CHEAP! 135mm Vintage Lens | Leica 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit

If you really want (or need) to use a 135mm lens on an M camera, the older 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit is worth considering. It is big and dorky-looking with its “goggles” viewfinder attachment, but the goggles magnify the viewing image by 1.4x, which pretty much solves the mentioned problems of tiny viewing image, tiny rangefinder image, and limited focusing accuracy. It also has a tripod socket, so you can stick it on a monopod to help absorb the ample weight.

I never owned one, but was a newspaper drudge back in the 1980s, so could sometimes borrow gear through Leica's midwestern US rep. When famous ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov came to town on his first US tour, his agent told me I could take pictures of his warmup, but I could not distract him or make ANY noise or Baryshnikov would have me chucked out of the theater. I borrowed the Elmarit to use on my M-4P, hid in the balcony with the setup on a monopod, shot through the railings, and got my photos with no problems. Unfortunately, they were boring photos because Baryshnikov did a boring warmup… I should have stuck around and concentrated on the stunning ballerina Susan Jaffe, of whom I only got one photo because I had to go back to work…

These affordable shockingly render beautiful images that seems unreal for their price. I picked up a 90mm Elmar collapsible at my local camera store the day after I purchased my M240, $130 in M mount. Sure it is a bit slower, but the compactness and and price point put the "Leica expensive" theory right out the door.

Two weeks ago when I was in the DC Leica store, casually browsing, and I asked if they have any vintage glass, the sales rep opened a draw, five lenes laid there with $50 and $90 labeled on their bag. I jokingly asked, "is that just for the back cap?" The sales rep laughed. The are all rigid 90 Elmar and 135 Hektor, $50 for M mount and $90 for LTM. So, I cannot resisted and purchased a copy of the 135mm for $50, AT A LEICA STORE!!!

I like your videos, Matt!
how do you like shooting a R lens on a leica-m with a visoflex? Does that make any sence to you?
i am thinking of buying a visoflex typ 020 for my m10-P, just to be able to use my leica R lenses (summicron-r 2/90mm and summilux-r 50mm). I'm afraid of loosing the actual purpose of a rangefinder camera. currently, love shooting daily street photography with my Tele-Elmar-M f4/135. super sharp, compact and different way of framing.

Wow, thanks a lot Matt! I had no idea these were so affordable. I pulled the trigger right away and ordered an Elmarit-M 135mm with goggles. I'm looking forward to putting it to work on one of my M3s. 😊

The 135m apo-telyt r is amazing

Hi Matt, another fun video!!
Just curious...would you have ANY idea about how large of an image circle the Leica "R" lenses have?
I'm thinking about adapting them to the GFX family...I have a GFX100, but just scored an older and smaller GFX 50R and was thinking the R lenses might be a good mate with that, especially since I plan to pretty much keep the one set to the Xpan aspect ratio.
Anyway...any ideas on finding out the largest image circle R lenses or how to find out?
What are your favorite "R" lenses for sharpness, speed, etc?
Thank you in advance,
CC

For even more affordable options, take a look at Leitz projector lenses. You can get a Colorplan 90/2.5 for below 50 pounds, if you don't mind some tweaking to make it work on a camera, that is.

I prefer Leica Lens 105 f.6.3 is fantastic

I don’t own any R lenses, but for the less expensive M lenses, I like my 90 mm Tele-Elmarit f/2.8 thin version, 135 mm Tele-Elmar f/4 and the 35 mm Summaron f/2.8 lenses. All are easy to carry for traveling.

Excellent video.
Recently I found a 90mm and a 135mm Elmarit-R for my Leicaflex SL. Pretty cheap and built like a tank. You can‘t go wrong for 200€ for a Leica lens in good shape.

Have you ever tried the 135 Elmarit-M with the goggles? Would it be similar to the R version?

I scored a brand new 50 summarit 50 2.4 to go with my m3., just before they discontinued the lens. Happy customer.

