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Leitz Apo-Telyt-R 3.4/180
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have just received the lens - mint (I would say like new), in the original box.
I don't have time to make a full test, so here's just one quick sample, wide open, 200 ISO, hand-held:

whole resized:


100% crop:


PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Surprised amazing, it really is sharp wide open, considering the focal length


PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The more I try this lens, the more I am already convinced that I will keep it and sell the (excellent) Elmarit-R 180.
Here's another sample image:

whole resized, wide open, ISO 400, hand held:


to see the 100% crop, you will have to click on the following link (crop was too large to embed here):
http://www.oriofoto.net/temp/apotelytr180.htm

(hint: look at the black Venetians in between the glass window: you can see the thread!)

-


PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
another boring sample, but perhaps useful to those who might consider this lens.
Wide open again, 800 ISO hand held:

full resized:


and for the 100% crop, again, a link:
http://www.oriofoto.net/temp/apotelytr180b.htm


PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
just wanted to add that it blows my mind that this lens is better wide open than it is stopped down - well almost, if you look at Marco Cavina's article you will find the MTFs and see for yourself. Wide open (f/3.5) is actually better than f/4, and on par with f/5.6 for the centre (of course f/5.6 is better at the edges).

The only lens I own that I can compare this performance with, is the Contax Sonnar 3.5/100. There, also, wide open is exactly as good as stopped down. But not better, as this Apo-Telyt is better wide open than stopped down one stop. Really strange. Would like to hear from Marco Cavina the reason why of this.


PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wow!!! That is quite a lense. Where would you rate this amongst your favorite lenses?


PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Schnauzer wrote:
Wow!!! That is quite a lense. Where would you rate this amongst your favorite lenses?


I will have to use the lens for real photographs before I can answer.
Use it with live action, in low light, with potential flare situations etc.
A lot of things can change that are not related with sharpness.

For instance, a reason why I like Contax lenses is, that many Contax lenses do not seem, sharpness wise, so much better (if at all) of other lenses that I have by other brands, or sometimes even look less sharp - for instance, several of my Nikon lenses are sharper than several Contax - but when I photograph in flare situations with the Distagon 35 and with another brand's 35mm lens, I can see a world of difference, because no matter how sharp the other lens is (Leica Elmarit 35 for instance), it also catches flare and makes the photos unuseable, while with the Distagon I can shoot in front of a coliseum lights, or in front of the sun, and get no flare...


PostPosted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Congratulations, Orio. It looks like you found one of these lenses that you need to have in multiple copies, in case something happens to one of them...

Cheers!

Abbazz


PostPosted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Some Leica users think that this lens has not a good bokeh.
What do you think? :

http://www.oriofoto.net/temp/telytbok/apotelytr_bokeh.htm

It does not seem so bad to me.

-


PostPosted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
In my opinion it doesn't look so "creamy" but, still quite nice (anyway bokeh is kind of subjective right?)


PostPosted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The perception of bokeh is of course subjective but bokeh also varies a lot according to many parameters, like f-stop, focusing distance, distance between subject and background and texture of the background. On the picture linked in Orio's post, the bokeh looks OK. I guess that the same lens at the same distance and using the same aperture, but with a more contrasted background (like for example brightly lit twigs) will produce a more disturbing bokeh.

My Pentax F*300/4.5 has a similar bokeh. The lens delivers stunning pictures if I remember to always avoid contrasted backgrounds at certain distances.

Cheers!

Abbazz

Last edited by Abbazz on Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:25 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 10:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
Schnauzer wrote:
Wow!!! That is quite a lense. Where would you rate this amongst your favorite lenses?


I will have to use the lens for real photographs before I can answer.
Use it with live action, in low light, with potential flare situations etc.
A lot of things can change that are not related with sharpness.

