Leica APO-Telyt-R Module ROM set Grade 9+

About the Leica APO-Telyt-R Module System

The APO-Telyt-R Module lenses are manual focus tele-photo lenses for Leica-R single lens reflex cameras that have been corrected for chromatic and spherical aberration using apochromatic lens elements. The lens system is modular, which makes it highly unusual. There are three focusing units and two heads available that can be combined to obtain six different lenses with four focal lengths of 280mm, 400mm, 560mm, and 800mm. The 400mm and 560mm focal lengths can be achieved in a faster (but heavier) and a slower (but lighter) configuration. The different heads and focusing units are attached to each other through a locking bayonet. All lenses have a slot for Series-6 filter holders, so that Neutral Density filters or Circular Polarizers can be used.

The modular system makes it possible to change focal length without carrying a large number of heavy tele-photo lenses and offers a larger maximum aperture than corresponding tele-zooms. Unlike tele-converters, modular lens systems do not enlarge the central image circle and, hence, do not degrade the image quality by magnifying lens flaws. Indeed, the Leica modular lenses are themselves designed to be used with the camera maker's 1.4x or 2x APO-tele-converters.

The APO-Telyt system had been aimed at sport, bird and wildlife photographers.