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400mm Lee Harvey Oswald style.......
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:23 am    Post subject: 400mm Lee Harvey Oswald style....... Reply with quote





Lecia-R 400/6.8
Sold in 1981 for over 2k (very high dollar at the time too)
This is Keh BGN for about 360 I think.

Two elements cemented, no air bewteen. Technically, I don't think it is a telephoto, is it? Does not feel heavy.

I'm no expert but it seems pretty friggin sharp to me




above all handheld
here ugly tirpod shot

100

with a bit of NR and sharpening I think it would really pop
Based on serial lens was made in 1969. Has very fancy box--I will post up some pics of it. Has huge bulit in hood.

You focus by sliding the hood end in or out, while pushing a silver thumb lock---I'll show that later becuase it is interesting.

This may be the best leitz deal around--people try to get 1000 for them, but if you look you can find them 3-4 easy.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:56 am    Post subject: Re: 400mm Lee Harvey Oswald style....... Reply with quote
Nice piece!
uhoh7 wrote:
Two elements cemented, no air bewteen. Technically, I don't think it is a telephoto, is it? Does not feel heavy.

Right, that is what is called a LONG LENS. Maybe a triplet? Someone here said that if all the glass is up front, it's a triplet.

Quote:
You focus by sliding the hood end in or out, while pushing a silver thumb lock---I'll show that later becuase it is interesting.

That is very funny! Leitz goes cheap, no helicoid, just push-pull! It would be interesting to replace the glass in some cheap long-tube lens (like my US$13 Spiratone 400/5.6) with the Leitz elements. Good optics AND accurate focus!

Nice catch there!


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Most long lenses are doublets or triplets.

Tair-3C is a triplet, not sure about the cheap Japanese tubes, I have/had 300, 400 and 500mm versions, don't care for any of them, too much CA and only sharp stopped down, but the one I gave to Enzo is producing some fantastic moon shots.

Probably the better ones are triplets and the crappy ones doublets, just a guess.

I find it funny that Leitz didn't include a helicoid, makes you think this lens was intended for infinity shooting only really...

What would be interesting would be to take a 500mm cheap tube lens, remove the head and replace it with a nice 480mm Rodenstock...

I am thinking of replacing the head on one of my crappy 300s with my Ross Xpress 8.5inch, although it works well on bellows it's not very easily handheld on bellows.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Most of the cheap Japanese 300-500mm's have four elements.
Doublet up front, two elements way back, so as to shorten the tube somewhat.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'll have a look at mine tomorrow, the 500mm is 500mm long, the 400 is 400mm long and the 300s are 300mm long, I am sure one of the 300s at least has no elements in the back.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:

I find it funny that Leitz didn't include a helicoid, makes you think this lens was intended for infinity shooting only really...


It's actually a very fast focus, and smooth, with the little thumb lock

"For those of you who have not had the
opportunity to handle the 400 Telyt-R, it
is extremely light… much lighter than the
80~200/f4 Vario-Elmar, for instance…
yet twice as long – over 38.5cm or 15”!
This lightness is obtained by using a
simple achromatic doublet in what is
essentially a long hollow tube. Leitz
replaced the normal helicoid focusing
threads with three polished rails. The
focusing tube has a lock-button that falls
naturally under your thumb. You press the
button and push or pull on the front tube
to focus. Releasing the button locks the
focus. The system is intuitive to use,
though there is a short learning curve.
Once you’re used to it, it’s incredibly
smooth and blindingly fast!"

"....Leica made a 60mm extension tube
(14182) to fit between the lens head and
the mount- tube to reduce the minimum
focus distance to about 2 meters (6 ft).
I’ve not used this tube, but have used the
14134-* extension tubes between the lens
and camera body with very good success."

"I’m told that because of the simple, two
element design, there is some curvature of
field. Well, if it’s there, I cannot see it.
What I do see is a razor sharp lens with
creamy smooth backgrounds."

"At 400mm f6.8 Telyt-R is a sunny day
lens, even with ISO 400 film. It is
virtually free of flare and provides a
brilliant, high contrast image. However,
there is some noticeable vignetting when
it’s used with a 2x converter."

from nice description:
http://www.main.furnfeather.net/Articles/First%20Impressions.pdf

you can see the sweet box it comes in here:

http://www.overgaard.dk/leica_R4_400_telyt-R_68.html

pretty famous bird guy who loved the lens:
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/400r68.html

It may be obvious, but it breaks in half for travel.

also i did search for earlier posts on this lens, but only just now saw this one:

http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=19609

we'll see if I can learn to use it Smile


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wow. Shocked

I am impressed both by the size and the quality.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Having recently bought the 560mm version of this lens I'm not surprised by the results. After a few outings with the lens the sliding focus is something I can quite happily live with.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
some nice shots from ROlf with this lens.

http://forum.mflenses.com/d700-and-leica-telyt-r-6-8-400mm-with-nikon-bayonet-t31874.html

for some reason the 400 was more expensive than the 560....when new I mean.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Looks like a rocketlauncher, haha.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
nice one!


