That is the 280mm f2.8 Apo Telyt. I am pretty sure looking at it that it is Version I which I have that only takes the 112mm front filters. Version II took drop in filters as well.
Paul Yi wrote:
Is it any good compared to other APO 280mm versions?
And, what is a fair market used price on this lens...?
Is $3000 a fair price....?
It is an excellent lens, but it is not as good as the now very expensive 280mm f4 Apo which as I recall has 2 instead of the 1 ED glass elements found in the 280mm f2.8 Apo lenses.
Both versions of the 280mm f2.8 lenses had the same optical design. The difference being the option of the much smaller and much less expensive drop in filters.
I am not sure what is a good or fair price on this lens at this point, but will let others comment on that.
The newer and now much more expensive 280mm f4 lens is much smaller and lighter and I have been seeing listings for the lens of between about $3900+ to almost $7,000 used. It can also be found new, but I believe for about $7,300. The last of these lenses on ebay sold for $3910, $4,000, and $5,000.
Like many and smaller production R lenses the pricing on the 280mm f4 Apo lens pricing is on the rise. I believe with the impending release of the new Leica M camera scheduled for the 1st quarter of 2013 which will accept as far as I know any and all Leica R lenses ever made with the new Leica R to M adapter, prices will continue to rise.
Regarding the Leica 35-70mm f2.8, at one point the alternative forum here had four or five members with them. They have become quite collectible now and have been discovered by the film makers using the RED camera system.
I still have one, but didn't realize it would work on the new Canons.
Here is the 400mm F2.8 APO-Telyt plus 1.4x extender on the D800E. I haven't adapted the lens, but adapting the 1.4x extender was pretty easy. This is my dog Bea in action and I was lucky enough to get three frames in focus in a row. I just looked at the exif and there is only one second difference in time between the first and last shot.
Paul Yi wrote:
Is it any good compared to other APO 280mm versions?
And, what is a fair market used price on this lens...?
Is $3000 a fair price....?
Paul:
Ebay is your best source for pricing. Like mentioned a few posts up, the new M may have already started driving up the prices of R lenses.
I have had two or three of these over the years and paid from $2,500 to $2,700 in near mint condition, with case and filter. They are a nice lens, but but unless you need the Leica R mount, you can probably get similar quality with a newer Tamron 300mm f2.8 in AF for about the same price.
Here are some more photos taken on film with the Leica f5.6 800mm Modular Apo Telyt 800mm lens (Special thanks to Leica Camera, USA for the loan of the lens for a month) from 1998 taken with a Leica R7 on film.
The first image of the Snowy Egret:
Photo of a Snowy Egret taken in early morning, Everglades National Park, Flamingo, Florida in February of 1998. The image was taken with Leica R7 camera and Leica f5.6 800mm Modular Apo Telyt lens on Fujichrome Astia 100 film.
The second image of the Pied Billed Grebe:
Photo of of a Pied Billed Grebe taken in Golden Hour approaching or in sunset light, Everglades National Park, Flamingo, Florida in February of 1998. The image was taken with Leica R7 camera and Leica f5.6 800mm Modular Apo Telyt lens on Fujichrome Provia 100 film.
The third image of the Great Blue Heron:
Photo of a Great Blue Heron in breeding plumage taken in Everglades National Park, Flamingo, Florida in February of 1998. Image taken with Leica R7 camera and Leica f5.6 800mm Modular Apo Telyt lens with Leica 1.4X Apo Extender (effective 1120mm) on either Fujichrome Provia 100 or Astia 100 film.
The forth image of the Least Bittern:
Photo taken of a Least Bittern (I believe a female) taken in Everglades National Park, Flamingo, Florida in February of 1998. The Bittern is supporting itself with only 1 leg on a single reed indicating how small and light they are. The image was taken with Leica R7 camera and Leica f5.6 800mm Modular Apo Telyt lens with Leica 1.4X Apo Extender (effective 1120mm) on Fujichrome Provia 100 film.
first three Snow Geese and the Red-tailed Hawk were made with the 280mm f/4 APO + 2x APO-Extender-R, fourth Snow Goose was made with the 560mm f/6.8 Novoflex Telyt, and the Cattle Egret was made with the 280mm f/4 APO. All on a shoulder stock with the R8 with DMR.
