[Leica] Advice on 280mm Telyt

[len-1 at comcast.net (Leonard Taupier)]

Doug,

Thanks for your very comprehensive impressions of these lenses. One  
thing I didn't consider was the focusing speed of the helical. For me  
that's a big disadvantage. I have the 1st version 40cm f5 Telyt for  
the Visoflex. It's helical focusing is painfully slow. The flare you  
mention is a problem as well. I'm going to try to get an APO 400 f2.8  
then. That will get me better focusing and better optical performance  
as well as auto diaphragm on my R8. The f4 current version is out of  
the question, price wise.

It sounds like the APO version will be a good companion to my 560/6.8.

Best Regards,
Len


On Mar 23, 2007, at 1:09 AM, Doug Herr wrote:

> On Mar 22, 2007, at 6:10 PM, Leonard Taupier wrote:
>
>> I'd like to get a medium telephoto for my birding excursions. I'm  
>> currently using a 560mm f6.8 Telyt and 200mm f4 Telyt(viso mount)  
>> on a Canon 20D. I've been looking at something in the 280mm range.  
>> I'd love to have a 280/f4 R Telyt but they cost a bit more then a  
>> new M8.
>>
>> I see the 280/f4.8 lenses with Viso mount at a reasonable price.  
>> Does anyone have any experience or information if this is a  
>> reasonably good lens? I'd like to stick with Leica as I could also  
>> use it on my M8 and M film cameras or if R mount on the Canon or  
>> my R8.
>
> The primary advantage of the 280 f/4.8 for Visoflex is its Visoflex  
> mount, making it adaptable to a wide variety of cameras.  It will  
> even cover 6x6 and has been adapted to 645 and even 6x7 cameras.
>
> Bearing in mind my needs in a 250-to-300mm lens may differ from  
> yours, I've found after trying 8 lenses in this range that handling  
> properties are as big a deal to me as optical quality is.  The  
> optical properties of the late 280 f/4.8 are admirable: good detail  
> rendition, zero chromatic aberation, very smooth bokeh.  Compared  
> with a 280 APO it falls short in color saturation and one should  
> also not expect the mind-boggling image detail of the APO.  Of the  
> two samples of the 280 f/4.8 I used (both last version) the one  
> with the normal helical focussing mount would flare any time  
> sunlight touched the front element no matter what the angle was;  
> the second sample, on a Televit rapid-focus grip, was virtually  
> immune to flare.  Why the difference I don't know.
>
> The handling of the helical-mount lens left a few things to be  
> desired: the helical itself required a lot of cranking to reach the  
> minimum focus distance, the close-focus limit wasn't all that  
> great, and although I was glad to have a rotating tripod mount I  
> had to jury-rig an adapter in order to use my shoulder stock w/o  
> binding the focus.  All in all a frustrating experience with all  
> but the slowest birds.
>
> With the 280 on the Televit, the focus is quick with a delightfully  
> close minimum limit.  The Televit itself is rather bulky and takes  
> some getting used to but if I were to get another 280 f/4.8 this is  
> how I'd use it: with the Televit.  Unfortunately the Televit is  
> scarce particularly in the Visoflex mount and the vast majority of  
> the time is sold with either the 400mm or 560mm f/5.6 lens head,  
> adding to the cost.  The adapter to fit the 280 to the Televit  
> likewise is scarce (I have two, one or maybe both are for sale).   
> One disadvantage of this lens either in helical or Televit mount is  
> the pre-set diaphragm.  If you expect to use it at or near full  
> aperture, no big deal... but there's a reason auto-diaphragms  
> replaced pre-set.
>
> Off on a tangent, I wonder why Leitz didn't make a Visoflex IV with  
> auto-diaphragm?  It would need auto-diaphragm visoflex lenses but  
> It's not mechanically difficult.  Tom?
>
> Doug Herr
> Birdman of Sacramento
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com
>
>
>
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