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It is a great lens, I spent some time studying the cat pictures and they are most impressive.

Thanks for explaining about the unusual focus!


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Very interesting. I wasn't aware of the 400 Telyt's focusing system. Looks like a nice feature to have.

Both my old Century telephotos, a 500/5.6 and a 650/6.8, probably date from the same time frame as your 400 Telyt and they too use simple achromatic doublets. However, for whatever reason, the designers decided to locate an optical flat in front of the doublet and another one at the rear of each lens. Can't complain about either lens's sharpness, although I would hesitate to claim them to be at the level of that Telyt of yours.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I bet there are many places where you would be approached by an authority just for carrying that hehe

Nice shots, if you used no sharpening I cannot believe how sharp the lens is..


PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:04 am    Post subject: Re: 400mm Lee Harvey Oswald style....... Reply with quote
Did you make this "stock" that it is mounted on?
Or is this a purchase from somewhere?
Where? Looks interesting.

[quote="uhoh7"]


PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:13 am    Post subject: Re: 400mm Lee Harvey Oswald style....... Reply with quote
buggz wrote:
Did you make this "stock" that it is mounted on?
Or is this a purchase from somewhere?
Where? Looks interesting.


Here is how it was sold:


photo credit Thorsten Overgaard

tonite:







OK let's check rez at infinity



100


no tripod, but steady out the open truck window


PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
What a beautiful world you are living in! Nothing around here to make such pictures!


PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Minolfan wrote:
What a beautiful world you are living in! Nothing around here to make such pictures!

+1

Of course, there's always macro...... Smile


PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
TY guys

I have to thank everyone here helping find the glass to really show it.

It's a dying world, I'm sorry to say, climate change is just killing us here.

but that's another story.

I am really beside myself with this lens.

I can't remember exactly how I found it-- I was looking for decent 300s as you guys know, and browsing at keh for the MD 300/4.5 I saw it there.

I was leaning to the FD 400/4.5 which is one of the great FDs ever, but came accross some great images from this telyt.

2 elements! I can't get over how it renders.

They say it is as sharp as the best modern 400s in the center, but the way it does the backgrounds is so smooth.

I have another 2 element lens coming you guys won't believe--well of course some of you will, hehe. Unfortuneatly there are some mounting isses I will need to deal with--but nothing really wild.

Next tuesday.........the Jaws soundtrack.......it's coming.....

I have knee surgery on Monday, so I hope I can make it to the door to sign for...........the &%^$#^*! lens. Smile


PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well, we'll be waiting with bated breath on hearing more about your newest acquisition. That other 2-element wouldn't be a Century by any chance?

Anyway, good luck on your knee surgery. I'm sure it'll be orthoscopic -- seems like that's the way they do most less invasive surgeries these days. Hey, I was up and walking around a few hours after my recent back surgery, so here's hoping you'll have similar fortune and quick recovery.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
cooltouch wrote:
Well, we'll be waiting with bated breath on hearing more about your newest acquisition. That other 2-element wouldn't be a Century by any chance?

Anyway, good luck on your knee surgery. I'm sure it'll be orthoscopic -- seems like that's the way they do most less invasive surgeries these days. Hey, I was up and walking around a few hours after my recent back surgery, so here's hoping you'll have similar fortune and quick recovery.


TY sir,

ACL repair, so it could be ugly Sad My last serious injury was 1991, so I can't complain too much.

Not a century--I'll have to look those up.

Looking at gimble tripod heads for it---they are like twice what I paid for Moby Dick--that's what I'm calling it till I can think of something better, but they say it makes a huge difference.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Love those deer shots.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I see you have a NEX; have you upgraded to the latest firmware? I understand the new focus peaking feature is excellent for MF lenses.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
What stunning pictures of the deer, looks like a stunning lens. I am sure if i walked around with that in the UK we would have Antigun squad down, but in amaerica it probably would look tiny compared to what some carry in there pickups. Very Happy


PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
perfect lens!

simple and precise..

what to say here?

Just Leica.

congrats to the lens and -- yes, nice pictures.

tf
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