Contrast, Sharpness, and Resolving Power Unique to This Lens
The 135mm f/3.4 APO Leica Telyt M Lens replaces a pair previous M lenses with the identical (f/2.8 and f/4, respective) focal length. There's contrast, sharpness, and resolving power that are unique to this lens featuring an impressive, even at wide open aperture. Other plus attributes are its humble weight, its versatility, and its effortless use. Plus it features a built-in lens hood that slides.
Features
Leica M Mount
Clickstops include half values
Built-in telescopic hood
All Metal barrel and mount
Shop
Shop for the Leica 135mm f/3.4 Apo Telyt M Manual Focus Lens from these stores
Specifications
Overview
Lens style
Prime lens
Max Format Size
35mm FF
Lens focal length
135 mm
Stabilization type
No
Camera mount
Leica M
Angle of view
18 Degrees
Aperture (lens diaphragm)
Largest aperture opening
F3.4
Smallest aperture opening
F22.0
Includes aperture ring
Yes
Aperture annotations
with clickstops (including half values), manual
diaphragm
Optical
Total Elements
5
Number of Groups
4
Focusing
Minimum focus distance
1.50 m (59.06")
Maximum magnification ratio
0.11 x
Autofocus type
No
Full time manual focus
Unknown
Lens distance scale
Yes
Depth of field scale
Yes
Physical features
Overall weight
450 g (0.99
lb)
Lens diameter
59 mm (2.30")
Overall length
105 mm (4.12")
Construction materials
metal barrel, metal mount
Filter thread size
49 mm
Lens hood included
Yes
Notes
built-in telescopic hood
Accessories
M Mount Adapters
The Leica M mount was introduced in 1954 at the same time as the Leica M3. It's been the mount of choice on every Leica M series thru the present day Leica M7 film camera and Leica M9 digital camera
and Lenses.
The M Mount was also the mount used for Minolta's CLE rangefinder, on the Konica Hexar RF, on the later versions of the Voigtlander Bessa family
and Lenses, the mount for the Rollei 35RF, also quite recently on the newest Zeiss Ikon
Rangefinder and Lenses..
Benefits of Lens adapters is versatility, and saving money with the continued use of the preferred lenses you already own.
Drawbacks of lens adapters is the inconvenience, no electronic connection between the adapted lens and your camera body
A couple of factors are necessary for a lens adapter to work properly. First, the camera body "lens registration" space or the expanse between the mount of the lens to
the sensor or film surface. Two, the "throat size" of the mount or the mount diameter. An adapter flanked by the body of the camera and a lens from different brands,
this registration distance of the adapted lens must be larger than the registration distance on the body; plus the lenses throat-size must be less than the throat size on the body mount.
M lenses can be adapted to Canon EOS, Nikon, Micro Four
Thirds, and Sony Nex Cameras.
Reviews
Very sharp 135mm, November 11, 2006
By Mark W. Bohrer "Technology Writer & Documenta... (Saratoga, California)
The 135mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt is for you if you find yourself in 'urban exclusion mode' a lot to keep images simple. It's the sharpest lens available in its focal length.
It also brings up the smallest frame in any of the Leica M-cameras. For this reason, it's best used with the M3's 0.91 viewfinder magnification, or an 0.85 M6 TTL or M7. It can otherwise be hard to make out what you're trying to photograph.
A super lens for ski photography because of its light weight and small size, mine goes everywhere, unlike some of my auto-focus behemoths. A photograph of lights marching up-slope at Squaw at the end of the day produced no flare or visible chromatic aberration. It's much better than the decades-older 135mm Hektor I used to use.
It shares the reach-into-it-real look of images from the 90mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH, but if you really need the narrow view, only the longer lens will do.