+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

  1. #1
    Leica Specialist Josh Lehrer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    355

    Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    _________________
    Josh Lehrer
    Leica Specialist
    Dale Photo & Digital
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  2. #2
    Leica Specialist David Farkas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    432
    Blog Entries
    11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    One from yesterday's testing with the 400mm.

    Click image for larger version

Name:	L1003313.jpg
Views:	227
Size:	607.1 KB
ID:	600
    Leica S2 with 400mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R
    1/350th @ f/4, ISO 320

    Remember, you must be logged in to view forum images.



    _________________
    David Farkas
    Leica Store Miami
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  3. #3
    Leica Specialist David Farkas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    432
    Blog Entries
    11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Another one, also shot wide-open...

    Click image for larger version

Name:	L1003300.jpg
Views:	224
Size:	734.3 KB
ID:	601
    1/350th @ f/4, ISO 320
    _________________
    David Farkas
    Leica Store Miami
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  4. #4

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    impressive images. The image covers all S2 sensor? if yes, you've got the Holy Grail!

  5. #5
    Leica Specialist David Farkas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    432
    Blog Entries
    11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Quote Originally Posted by Delfi_r View Post
    impressive images. The image covers all S2 sensor? if yes, you've got the Holy Grail!
    Yes, the projected image covers the entire S2 sensor with no vignetting.
    _________________
    David Farkas
    Leica Store Miami
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  6. #6

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    How fascinating! David, Will I have to do permanent changes to my APO-telyt or can I manage via an adapter?
    Thanks for posting,
    Arif

  7. #7
    Leica Specialist David Farkas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    432
    Blog Entries
    11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Quote Originally Posted by Arif View Post
    How fascinating! David, Will I have to do permanent changes to my APO-telyt or can I manage via an adapter?
    Thanks for posting,
    Arif
    Arif,

    I'll post all the details in my article, but no, this isn't done via an adapter. The lens has to be shortened to achieve infinity focus. This also involves moving the aperture ring and mechanical linkage back towards the front of the lens. Because of this, I don't think the 1x module will work, only the 1.4x and 2x.

    If you are interested in converting your lens, let me know.
    _________________
    David Farkas
    Leica Store Miami
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  8. #8

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Hi David:

    What a great 400mm set-up for the S2!!! After the the dust settles, please compare with the Pentax 6x7 400mm ED lens.

    Phil

  9. #9
    Leica Specialist David Farkas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    432
    Blog Entries
    11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Quote Originally Posted by fotophil View Post
    Hi David:

    What a great 400mm set-up for the S2!!! After the the dust settles, please compare with the Pentax 6x7 400mm ED lens.

    Phil
    Phil,

    Our 400mm P67 lens has been on loan to a forum member here and is on its way back to us for comparative testing. Even without a side-by-side, it's safe to say that the Leica eats the Pentax lens for lunch. Much, much sharper. Easier to focus. Better contrast. Better build quality. The Leica can be used wide-open without penalty. The Pentax really needs to be shot at f/6.3 or f/8 to extract the best sharpness and then you are fighting shutter speed.

    We will post results of our tests when we receive the lens next week and do some shooting.
    _________________
    David Farkas
    Leica Store Miami
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  10. #10

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    WOW! That is really great.

    I guess there are shot on a tripod? Would like to see some handheld as well.

    Looking forward to the whole report.

    Cheers.

  11. #11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Hi David:

    Leica lenses eat everything for lunch at wide open apertures. My Pentax 400mm tests confirm that the performance is disappointing wide open but greatly improves stopped down 2 stops and even better at 3 stops. In long lenses there is no free lunch. What is the going price for the Leica APO 400mm and modification?

    Thanks for running these tests

    Phil

  12. #12

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Should we assume the larger lens head would work too?

  13. #13
    Leica Specialist David Farkas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    432
    Blog Entries
    11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Herr View Post
    Should we assume the larger lens head would work too?
    Doug,

    I would assume so, as the image circle limitation comes from the focus module not the lens head.

    With the larger 400/560/800 lens head and the 1.4x, you'd have a drool-worthy 560mm f/4 on the S2!! This is equivalent to a 450mm in 35mm land.
    _________________
    David Farkas
    Leica Store Miami
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  14. #14
    Leica Specialist David Farkas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    432
    Blog Entries
    11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete Walentin View Post
    WOW! That is really great.

    I guess there are shot on a tripod? Would like to see some handheld as well.

    Looking forward to the whole report.

    Cheers.
    Pete,

    These were all shot on a Gitzo 5-series with the Systematic Hydrostatic Ball Head. The lens weighs 9lbs alone, hardly hand-holdable, especially in 92 deg F heat and 80% humidity (my test conditions yesterday). I'm assuming you were kidding though.
    _________________
    David Farkas
    Leica Store Miami
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  15. #15
    Leica Specialist David Farkas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    432
    Blog Entries
    11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Quote Originally Posted by fotophil View Post
    Hi David:

    Leica lenses eat everything for lunch at wide open apertures. My Pentax 400mm tests confirm that the performance is disappointing wide open but greatly improves stopped down 2 stops and even better at 3 stops. In long lenses there is no free lunch. What is the going price for the Leica APO 400mm and modification?

    Thanks for running these tests

    Phil
    Phil,

    My own Pentax 400mm testing yielded the same results. Unfortunately, shooting birds at f/8 - f/11 just doesn't cut it when I was already fighting 1/125th shutter speeds at f/4.

    The modification cost is $1200. The lens combo we have is selling for around $6500-7000. Unfortunately, the 1.4x is far less common than the 1x module.
    _________________
    David Farkas
    Leica Store Miami
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  16. #16

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Quote Originally Posted by David Farkas View Post
    Arif,

    I'll post all the details in my article, but no, this isn't done via an adapter. The lens has to be shortened to achieve infinity focus. This also involves moving the aperture ring and mechanical linkage back towards the front of the lens. Because of this, I don't think the 1x module will work, only the 1.4x and 2x.

    If you are interested in converting your lens, let me know.
    David,
    Thanks for the reply. as luck would have it, I have the 1x so will wait and see if the 1.4x or 2x shows up as a bargain. I will wait for the details in your article.
    Thanks again,
    Arif

  17. #17
    Leica Specialist David Farkas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Hollywood, FL
    Posts
    432
    Blog Entries
    11

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    Full review is up in the News and Articles section:

    Testing the Leica 400mm APO-Telyt-Modular-R on the Leica S2
    _________________
    David Farkas
    Leica Store Miami
    Red Dot Forum

    Email Me

  18. #18

    Re: Leica S2 meets the Leica APO-Telyt-Modular R 400mm f/4!

    David,
    Beautiful conversion of the lens. It would be an easy way for Leica to provide manual focus long glass in a short time, just convert the focus modules like you have. Aside from the fact that the 1x tube is too short, the 1.4x increases the image circle as well, yes?

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts