400/6.8

[tony_salce]

I am a Leicaflex SL user. A friend of mine has come across a 400/6.8

in LN condition in the box with shoulder stock etc. She wishes to

sell it.

 

Apart from wildlife photography for which we have wonderful examples

from Doug Herr what other types of uses could one put this lens ? Can

it be easily tripod mounted ? Can it be good for landscapes ?

 

Has anyone got an idea how much one should pay for a lens in this

condition ?

 

Regards,

 

Tony

[al_kaplan1]

A 400mm lens takes in a very narrow angle of view so it's use for what I usually think of as landscape photography would be quite limited. I used a tripod mounted 400mm (not Leitz) years ago to shoot a record album cover, back when they held 12" diameter records, of the group standing on the beach against a HUGE sun just starting to rise over the horizon.

Back in the late 1960's through the 70's Spiratone and Sterling Howard both marketed 400mm f/6.3 lenses that were rated excellent by Modern Photography magazine and cost all of $39.95 brand new. I guess that would be about $200 in today's inflated currency, but still cheap, and they turn up on eBay all the time for reasonable prices. A Leicaflex T-mount adapter will get one on your SL. In long distance shots atmospheric haze will pretty much wipe out any contrast or sharpness advantage of one lens over another. Leave the mint Leitz with it's box for the collectors.

[Rob F.]

The 7th edition Hove Price Guide (1997) shows $800. I would just take that as a rough indication, not carved in stone.

[MTC Photography]

Recent

Westlicht Photographica auction (Vienna)<p>

"LOT 92

Telyt-R 6,8/400 11953

complete set, mint in leather case

 

Condition: A-

Year: 1977

Serial no. 2841111

 

EUR 600 (Start price)

EUR 660 (Hammer price) "<p>

 

 

https://www.westlicht-auction.com/files/7130c29711f7bf3d0fe63ff75a488364e010

[gary_pinkerton1]

I liked the 400 6.8 [no longer own one]for detail shots of leaves [focus to 12 ft - close for a 400] and groups of trees on hillsides and all sorts of things besides wildlife and sports.

Easily mounted on tripod.

A mint one may cost too much but you can get them for 5-600 dollars, sometimes or less. I would not buy anything else if I was in the market for a 400.

[MTC Photography]

400/6.8 has a tripod thread can easily mounted on a tripod<p> This lens certainly can be used for landscape. Popular Photography once

published a landscape photograph by David Muench taken with a 400/6.8<p>

[jay_.]

You can use it for landscapes but it's really, really tricky. There is an enormous amount of field curvature which never quite disappears but if you stop it way down you can minimize it. However in doing so that means a slow shutter speed, and the lens is so physically long yet lacking in mass that it is extremely difficult to hold stone still on a tripod unless you have a second tripod or a bracing arm attached to the camera also. Then you need to use Doug's trick to pop the shutter release with a little side pressure so just the mirror releases, and then fire the shutter. My 400/6.8 is a VISO lens and I have much better luck with it using the VISO-III mirror lockup than I did with the 14167 adaptor on an R body.

[doug herr]

This photo was made with the 400 f/6.8 on a tripod with mirror pre-fire; the shutter speed was 1/4 sec IIRC:

<CENTER>

<IMG SRC="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/nogo00.jpg">

<BR>

<B>Northern Goshawk</B> Denali National Park, Alaska

</CENTER>

<P>

I've also taken advantage of its close minimum focus distance, particularly with the 14182 extension tube, to photograph insects and flowers. Using a 400mm lens for closeups completely obliterates the backgrounds and this lens' optical quality hold up well at this distance.

<P>

As Jay mentioned it has some field curvature so you should plan on stopping it down for landscapes.

[mark-j]

Other uses for this lens include outdoor sports and recreation activities. Skiing, boating, snowmobiling, car racing etc.. The current price appears to be around $600 to $700 for one including the shoulder stock. The tripod mount is fixed, but the Visoflex version has a rotating lens mount for vertical orientation. I am not sure about the R version.

[doug herr]

<I>... the Visoflex version has a rotating lens mount for vertical orientation. I am not sure about the R version.</I><P>

 

Yes the R version has the rotating lens mount too.

[dan flanders]

Especially interested in waterfowl photography, years ago I borrowed an old Leitz 400/5.0 and despite its weight and clumsiness made up my mind I needed one. Unable to obtain it at a price I could afford I ran a cross a 500/4.5 Tacumar (made for the Pentax 6x7) for $100 and had a machinist friend adapt it to my Visoflex II. Images obtained with it were superior to the ones from the Telyt and for several years it was lugged to the duck camp for yeoman duty. I never used it for other than wild life, so its landscape capabilities are unknown to me. However, I have learned that such an investment is questionable unless one expects considerable use from it, and unless it is used regularly it becomes little more than a doorstop. The lure of a telephoto diminishes somewhat over the years unless it is used regularly. Mine is now set up for the squirrels and birds that inhabit my back yard, but if a good offer comes along I will part with it. Frankly, such implements become burdens unless dedicated to regular use.

[bruno_menilli]

Tony

 

Another use of a lens like this is for architectural detail or long distance shots, so that perspective (converging verticals) can be controlled,or buildings be put in context with regard to their surroundings.

 

I have a Hasselblad/Leica adaptor which I use with my 120mm f/4 Macro Planar, and on occasions with hired 350mm or 500mm Tele Tessars( on tripod) and because only the centre of the lens's coverage is used very good quality is obtained.

 

Why don't you try to buy a user lens,for the occasional use,which will also be much cheaper to buy?.

 

Regards

 

Bruno

[MTC Photography]

400/6.8 can also be used as a portrait lens, and provides subtle

3D effect.<p> Because, for a 3D object such as a globe or human head,

a a long lens covers more area of a globe than a short lens, so the globe appears to be more roundish, more 3 dimensional. Secondly, when used at wide open the diameter of aperture is about 6 cm, close to the inter ocular distance of human eyes, the image from the left edge of lens merges with that from the right edges-- in essense many stereoscopic images merged into one, hence the image has a 3D feel.