Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Art and all you interested in the 135 f4 Tele-ELMAR. I have the previous version with the removable lenshead. It is an extremely sharp lens with versatile applications. As a M lens I think it is ideal for the M6/0.85 because the frame on the M4,5,6 is too small for accurate framing(I often use it with a separate shoe-mounted 135mm Leitz finder). It also serves as a Viso lens with the 16464 focusing mount, as well as a R lens if you add the 14167 M-to-R adapter. You can get the older version for about $600 in mint condition. However, don't take my recommendation alone for the high quality of this lens. I have evaluations from Modern and Popular Photography which I outline below. Modern: (M4-2 review,late 1970s) Resolution(lpmm at 1:49 magn.) f center corner 4 39 35 5.6 44 39 8 49 54 11 55 49 16 49 44 Contrast( % at 30 lpmm) f center corner 4 38 50 5.6 48 51 8 53 48 11 50 44 16 45 38 - -in field test slides: images very sharp at f4 and even better at f5.6 - -central quality is about same as the one off-axis - -at f4.5 slight softness and astigmatism become undetectable - -well-controlled ghosts and flare w/o multicoating Popular (serial number 2384028, early 70s) provides graph of % contrast at 50 lpmm f center far edge 4 77 70 5.6 80 70 - -graphs at higher f-stops would result in bunched lines - -perfect centering;undetectable coma and astigmatism - -mechanically flawless Please consider that the Tele-Elmar is an old design. How it compares with more recent designs of other manufacturers is best answered by Erwin. regards, Andrew Jordan