Leitz Elmar - any information ?

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Hello all,

I came across a Leitz Elmar 3,5 cm 1:3.5, serial # 270658 in LTM being in really good cndition but having cleaning marks on the rear element for us$ 50 just yesterday. Needless to say I couldn't help but take it with me, regardless of these marks (they're circular, quite small and since there is almost no dust inside the lens may work quite ok). Can anyone tell me more about this lens (performance, history etc.) ? I've researched the web but didn't find any interesting information.

Thanks - Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), October 12, 2001

Answers

How does it perform? My offer is DM 150...

-- Oliver Schrinner (piraya@hispavista.com), October 12, 2001.

Sorry Oliver,

I'd like to keep it - and still have the test film in my M2 and can say nothing yet ... I'll try and have it developed until end of next week. Nice solid feeling though. They (Foto Sautter / München) also had a Summaron - M 35 / 3,5 for 298,- DM the day before but sold it the day they offered it. Right now it seems there are some bargains out here ... so if you're interested I'll keep you informed.

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), October 12, 2001.


http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/lensreports/lensreport.html I'm not sure if this takes you to the right frame, but Erwin does have a brief comment on the lens. Use it, and tell us what you think!

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@metrocast.net), October 12, 2001.

Sorry Phil,

but I cannot find a 3.5/35 Elmar there. The lens I bought is not the 'regular' collapsible 50/3.5, but a very compact (cannot measure, but mounted about 1-1.5 cm) rigid 35/3.5 lens. It also has meter markings and the old german aperture scale, but is coated.

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), October 12, 2001.


Whether it is a good lens or not you will have to use it and see for yourself. My opinion is there is no such thing as a bad Leica lens, only differences in personalities. Among my favorite lenses is the lowly Summar which at f/2.8 yields that mythical Leica "glow". For $50 you practically stole that lens. Since you got such a great deal I suggest investing $60 on the proper lens hood. It will make a great deal of difference especially the lens is uncoated.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), October 12, 2001.


Speaking of the lens hood: Which one will fit the lens and what filter size does it take ? The filter ring diameter is rather small, not even an inch wide. And how do I fit the hood, since I have to adjust the aperture on the front of the lens ?

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), October 12, 2001.


This lens was produced from 1930-1950, and your specific serial number is from 1935. From Erwin Puts' "Leica Lens Compendium", he says the lens has vignetting of two stops of light, and visible light fall off even at f/8.0. At full aperture, the contrast is low, and details are soft. Things improve steadily through f/8.0, but there is still low contrast in the outer zones.

I would think that any Leica lens for 50 Dollars would be worth the price, even if for just the lesson on how good things have gotten over the years. Who knows... it may give you a look that works well for some situations, a look that can't be replicated by newer glass.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), October 12, 2001.


The Elmar takes a A36 clamp-on hood. They pop up regularly on that auction site and any hood of that size for either the Elmar or Summaron will work. Unfortunately Leica accessories can be expensive.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), October 12, 2001.

for serial number it was made in 1935, and I think it is uncoated yet, share images when you have them, I would love to see, I´m a 35mm adict.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), October 12, 2001.

Thanks for the info. Some more questions arise, though:

Al, you say that the lens is from '35, which might be true as it also shows the old german aperture scale (3.5, 4.5, 6.3, ... 18), nontheless the lens is coated. As far as I remember right coating on leica lenses appeared first in the 40s, or am I wrong here ? If not, what has happened with my lens ?

If it takes a clamp-on A36 hood (& filters ?), how can I turn the aperture scale which would be inside the filter / hood ? And why does it have a small screw-in possibility which is a little bigger than the lens diameter ?

Anyway, as soon as I have some pictures I'll publish them (if they're not too bad) -

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), October 12, 2001.



Kai,

I am not sure about coatings, but I dated your lens from the serial number. It could have been coated after the fact sometime in the last 60 years. It could also be a conglomerate... one lens made up of several lenses with the older serial number being used. I did this when I had two 50mm collapsible Summicrons with various defects. I took the optical cell from one lens and put it into the tube of the other... making one good lens with the wrong serial number.

In the Leica world of costs... I don't think that 50 Dollars for any variant is a big deal. I hope you enjoy this new toy.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), October 12, 2001.


Leitz made clamp-on A36 size filters. The hood then just clamps on to the filter rim. To adjust the aperture you unclamp the filter. I have a yellow A36 with perfect glass and I am looking for orange and red if they were ever made. I have never seen a screw in filter for these old LTM's and it would prove to be a major hassle as you wisely pointed out the problem of changing aperture settings.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), October 12, 2001.

Ray,

my lens has a possibility to user screw-in filters of about a 2 cm diameter. These would sit inside the 'aperture circle', so that you still cann change aperture w/o taking the filter off. I am going to find a matiching filter tomorrow, Munich has quite an amout of shops, and will take my 2.8 summaron as well for a comparison. If I don't find any, I have to take those A36-filters. Ray, shall I look for those for you as well ?

Kai Maybe there is even a 2cm screw-in-shade ? Who knows, shops here have the strangest photographica stuff I've ever seen ...

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), October 12, 2001.


Hello

To be historically correct you need a FLQOO shade which was introduced 1936. For the 50mm Elmar there was a ring called VOOLA (I think) which let you adjust the aperture without removing the hood. Such ring does not exist for the 35mm Elmar. To be perfect you should also get a Leica prewar Screwie, say the Standard ;)

Thomas

-- Thomas Krantz (tkrantz@kpmg.com), December 19, 2001.


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