Having read through the thread I know that there have been many asking about the 24mm f2.8 Elmarit lens. I have owned mine (like many other of my R lenses since the mid to late 80's) since about 1986. I have no images to demonstrate the lens digitally, however, I will post the three images below shot on film. All have been able to be blown up digitally to 30" in size and all were shot on Fujichrome Velvia 50 film.
The first image of Grand Teton National Park:
Photo taken in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming taken mid morning in June? of 1991 on my way back to Jackson Hole Airport from Yellowstone NP. Photo taken with Leica R4SP camera and Leica 24mm f2.8 Elmarit lens hand held with elbow on knee to support camera on Fujichrome Velvia 50 film.
The second image of Columbine flowers:
Photo taken between gusts of wind on the Aspen side of the Holy Cross Mountains (in the background) near Woody Creek, Colorado at about 2:30 PM in August of 1996. For this image I needed as much depth of field and as high a shutter speed as possible and I took the photo and prayed. The photo was taken with a focusing rail mounted Leica R7 camera and Leica f2.8 24mm Elmarit lens set at f22 on Fujichrome Velvia 50 film.
The third image of the Aspens:
Photo taken at the Maroon Bells, outside of Aspen Colorado at about 11:30 AM in August of 1996. Image taken while lying on my back with my tripod straddling my chest and the camera and lens pointing straight up looking from the forest floor toward the top of the Aspen Grove. Photo taken with Leica R7 camera and Leica f2.8 24mm Elmarit lens set at f22 on Fujichrome Velvia 50 film.
Paul Yi wrote:
Is it any good compared to other APO 280mm versions?
And, what is a fair market used price on this lens...?
Is $3000 a fair price....?
I bought mine for a little under $2500 and traded it for an Elmarit-M 24/2.8 (NM, non-6 bit, which goes for about $2500). I wouldn't pay any more for it, but it's an excellent lens, Paul.
naturephoto1 wrote:
I have no photos to post at this point. But, I hope that I have not made an error. I have had one of the original 280 f2.8 Apo Telyt lenses since 1986 that developed fungus some years ago. Leica Germany was able to clean out the fungus and they indicated that I should notice little or no loss of performance. I would have loved to have purchased one of the newer 280mm f4 Apo lenses but they are not readily available and have become extremely costly at this point. I was fortunate in 1998 that Leica USA loaned me the Modular 400mm f2.8 and 800mm f5.6 lenses for a month. Remarkable system. Leica USA used 2 of these images in 1998 I believe. Perhaps I will post these and other images.
In any case as some members of the community have reported, I just won this on ebay, a 350mm f4.8 lens for its lighter weight and when I do not want to use/carry the 280mm f2.8 lens.
I also have both the 1.4X and the 2X Apo extenders and know that the 2X will work with the lens and only with modification of the rear of the lens that the 1.4X extenders will work with the lens.
Still debating what to use for a camera and have been using the Lumix G1, but not all that happy with the total performance. Considering the Fujifilm XE-1 or the Fuji X Pro1.
Hopefully Doug Herr will check in and make some comments regarding the new lens and its performance versus my 280mm f2.8 lens.
Unfortunately, this morning I received a relatively inexpensive Lumix camera from the seller of the Leica 350mm f4.8 lens. To add insult to injury, the lens that I just purchase from the seller on ebay (who has 666 positive and 100% sales reports) is on a truck to be delivered to presumably the person who was to receive the camera. Very very disappointing to say the least on this.
I have a quick release plate coming from RRS for the lens. Maybe this is all an omen that I should just keep the 280mm f2.8 Apo lens that I have, refuse the 350mm f4.8 lens (chain of custody has been broken), and to wait things out for an 280mm f4.0 Apo Telyt to become available. Then I should keep the QR plate (which fits both the 350mm and the 280mm f4.0 Apo lens) and to then get the UV filter at a later time.
