Leica M teleconverter?

[ForenSeil]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Komura-Telemore-Finder-For-LEICA-M-or-M39-Lenses-2X-Coverter-Rare-/130887780278?pt=Obiettivi&hash=item1e798507b6
Does it really work?

[rbelyell]

not for $300 it doesnt!
tony

[scsambrook]

I've never actually seen one, but I recall reading a posts about it on LeicaUserForum a while back. The owner seemed pleased with it, although I can't imagine it being any better than others made for SLR models.

[rbelyell]

besides the ridiculous price, i'm not sure what this does for anyone who shoots RF. why turn a 50 into a 100 when there are so many great 85-90 native lenses to be had. seems to me the only use i could find for it is to turn a fast 135 into a mediocre 270. but not at that price.

also, while komura makes some good lenses and i have one of them to verify that, i recall reading their teleconverters were mediocre.
tony

[iangreenhalgh1]

Komura made an excellent 7-element TC for SLRs.

Most TCs have 4 elements and are crap.

[Esox lucius]

The real question is why anyone who needs long telephoto perspective would choose Leica M as their camera system. The advantages of the Leica M are unquestionable, but none of them involve focal lengths beyond 135mm (with or without teleconverter).

[rbelyell]

yes, that was kind of my point too. though if youre like me, part of a tiny fringe group that uses the gxr m mount as their only interchangeable lens digicam, ive thought about this because focus is not limited like a true RF. but again, not at $300, and not for this questionable quality.
tony

[scsambrook]

The Komura Leica-teleconverter dates from the time when the Japanese photo-industry was cheerfully making just about anything and everything that could be made . . . From memory, it wasn't actually too expensive and it did offer the chance to use a long-ish focal length on the rangefinder camera. Sort of a "Hey, that's a handy and affordable gadget so I'll get one" thing. Not that many people semingly ever did so!

[Nesster]

Hmmm... I just bought one at a camera show, in original box, for $150. It just seemed kind of cool... and I hadn't seen one before. I probably could have spent the money better, but what the heck I'll try it.

Camera Show 5/18/14 by Nesster, on Flickr

[scsambrook]

Looks good ! I've never seen a chrome one before, all the others (though not many) have been black. Be interesting to see how it works for you.

[Nesster]

Here's a couple of film shots with a Canon RF 50/1.7 on the Telemore... I'll get around to trying it on a NEX, vs a Canon 100/3.5 with the cloudy element problem... One Of These Days.

green stripe, rust by Nesster, on Flickr

Testing the Komura RF extender by Nesster, on Flickr

carousel horses by Nesster, on Flickr

here's a crop of approx 1/2 the frame...
Walnut St Station by Nesster, on Flickr

[scsambrook]

Well - ! they don't look bad at all, and the rangefinder coupling looks to be good. Thanks for posting them !

[Lloydy]

That seems perfectly usable, I'd even say "very good". My Rokkor 100 / 3.5 Macro should have a dedicated X2 converter, but it came with a Kenmore, and although I have obviously not tested it against the correct OEM converter it does seem to be very good. I keep reading positive things about the Kenmore converters, I think the consensus is - they are good.