TELYT R 350mm F4.8
Telephoto lens the moon with the Teleconverter
A review and Photo example of the TELYT-R 350mm F4.8.
Table of contents
Gallery
- Sample photo taken with the X1DII.
Review
1．Overview
The Terito R 350mm is a relatively new telephoto lens released in 1979.
Its main specifications are a lens configuration of 7 elements in 5 groups, a minimum shooting distance of 3m, and 8 aperture blades.
According to information on the Wiki page of the overseas Leica-Forum, 2,650 units had been produced by 1993.
2．Usability
The lens barrel has a neat shape seen in later Leica R lenses.
The minimum shooting distance is 3m, which is not very close, but it is a telephoto lens, so it is probably a standard specification.
The focus ring is wide and easy to turn, and the aperture is attached to the lens and is solidly built to not rotate unintentionally.
It weighs just under 2kg, but it doesn’t feel that heavy because it is long and slender. The lens is just under 30cm long, so it does not fit in a camera bag when attached to a camera.
It has a built-in retractable hood, and the hood is long enough that it is reassuring even in the outdoors.
It is a lens that you can occasionally see on the market, but the price varies greatly. The one I own was slightly cloudy and I bought it for a few tens of thousands of yen. It is probably in good condition, but I have seen expensive ones priced at around 150,000 yen.
It seems to be made in Germany (ELW) and Canada (ELC), but I have only seen the German one (ELW).
By using the x2 APO-EXTENDER and x2-EXTENDER, it can be used as a 700mm F11 lens.
Due to the position of the rear lens, it seems that the x1.4 APO-EXTENDER can also be used, but this is unknown as it has not been tested in real life.
3．Add Info.
All Leica telephoto lenses have a wide image circle, and this lens covers the 44 x 33 mm sensor of the X1DII, so there is no vignetting in the corners. When using the X1DII’s electronic shutter, care must be taken to avoid image distortion caused by subject movement, but it is more resistant to camera shake than a mechanical shutter.
Of course, it can be used without any problems with the EOS-1DsMKIII, but since it has a long focal length of 350mm, there is a high risk of camera shake due to the shutter mechanism of a single-lens reflex camera. I envy recent cameras that have built-in image stabilization mechanisms.
There is the Terito R 250mm F4, which has the same shape as this lens but a slightly shorter focal length.
Specification
| Item | Value | note |
| focal length(mm) | 350 | |
| Maximum aperture | 4.8 | |
| Minimum aperture | 22 | |
| Lens configuration | 5groups 7elements | |
| Leaf blade | – | |
| Minimum distance(m) | 3.0 | |
| Lens length(mm) | 286 | Distance from mount flange |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 83.5 | |
| Filter diameter(mm) | 77 | |
| Weight(g) | 1820 | |
| Release Year | 1980 | Product end 1993 |
Reference links
- Japanese books：All about the R-type Leica/Author: Shinichi Nakamura/Edited by Asahi Sonorama Ads by Amazon japan
- TELYT-R 4.8/350 Leica wiki
- LELYT-R 4.8/350 Detailed Report
Update history
- 2024.03.03:Update article
- 2022.02.27:First draft
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