And 1 week ago, got an xvario with the elmarit 28-70 equivalent … total bargain, brilliant travel companion

That 135 Elmar is a great lens! Some of the smoothest bokeh out there and really sharp too. Even Ken Rockwell thinks it's the best value for money Leica lens in the world😁
I also have the Elmarit with the goggles🥸

Love the channel and your Insta Matt! Could you please do some more CL content when you have the chance... do you have any TL lenses? I'm currenty saving for the 35mm!

I paid 227 and 375 respectively for the Elmarit-R 135mm and Elmarit-R 90mm. I have used the 90 mostly but these two lenses are fantastic. Also have used the 35mm and 50mm Voigtlander M lenses. I use all these on my SL. I’m extremely happy with these lenses. No real need for anything else. With the 35/50/90 I have most areas covered and total investment was less than 1500 for three amazing lenses. And to cover a wider view I picked up an older Minolta Rokkor-X 24mm. It also takes great shots. Toss in all the other LTM lenses I own and I see no need to take out a second mortgage to own a lens. Thank you Matt for this video and deep dive. I know in the past that you have been fair about covering a wide range of costs and quality. I realize there are lots of different categories of shooters out there and I appreciate when you take the time to speak to those of us that might not be huge spenders on gear.

40mm Summicron-C. Shhhhhhh. Also, adapted Canon LTM lenses

There are some reports that the Elmar 135 is actually a Sonar formula.
I have a Zeis Sonar 135 for my Contax iia red dial and I find it a very good lens for my purposes.
I had a Hektar for my iiif. It was just OK.

A real service, this one.

Hey Matt
With regards to the M system, cheap can be expensive
Because of the size and weight, the 135mm it ruins the cosmetic and easy use appeal of the rangefinder
People would be better off saving a little more and getting a cheaper 75 or 90mm option otherwise the 135 will be rarely or never used and the traded or sold in the long run- that’s why they’re cheap
Just my thoughts
All the very best

Great advice, as always! Thanks Matt📷

My one and only Leica lens that I own for my M9 is the 90mm Elmar C. It is very reasonably priced and ridiculously sharp. A fantastic lens for the money. I use Voigtlander for everything else.

Man when it comes to Leica lenses, the wider they go the crazier the prices get. If we are talking used, the collectible prices are insane. If you look at all the 35 Summicrons for example. If you test them all side by side from v1 to the ASPH v2, you’ll find SMALL differences between them. Obviously the ASPH get a little sharper and a little better corners. But for every day casual use you can say they’re pretty much almost all the same. Yet a v4 KOB costs about as much as a new Summicron ASPH.

Leica pricing is nuts. 😀

Anyway. This is a good video because anyone who shoots only rangefinders knows once in a while you wish you had a long lens, so this is a good lens to just keep and use it a couple of times a year when you need it. It costs nothing. It’s a special use lens for sure.

If you want a more practical lens but also that gives you a good telephoto range you can get a 90mm. Sounds like it’s too much but actually 85mm can be quite practical for what it is. A practical telephoto. You could even do some interesting street photography with a 90mm. I’m thinking at some point I can add a third lens. 35-50 and 90mm.

Another great review Matt, every now and then I take out an old Elmar 90 or 135 and pop them on a film or digital M, and even a Barnack, and just enjoy their characteristics, this video has prompted to take one of those lenses out tomorrow. Best wishes from Dublin.

I will recommend to go for either the Leica Elmarit-R 135mm 2.8 (II) from the 1990´s or the Elmarit-M 135mm 2.8 (III) from the 1990´s. An "unknown" little gem is the Elmar-R 180mm 4.0, it is compact and light and you can find them cheap if your are quick.

I just bought an Elmarit-R for €100. Great lens, a bit heavy

Do you have any opinions or noticed any differences between the 3 CAM 135 Elmarit R lenses made in Germany and the one made in Canada?

I ran into this when I was shopping for LTM compatible Serenar lenses, learned that the wide angle lenses are much more expensive because Leica collectors want them. If you do portraits or telephoto, 100-135 lenses are like 30-50% the price. Parallax could be an issue, though, if you aren't used to it

Thanks Matt...

I just got a Summicron R 50mm f2 and the Elmarit R 135mm 2.8 both for around 400usd in great shape and the built and IQ wow! I am using them on a Fuji GFX and Fuji X-Pro 1.