyt for my Nikon D700?
> To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> Howard Cummer wrote:
>> I have the opportunity to pick up a 250 f4.0
>> Telyt to augment the telephoto set above and I am wondering if I
>> should. I am getting all this telephoto fire power to take wild life
>> pictures in  Bali and Australia.
>> What do you all think? TIA
>
> This is going to be one of those YMMV answers.  To begin with, I  
> find the 250mm focal length on a full frame camera to be about the  
> shortest lens I can generally use for wildlife photos.
>
> Assuming the loss of auto-aperture doesn't bother you (as evidenced  
> by your 90 'cron & 180 APO)... my experience is with the late  
> version of the 250mm Telyt: rotating tripod mount, E67 filters, good  
> minimum focus distance.  I didn't consider the first version because  
> I depend on the rotating tripod mount (early version has a fixed  
> tripod mount) and the first version's 4.5-meter near focus limit  
> would be a major nuisance for my work.  The late 250's optical  
> performance is good but not spectacular.  Its worst behavior is  
> either lateral chromatic aberration or bokeh that can tend toward  
> harsh at times.  Color saturation and flare resistance are its best  
> qualities, and the handling is quite good too.
>
> Given that I value the auto-aperture feature, I'd also consider the  
> 300mm Nikkor ED AIS, either IF or, if you can find one, the earlier  
> non-IF model.  Except for bokeh & minimum focus distance, the non-IF  
> ED lens will out-perform the 250; the IF model's optical performance  
> isn't quite as good but will be comparable to the Telyt, and will  
> focus closer than the non-IF model too.  Aside from the auto- 
> aperture the handling of these Nikkors isn't as good as the Telyt  
> mostly due to the placement or stiffness of the focussing ring.

Hi Doug,
Thanks very much for the input - a fine example of the continuing  
value of belonging to the LUG. I will look at both the 250 Telyt and  
the 300 Nikkor on the weekend.
Cheers
Howard.