M mount → VISOFLEX LEITZ ELMAR 135mm F4

Last updated on 2025-11-23

A review and sample photos of the Elmar 135mm F4 used with the LEICA S typ007 digital SLR camera and the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C medium format digital mirrorless camera.

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Table of contents

Gallery

The following cameras were used to take the sample photos:

• LEICA S typ007
• HASSELBLAD X2D-100C
• Click on the photo to enlarge

Review

1．Overview

The ELMAR M 135mm f/4 is a telephoto lens for the Leica M mount, released in 1960.

The main specifications are as follows, with details listed in the table.

• Aperture: f/4
• Lens Construction: 4 elements in 4 groups
• Aperture Blades: 12
• Minimum Focus: 1.5m
• Leica M Rangefinder Camera Rangefinder Coupling: 1.5m
• Hood: IFUOO, 12575
• Filter Diameter: 55mm
• Lens Color: Black

The lens can be converted to a VISOFLEX-L39 mount using the dedicated helicoid 14071.

2．Usability

The ELMAR M 135mm F4 is an M-mount lens, but because it’s difficult to focus on the desired position using the Leica M rangefinder camera’s double-image overlap function, I converted the mount to the VISOFLEX-L39 and used it with an SLR camera. In the 2020s, mirrorless cameras equipped with high-performance electronic viewfinders made it possible to comfortably use the M-mount.

This short helicoid 14071 is an item that occasionally appears in second-hand stores, and can be purchased used for around 10,000 yen. However, because it is an old item, care must be taken to check the helicoid’s extension. I have seen some with the grease missing, so I recommend checking the actual item before purchasing. A helicoid with the correct grease allows for smooth extension.

Helicoids with the correct grease extend smoothly.

The following are the results of shooting with a digital SLR camera and a mirrorless camera.

LEICA S typ007

The sample photos taken with the ELMAR M 135mm F4 were taken with a Leica S-mount LEICA S Typ007 digital SLR camera. Because the VISO-L39 mount has a long flange focal distance of 91mm, it can be used with most SLR cameras with a mount adapter.

For the LEICA S Typ007, the lens body + dedicated short helicoid (14071) + VISOFLEX-L39 to MAMIYA645 + MAMIYA645 to LEICA S adapter were used.

When using the ELMAR M 135mm F4 with the LEICA S Typ007, the sensor size is larger than that of 35mm film, so the 35mm equivalent is 108mm, which is 0.8 times 135mm.

It also perfectly covers the 45 x 30mm image sensor size used in the LEICA S typ007, providing a truly expansive image circle that was said to cover 645 film format in the film era.

With an aperture setting of 4, darkness isn’t particularly noticeable when viewed through an SLR viewfinder, and it’s not as sensitive to focus as the faster Elmarit 135 f/2.8, so if you can tolerate f/4, you’ll enjoy sharp resolution that’s still relevant in the digital age.

The sample photos were taken at full aperture, and as described below, there are no issues with the image circle even when used with a medium-format digital sensor. The foreground and background bokeh is smooth and not noisy, and the transition from the sharp focus point is excellent. The bokeh shape is slightly out of circularity and has a rugby ball shape, but it’s not unsightly. While color reproduction can change dramatically with digital camera adjustments, you can achieve flawless images by developing directly with the correct exposure.

There is no quirk in either the front or back bokeh, and there is no strange, swirling bokeh. Even at F4, it is possible to shoot with a soft focus and emphasize the in-focus area.

HASSELBLAD X2D-100C

To capture the sample photos with the ELMAR M 135mm F4, I used a mirrorless camera, the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C, which is equipped with a medium-format digital sensor. Because mirrorless cameras have a short flange focal distance, this lens can also be used with the M mount.

In this case, to use it with a LEICA S typ007, I connected the lens to the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C using the VISOFLEX-L39 mount. The camera was connected via the lens body + dedicated short helicoid (14071) + VISOFLEX-L39 to VISOFLEX-M + VISOFLEX-M to LEICA R + LEICA R to HASSELBLAD X adapter.

When using the ELMAR M 135mm F4 with the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C, the sensor size is larger than 35mm film, so the 35mm equivalent is 108mm, which is 0.8 times 135mm.