Also, maybe under these circumstances I should get one of the 35-70mm Vario Elmar f4.0 zoom lenses with the macro modes even with the issue of the rotating front elements that would make using polarizers and grad filters inconvenient. For those with the have the Kyocera made 35-70mm Vario Elmar f4.0 lens how difficult is it to focus and zoom followed by adjusting either a polarizing filter and/or a grad filter?
naturephoto1 wrote: Also, maybe under these circumstances I should get one of the 35-70mm Vario Elmar f4.0 zoom lenses with the macro modes even with the issue of the rotating front elements that would make using polarizers and grad filters inconvenient. For those with the have the Kyocera made 35-70mm Vario Elmar f4.0 lens how difficult is it to focus and zoom followed by adjusting either a polarizing filter and/or a grad filter?
Rich
Actually, the biggest problem with using polarizers or screw in NDs is that the front element is recessed at the wide end. Leica and B+W made circ pols specifically for the lens with thick rings so you can operate them when the lens is at 35mm.
Can't help you with the ease of operation, though. I wouldn't use a circ pol on it and I just hand-hold NDs.
freaklikeme wrote:
Actually, the biggest problem with using polarizers or screw in NDs is that the front element is recessed at the wide end. Leica and B+W made circ pols specifically for the lens with thick rings so you can operate them when the lens is at 35mm.
Can't help you with the ease of operation, though. I wouldn't use a circ pol on it and I just hand-hold NDs.
Thanks for the information. I have one of the lenses coming in E++/M- condition. I will have to look at the lens. I have an old Leica 60mm Circular Polarizer which is quite deep that may work if I decide to use it for the lens.
I also saw that ManWearPants had indicated that he had modified a 67mm adapter to use the Cokin P system with the lens. I have sent him a PM asking about this. I hope that he will respond and provide me with information about what he did so that he could use the Cokin P filters.
Because of the mishap with the 350mm f4.8 lens, I was able to get out of the deal. I ordered the 35mm-70mm f4.0 lens and will be on the lookout for a 280mm f4.0 lens that is in excellent condition and of "reasonable" cost.
As to the adapter and I have one of these already on my 280mm f2.8 lens already and it is the adapter recommended for the 280mm f4.0 lens as well is the L97L which replaces an earlier plate. This is the link:
naturephoto1 wrote:
Thanks for the information. I have one of the lenses coming in E++/M- condition. I will have to look at the lens. I have an old Leica 60mm Circular Polarizer which is quite deep that may work if I decide to use it for the lens.
I also saw that ManWearPants had indicated that he had modified a 67mm adapter to use the Cokin P system with the lens. I have sent him a PM asking about this. I hope that he will respond and provide me with information about what he did so that he could use the Cokin P filters.
That would actually be very easy, using one of the UV filters Leica/B+W made (or at least the frame). Then you'd need an e60 to e67 step-up ring, which aren't impossible to find, but if he's got a better way, let us know, please.
Thank you for nice comments. Appreciated.
your photos I saw from these thread along with others 50lux portrait push me over the edge. The lens is exceptional. Central sharpness at WO is really good.
sebboh wrote:
beautiful! i found the bokeh from some of your previous shots at longer distances rather distracting, but i really like the focus transition here and there's none of those distractions.
Thanks for comments, Sebboh.
I took D700 with me last weekend to Oakland Zoo. and after the trip, I confirm this is became of my favorite 1.4 lens. maybe the focal length, maybe the price is decent for its performance, maybe the focus ring handling.....
The rendering for portrait is just to my taste. I don't feel it is exceptional for other use, but I bet it is has very good 10lp/mm and 20lp/mm performance at 1.4, which give a impression of sharp lens but not clinical for skin. It is one of the easiest manual lens I have tried as well. No haze and not much those ugly purple/green OFC plain I have with other fast glass.
It also has big circle bokeh start from center. "glow"??
As for long distance Boekh, still I don't have enough experience or samples to fully tell yet.
I don't know how to judge it compare to all other 50mm 1.4 lens. (with Nikon, I might never will be ) However, I can say it is the best 1.4 Glass I have owned for Portrait.
zhangyue wrote:
It also has big circle bokeh start from center. "glow"??
are you referring to the swirl here? where oof highlights seem to form a ring around the center of the frame?
this swirly effect is due to either astigmatism or field curvature and there are a few other lenses that are famous for it, most notably (i think) the zeiss biotars.
