Leica 350 mm f 4.8 lens Telyt-R

Back to home page	Sample photos with 350mm lens

Fig 1 : 11915 lens showing rubber covered manual focus control Lens , weighs four pounds.

The four pound, seven element 11915 350mm f 4.8 Telyt-R lens was officially introduced at Photokina 1980 after being successfully field tested at the Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York.
The 11915 lens is 11.5 inches long, features an easily gripped rubber covered focusing ring, accepts 77mm screw-in filters, incorporates a built-in lens hood and focuses as close as 9.8 feet (ratio 1:7). Rapid focusing is facilitated due to movement of groups of elements - the four element front group is moved relative to the three element rear group.
Controls for rotation of the camera body from horizontal to vertical are built into the massive tripod mount. As with most Leica-R lenses, the 350mm f:4.8 Telyt-R s equipped with an automatic diaphragm.

Stopping down to f 5.6 improves the performance on axis, but the residual chromatic errors start to blur the definition of tiny details in the field. With this type of lens we are in the stratosphere of optical performance and the cutting edge is redefined regularly: the Canon lens referred to in the 4/280 report will have the edge, in the outer zones, but it is a photo finish. An added advantage for the Leica lens is the mechanical stability and the precision of the mount, as we will see in the Module report.

Fig 3 : Rear of 11915 lens fitted with massive tripod mount. Pressure on button permits rotation from horizontal to vertical format. Lens accepts 77mm filters.

Special properties of the lens

An especially good lens for this focal length group has been developed in the form of the TELYT-R 350mm f 4.8. Even the residual chromatic aberrations which are characteristic of long focal length lenses have been kept to such low levels that they are hardly noticeable in practice. In order to be able to keep the size and weight down for optimal handling, a slight vignetting has had to be accepted ; this is, however ,not normally visible. A reduction in light can be seen for evenly pale subjects, such as a house wall or blue sky, when somewhat underexposed; this is only the case in the corners.
Good detail reproduction and high contras help focusing in poor light and for fast action, such as sports. The four element front group moves during focusing in relation to the three element rear group, thus reducing the travel on focusing and increasing the speed of use .The automatic diaphragm also retains its full function, even for this long focal length.
The closest focus distance of 3.0 meters is completely adequate to fill the frame with a human face. Stopping down to f8 produces a performance which fulfills the highest demands on picture quality.

All LEICA R lenses are basically of the same external design. The lenses with fully automatic diaphragm have the same arrangement of the focusing ring , the depth-of-field scale , and the aperture ring . This ensures that, when changing from one optic to another, one can immediately work with speed and confidence.

Carrier with tripod bush

The 350 mm TELYT-R f4.8 lens has a carrier for the tripod bush which allows convenient swirling of the LEICA R at horizontal or vertical position. For this purpose the locking button for the tripod attachment on the left of the carrier is pressed and the entire camera assembly turned to the left or right until the locking button clicks into position.
When the Universal Handgrip with shoulder support, available as an accessory, is used, the photographer will have a very practical combination with which he can make handheld exposures without camera shake even at slower shutter speeds.

Focusing
The lens is focused using the ring .
For focusing with this telephoto lens we recommend the use of the uniform ground glass screen in the LEICA R4-models.
If one of the LEICA R3 or LEICAFLEX cameras with universal focusing screen is used, it Is advisable to focus on the fine matt surrounding field. The350 mm TELYT-R f4.8 can be focused beyond infinity .This facilitates focusing in the region of the infinity setting.

Depth of field scale
This scale (2) shows the depth of field range for the set aperture and focus distance. More detailed information on depth of field for all lenses of the LEICA R-system can be obtained from depth of field table, Leica Order No. 110—057.

Lens hood
The 350mm TELYT-R f4.8 has a built-in, telescopic lens hood.
The lens hood should always be used. It offers effective protection against stray light, mechanical damage, and dirt on the front lens (raindrops, fingers marks etc.).

Filters
Both screw-in E77 and Series 8.5 filters can be used on the 35OmmTELYT- R f 4.8. Screw-in filters are preferable.
To attach the Series filters a filter adapter, Code No.14201, available as an accessory, must be used. Series 6.5 circular polarizing filters are non-rotatable. The Series filter is placed on the front of the lens and the filter adapter screwed over it to secure it, The adapter ring can easily be released if it is gripped only on one side to avoid strain.
Does not apply to Series 8.5 filters of the Leitz range.

