Leica Van Diemen

[Ron Elliot]

Has anyone filmed with this Lens set on an Epic MX. I am Prepping to shoot a short and would love to use this Lens. However I am also a big fan of Cookes which is the Lens I use the most. I wonder is there any color matching issues.


Ron Elliot

Red MX
NYC

 

[Ryan De Franco]

Ask Timur, he had sound advice for me when I was considering these. Doesn't feel right to repeat someone else's words if I can't remember them exactly. The long and the short of it is they have a beautiful character but... as he put it... they are the Lamborghini lens set. Sexy, rare, incredible look, but issues with focus movement, aperture etc make you want to go back to the old Volvo after a while.

I think the biggest thing is... can you test the set ahead of time before committing to the rental... I imagine each set is as finicky and unique as other Century / Van Diemen etc. rehousing.

If you test, find issues and then find yourself on the fence, this might push you over. Awesome work on Leica Rs (and the Van Diemens have "hand picked glass").

Here's a wealth of info on the lenses, some of it from the guy who commissioned them, Tony Covell. If he's still poking around these parts maybe he'll chime in.

 

[Ron Elliot]

Thanks, great stuff
Thanks

 

[Pawel Achtel]

I have and use Leica Apo Telyt-R by Van Diemen. Probably the best lenses ever made (and I have a set of Master Primes). Need to use hood/Matte box and careful with lighting as they easily flare, but the contrast, bookeh and the Leica feel are what the dreams are made of.

No issues with focus movement. Really tight tollerances and high quality mechanics.

 

[Lee Saxon]

Just bought a late model 180 APO-Telyt-R (original, not rehoused). So excited to get it!

 

[Chad Lancaster]

Pawel,

Do you have both copies of the modular heads? Was hoping to get the 280 soon

Chad

I have and use Leica Apo Telyt-R by Van Diemen. Probably the best lenses ever made (and I have a set of Master Primes). Need to use hood/Matte box and careful with lighting as they easily flare, but the contrast, bookeh and the Leica feel are what the dreams are made of.

No issues with focus movement. Really tight tollerances and high quality mechanics.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

Pawel,

Do you have both copies of the modular heads? Was hoping to get the 280 soon

Chad

Yes, I have two head units and 1x and 1.4x focusing units giving 280mm, 400mm and 560mm combinations.
Both head units are superb with high micro-contrast and high MTF from corner to corner, yet two are somewhat different. For example, the large head can only be used with rear filtering, but the small head produces just as good results with front as rear filtering. The large head has some "magic" in it that I still can't scientifically pin down.

 

[Robert Horwell]

I have extensive experience with the Van Diemen Leica, feel free to PM me.