400mm Screw mount lens

[david_smith12]

Hello,

 

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I was at the local pawn shop today and ran across this lens. Best I can do is describe it and perhaps someone out there can tell me what camera bodies it works with and give some type of history about these lenses. It is definitly "big glass."

 

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It is a 400mm Leitz lens with a thread mount. The pawnshop had several SLR's with thread mounts and this thread mount was smaller in diameter than the thread mounts on the camera's in the store. The lens opens from f5 to f32. It has a built in hood. Says Leitz, and made in Germany. The pawnshop wants $1200 for it but the fella at the counter says he could let it go for $1000.

 

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What is it? What camera bodies does it adapt to? What type of adapter does it require? Approximately when were these lenses made?

I have an M6 and have never heard of a 400mm lens for the M series.

 

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Information would be appreciated.

[john_collier5]

You have found a 400/5 telyt lens produced from 1937 to 1966.

There are two styles: the early type with a conical form (1937 to

1955); and, the later with a cylindrical form. The thread mount is

to mount directly on to a Visoflex 1 or, with an OUBIO adapter

onto the Visoflex 2 or 3. For futher info on the Visoflex system go

here:

 

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<a href="http://elshaw.tripod.com/">

http://elshaw.tripod.com/</a>

 

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As to price check the eBay completed auctions for a rough idea

of what they are trading for. Personally I would get a later 400/6.8

(which I have done!)

 

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Cheers,

[andrew_schank]

Its not worth that much money in my opinion. The visoflex was an

interesting attempt at turning a rangefinder into an SLR, but is

extrtemely archaic compared to even SLR's from 30 years ago. If you

want a "long" lens that's easily useable on an M camera, I'm afraid a

135mm is the one. If you need a 400mm for some reason, get a modern

inexpensive SLR and a Tokina SD 400mm for less than half of what

they are asking for that old Leitz stove pipe.

[david_smith12]

Thanks gentlemen! I suspected some type of mount adapter was

required. I have no interest in the lens. I was curious about it's

history and usefulness. Don't see many leitz products in pawn shops.

[jay_.]

Leitz went from f/5 to f/5.6 to f/6.8 on the 400mm before they got

one with acceptible imaging quality. Like John I have the last (6.8)

version and for wildlife where the edge sharpness isn't usually an

issue, it is a neat lens. Mine is the Visoflex version, so I can use

it on the M, and with a 14167 adaptor, on the R's as well. It has

been reputed to be an easily handheld lens with the shoulder stock,

great for fast focusing because of the slide-trombone action. I

personally find the combination of length vs magnification a major

detriment to handholding, and I've never been able to fine-focus it

as well as a ring-type lens. But it looks really cool.