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Leica APO-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4 Lens

BH #LE13534MB • MFR #11889
 17 reviews
Leica APO-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4 Lens
Key Features
  • Leica M-Mount Lens
  • Aperture Range: f/3.4 to f/22
  • Apochromatic Design
  • Manual Focus Design
A unique lens within the Leica lens line-up, the APO-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4 is a telephoto prime characterized by both its long focal length and apochromatic design. The telephoto design delivers an attractive visual compression that pairs well with a sophisticated optical layout that minimizes distortion and light fall-off for clean and accurate reproductions. As an apochromat, virtually all color fringing and chromatic aberrations have also been eliminated for a high degree of clarity, contrast, and color fidelity.
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$4,595.00
$383/mo. suggested payments for 12 Mos.
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Leica APO-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4 Overview

A unique lens within the Leica lens line-up, the APO-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4 is a telephoto prime characterized by both its long focal length and apochromatic design. The telephoto design delivers an attractive visual compression that pairs well with a sophisticated optical layout that minimizes distortion and light fall-off for clean and accurate reproductions. As an apochromat, virtually all color fringing and chromatic aberrations have also been eliminated for a high degree of clarity, contrast, and color fidelity.

Apochromatic design delivers high resolution and sharpness while also suppressing chromatic aberrations and color fringing for notable clarity and color accuracy. Distortion and light fall-off have also been reduced for clean and accurate image quality.
Manual focus design provides a minimum focusing distance of 4.9' with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:9.
Built-in telescoping lens hood can be used to reduce lens flare and ghosting when working in strong lighting conditions.
UPC: 022243118892

Leica APO-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4 Specs

Focal Length135mm
Maximum Aperturef/3.4
Minimum Aperturef/22
Lens MountLeica M
Angle of View18°
Minimum Focus Distance4.9' / 1.5 m
Macro Reproduction Ratio1:9
Optical Design5 Elements in 4 Groups
Focus TypeManual Focus
Filter Size49 mm (Front)
Dimensions (ø x L)2.3 x 4.1" / 58.5 x 104.7 mm
Weight15.9 oz / 450 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight1.575 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)7.3 x 4.7 x 4.6"

Leica APO-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4 Reviews

Good lens for various scenarios

By Alexsei
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-12-30

I've been using the lens for the last 5 years with M-246, M10, M10M, M11 mostly for good scenery photos. On the top of fire towers through the Appalachian trail, Adirondacks. In urban settings. Using EVF though is advised for better focusing.

I love this lens

By Marcelo
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2020-12-09

I have this lens since the film days. Today I use it on an Olympus Pen F with great results. On the M43 is a wonderful, tiny, almost 300mm equivalent. Very, very sharp with beautiful color rendition.

1 year update

By tim
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2020-01-15

I continue to love the way this lens produces images on my M10. I use a Visoflex with focus magnification and peaking turned on and with a steady hand rarely miss a shot. The compression of foreground and background that this long lens affords gives me a quality I can't get with my 50mm or 35mm.

Super Sharp

By Greg
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2019-05-14

I use this lens with an M, Type 262, meaning no Live View/EVF option. Purchased the lens used from B&H, but in Like New condition. Had just been purchased new by someone else and shortly thereafter returned. The lens was not quite “right” with the rangefinder of my camera, and 135mm is stretching the limits of the .68 rangefinder, so I sent the lens and camera both to Don Goldberg (DAG). He calibrated the lens to the camera. I did not want him messing with the rangefinder in the camera as it already works well with the rest of my lenses so he adjusted the 135mm Telyt to work accurately with the camera. Since receiving the setup back I have thoroughly tested it and the lens is tack sharp at any aperture and/or distance at which I want to shoot anything. Moral of this review is, if you want to buy this lens, by all means do so, but to really get the best out of it, make sure it is set up for your specific camera, which may mean having to do what I did.

Leica quality!

By tim
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2018-07-14

Such a solid little lens. So far so good with image capture. Yes I wish it were a 1.4 like my 50mm Summilux but you can't have it all. I use this on my M10 with a Visoflex so focus is easy. Unfortunately adding a circular polarizer will render the built in lens shade unusable but I will add one by Thorsten Von Overgard as I have with my 50mm and my 28mm on my Q.

Super telephoto lens

By Anonymous
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2017-03-03

This is a wonderfully sharp and clear lens. It is relatively small compared to most lenses of this focal length. Focusing with the rangefinder alone will yield consistently disappointing results. Use of an EVF with this lens is highly recommended. In addition, when shooting hand-held, higher shutter speeds are suggested (at least 1/500, if the light permits). I compared this lens head-to-head (same f-stops, etc.) with the well-reviewed Zeiss 135mm f/2.0 APO Sonnar using the same camera body (Leica M240). I was surprised that the Leica APO Telyt was consistently and noticeably sharper, and also had better contrast/acuity and color. I sent the huge Zeiss lens back and kept the much smaller Leica lens. The 135mm APO Telyt lens is a sleeper and a gem. It's one lens of the few lenses I would not part with for my M, and is in the same company as a 50mm asph Summilux, a 75mm Summarit, a 28mm asph Elmarit, and a late version of the 180mm APO Telyt 3.4.

Perfect Addition

By John
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-11-05

This 135 mm was purchased a few days ago and I have been shooting it on a Leica M11 for a few days and absolutely enjoyed the experience. Some reviews say it is hard to focus, I disagree. The M cameras require a specific skill level and once you practice the range finder focusing system, the 135 mm F/3.4 is a pleasure to work with. The image needs little post processing if the image is captured correctly. The focus is fast. The lens exceedingly sharp. I had a hard time with the price until I used the lens.....it is expensive, but worth the money if you want to use the M camera to its true potential. The boat image is 100% cropped from the 135mm at F/11 1/500th ISO 64.

Good Beginning

By Thomas
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2022-04-24

The rendering of strong colors sharply is satisfying

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Yes it is recommended to use the Leica Viewfinder Magnifier along with this lens.
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Asked by: Greg
Yes, this lens would obstruct the viewfinder a bit. Does it obstruct the frame lines? Less so. This can be a difficult question to answer because different people will have a different definition of how much viewfinder blockage is acceptable. The Leica Visoflex is always a good consideration when using lenses like these. B&H # LEVSB, Leica cat # 18767.
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Is it worth getting this lens if you have the APO ...

Is it worth getting this lens if you have the APO Summicron M 90 ASPH? I would like more length is it worth it?
Asked by: Liz
I own this lens. With the Leica M, it is a very difficult lens to nail the focus on due to the inherent nature of rangefinder cameras and longer focal length lenses. I would not recommend this lens unless you have the Visoflex to aid you in focusing or use it on the SL series.
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Date published: 2020-12-27
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