For instance, a reason why I like Contax lenses is, that many Contax lenses do not seem, sharpness wise, so much better (if at all) of other lenses that I have by other brands, or sometimes even look less sharp - for instance, several of my Nikon lenses are sharper than several Contax - but when I photograph in flare situations with the Distagon 35 and with another brand's 35mm lens, I can see a world of difference, because no matter how sharp the other lens is (Leica Elmarit 35 for instance), it also catches flare and makes the photos unuseable, while with the Distagon I can shoot in front of a coliseum lights, or in front of the sun, and get no flare...


probably the better coating of contax lenses makes them very strong against the flare....
i am not sure about the better sharpness of nikon than contax lenses...
look here:
http://www.luciolepri.it/lc2/marcocavina/articoli_fotografici/Nikkor_50_1,4_S_Auto/00_pag.htm

for english:
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http://www.luciolepri.it/lc2/marcocavina/articoli_fotografici/Nikkor_50_1,4_S_Auto/00_pag.htm&lp=it_en&btnTrUrl=Translate


PostPosted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 11:49 pm    Post subject: Leica 3,4/180 APO Reply with quote
Here's an interesting opinion from a thorough and reliable reviewer:

http://www.slrlensreview.com/web/leica-slr-lenses-133/telephoto-slr-lenses-140/423-leica-apo-telyt-r-180mm-f34-e60-lens-review.html


PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

@3.4


full resolution
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33530174@N05/6751537255/sizes/o/in/photostream/


PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
Some Leica users think that this lens has not a good bokeh.
What do you think? :

http://www.oriofoto.net/temp/telytbok/apotelytr_bokeh.htm

It does not seem so bad to me.

-


for me it is good.

this is mine...



PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Bokeh is good but boring Wink
Some people also dislike the Telyt's colors bye the way

But who cares, there is no perfect lens.
It has outstanding resolution, clarity and CA control.
It might be the best ~200mm lens.


PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
yalcinaydin wrote:
It is not fair to compare these prime lenses with a special USM AF lens as it is a tele-zoom. It is pricey yes I'm agree with that but these primes were also expensive at their times. Whay can't we compare them?
1) EF 70-200/4 L IS USM is a zoom
2) EF 70-200/4 L IS USM focuses much more faster than me and tack sharp at it.
3) EF 70-200/4 L IS USM has the best IS out there, love or hate IS but it helps in love-light situations and I can shoot sharp pics at 200mm with 1/16 (I have shakey hands).

And for the yellow colors, I'm not sure if it is lens' fault as I got pretty decent color reproduction with it (under harsh summer midday light):

Original file:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yalcinaydin/3654713345/sizes/o/in/set-72157619996750307/
The set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yalcinaydin/sets/72157619996750307/

But if I have time to focus (not good for the model though:)) and have enough light (like studio environment) I prefer the lovely colors of my Tele-Tessar 4/200 Smile


the 70-200/4L IS and its variant with no-IS are known for its warm colors


PostPosted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The time should pass, the lenses will came to us.

But the APO TELYT 180/3,4 is one of the best lenses that we can have.

I never could have it till now. Perhaps it will change.

The pics showed in this forums and in others, taken with this lens are amazing.


PostPosted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 10:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Congratulations Orio, your deal sounds like a steal, this is a superb lens.

Orio wrote:
Some Leica users think that this lens has not a good bokeh.
What do you think?


Your photo of the black cat is starting to show the reason why some Leica users dislike the bokeh. Brunner's duck photo over here http://forum.mflenses.com/leica-apo-telyt-r-3-4-180mm-long-time-experience-t35576.html also shows how this lens handles cluttered backgrounds - just a hint of "mirrorish" unrest to be seen, result of the lens design: this lens was originally developed by the Canadian department of Leica, for use as a naval surveillance lens. The APO-Telyt-R 3.4/180 is optimized for performance wide open at infinity (ship silhouettes on the horizon, often in dark/dusk), hence bokeh and portrait use never was part of the equation Leica wanted to solve on their drawing board.

I've had this lens and used it for portraits, you will Orio notice that the bokeh ratings can mostly be dismissed as rubbish, just keep in mind that cluttered backgrounds or point highlights close to the model will bring out less smooth bokeh than your fine samples show.


PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yesterday, 8 PM, had in my hands my 3,5/180 APO Telyt.

Only like an approuch, I saw that, as everybody told here wide open should be better than at F/4. But not than F/5,6. Seems to be the best aperture, in terms of contast and sharpness.

I'm not sure that at F/8 seemed to be not so good than at F/5,6.

Well, a deep use will tell me better dates.
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