Closed-up photography
With the aid of the MACRO-ADAPTER-R introduced between the lens and
the LEICA R you will obtain a reproduction scale of about 1:4 (about
97x146mm). It is advisable to stop down to at least f 8.

Use of the EXTENDER-R 2x
In conjunction with the 350mm TELYT-R f4.8 the EXTENDER-R 2x produces a focal length of 700mm and a maximum aperture of f 9.6. At the shortest focusing distance of 3m a reproduction scale of about 1:3, 5 will be achieved.
The instructions for the EXTENDER-R 2x contains further information.

Spare parts
front cover 14294
rear cover 14162
leather container 14579
carrying strap with non-slip pad 14327
Accessories
filters E77UVa
E77 circularly polarizing
E77 yellow green
E77orange
filter adapter for series 8.5 filters
Universal Handgrip with shoulder support
Electric release switch R4 0.3mm
EXTENDER-R 2x for LEICA R
EXTENDER-A 2x for LEICAFLEX and LEICA R models with working aperture measurement
MACRO-ADAPTER-R

LAICA LENS REPORTS
350 & 400 mm
With these focal lengths, we enter the domain of the specialist. The lenses
in this range are often quite exotic and have a narrow field of application.

4.8/350 Telyt-R, 1980

Closely related to the 4/250 (2), this lens exhibits essentially the same
character, but with a generally lower contrast.
At full aperture contrast is
low to medium, with a vignetting of one stop.
Outlines of the larger object structures can be detected clearly, but with softer edges. performance
gradually decreases in the field. Finer detail is defined with
fuzzy edges and really fine detail is blurred when bigger enlargements are
made. The residual chromatic errors do soften the edges of fine detail as
there is a fair amount of color fringing at small spots. Distortion is just
visible in the field.

Fig. 4 : Teiyt-R 1:4.8/350mm.

5.0/400 Telyt, 1937

The narrow angle of field and moderate aperture allow for a distortion less
image with no vignetting at all. At full aperture overall contrast is low and
only coarse detail is defined with clarity and clean edges over most of the
picture area, with a slight drop in the corners. Fine detail is defined with
very low contrast, adding a kind of image noise over the picture. The lens
marginally improves in contrast with the finer details and interestingly has
slightly better image quality in the outer zones than on axis.

Fig. 5: Telyt 7:5.0/400mm.

Remove dust from the outer surfaces of the lens with a soft brush or gently use a clean, dry, soft cloth, such as a cotton handkerchief. You can remove stains with a solution which you can make up yourself of 2 parts methylated spirit (pure or denaturated) and I part distilled water. Moisten a soft cotton cloth with this liquid and wipe the lens with it using a circular movement starting from the centre to the edge. Immediately dry the lens thoroughly with a cotton cloth.

Ensure that the part of the cloth to be used for drying the lens is no touched. This is the only way of preventing perspiration from the hand reaching the lens.

The special cleaning cloths for spectacles are not recommended. They are impregnated with chemicals which may attack the glasses of the lens (the glass used for spectacles has a composition different from that of the optical glass for high-quality lenses).
In unfavorable conditions, for instance during a stay at the seaside, in tropical areas etc. a colorless Uva filter protects the front element of the lens against external influences such as splashes of seawater and sand. An additional colorless and optically flat glass, i.e. a filter, may however cause undesirable reflections at certain angles of incidence of the light especially in counter jour light and high contrast. The lens hood also protects the lens against finger marks and raindrops.
For an easy, smooth lens change, the bayonet is coated with a thin film of grease in the factory. Under normal use, this is retained for years, even if the bayonet is wiped from time with a clean cloth. If a grease-removing substance is used for the cleaning, the film must be replaced .This is achieved by applying a very small amount of acid-free Vaseline to the bayonet with the finger and rubbing off with a clean cloth.
NOTE: Do not use too much Vaseline.
In addition to Its type designation every lens has its “personal serial number. Make a note of this, for instance in the International LEICA Passport.