It also completely covers the 44 x 33mm image sensor size of the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C, providing a real sense of the wide image circle that was said to cover 645 film format in the film era.

Since the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C does not have a shutter mechanism built into the body, an electronic shutter is required when using the ELMAR M 135mm F4. Electronic shutters are more likely to cause rolling distortion when photographing moving subjects. Fujifilm’s GFX series medium format digital mirrorless cameras have built-in shutters, so there’s no risk of rolling distortion, making the Fujifilm GFX more convenient for photographing moving subjects.

3．Summary

In conclusion, to summarize the ELMAR M 135mm F4 is the newest 135mm lens that can be converted to the VISOFLEX-L39 mount.

Compared to the HEKTOR 13.5cm F4.5, which is also compatible with the VISOFLEX-L39 mount, it has more lens elements and is expected to have improved aberration correction. However, it’s difficult to tell whether you’ll notice the difference in the field, so which one to use will come down to the photographer’s preference.

The short helicoid used to convert to the VISOFLEX-L39 is (14071). Please note that the (ZOOAN) for the HEKTOR 13.5cm F4.5 cannot be connected.

Specifications, considerations, etc.

Older Leica M-mount lenses with focal lengths of 90mm or longer, such as the Tele-Elmar 135mm, Elmar 13.5cm (F4.5), Hektor 13.5cm, Elmar 9cm and 90mm, Summicron 90mm, and Elmarit 135mm, can also be separated.

The VISOFLEX-L39 has a flange focal distance of 91.1mm, longer than that of medium-format cameras, so mount adapters are available for many cameras. It is a rare mount that offers a mount adapter for Leica S-series cameras. The VISOFLEX-L39 can also be converted to a VISOFLEX-M mount using OUBIO/16466.

The camera’s flange focal distance is important for using the lens at infinity, and the flange focal distances for Leica mounts are listed below.

Mount name	Frange back size	note
L mount	20mm	For digital mirror less camera
M mount	27.8mm
L39 mount	28.8mm	The L/M mount adapter is 1mm thick.
R mount	47.4mm	R-M mount adapters are provided by various companies.
S mount	53.3mm	Since I can’t find an official value for the flange back, I’ll write the value by subtracting the thickness of the S-C645 adapter, 10.7mm, from the CONTAX 645 mount’s 64mm.
VISO-M	68.8mm	If you use 14127, it becomes R mount.
VISO-L39	91.1mm	If you use OUBIO/16466, it will be a VISO-M mount.

There is no difference in performance between the focal lengths of 135mm and 13.5cm; it is simply a difference in design.

Item	Tele Elmar	Elmar	Hektor	Elmar
focal length(mm)	135	135	135	135
Maximum aperture	4	4	4.5	4.5
Minimum aperture	22	32	32	32
Lens configuration	5elements in 3groups	4elements in 4groups	4elements in 3groups	4elements in 3groups
Minimum distance(m)	1.5 (M-mount)	1.5 (M-mount)	1.5 (M-mount)	1.5 (L39-mount)
Lens length(mm)	63.6 (VISOFLEX-M)	62.5 (VISOFLEX-L39)	63.6 (VISOFLEX-L39)	124 (L39)
Lens max diameter(mm)	60	52	52	52
Filter diameter(mm)	39	39	39	A36
Lens Hood	IUFOO 12575	IUFOO 12575	IUFOO 12575	?
Weight(g)	342 (VISOFLEX-M)	165 (VISOFLEX-L39)	247 (VISOFLEX-L39)	517 (L39)
Production Numbers	28,300-	25,900-	108,088	5,500-
Release date	1964〜	1960-1963	1933-1960	1931-1937

Reference links

• LEICA Wiki TELE ELMAR 4/135
• LEICA Wiki ELMAR 13.5cm F4
• LEICA Wiki HEKTOR 13.5cm F4.5
• LEICA Wiki ELMAR 13.5cm F4.5
• ZOOAN・LEICA Wiki
• 14071・LEICA Wiki
• LEICA ELMARIT M 135mm F2.8・Shige’s hobby
• LEICA ELMAR M 135mm F4・Shige’s hobby
• LEICA TELE ELMAR 135mm F4・Shige’s hobby

Affiliate links

• LEICA lens・Ads by Amazon
• Leica books・Ads by Amazon

Update history

• 2025.11.22