Elmarit 28 Wetzlar

[luigi bertolotti]

Between my 28s, I have one Elmarit 2,8 of the first type, the "deeply protruding version" (8 or even 9 lenses, I seem to remember) : it is marked Leitz Wetzlar, but many authors say that 28 2,8 has been built in Canada only; is there someone that has a 28 so marked? With which s/n ? my one is 2.063.241

[Philippe D.]

Ciao Luigi,

... I have one Elmarit 2,8 of the first type, the "deeply protruding version" (8 or even 9 lenses, I seem to remember) : it is marked Leitz Wetzlar, but many authors say that 28 2,8 has been built in Canada only ...

AFAIK, the 1st version (9 lens 6 groups) has been made in Wetzlar. The 2nd version (8 lens 6 groups) was produced in Canada.

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

Ciao Luigi,
AFAIK, the 1st version (9 lens 6 groups) has been made in Wetzlar. The 2nd version (8 lens 6 groups) was produced in Canada.

Philippe,
I also have read something like You say, but by sure Lager has published pictures of it with "Canada" well visible. Is one of that problems that intrigue collectors..how many from...?

[TimF]

My copy of Lager II says "Most first computation lenses are engraved Leitz Canada, although a few were prepared by Leitz Wetzlar" (pp152). The photo of the first type Elmarit is of a Wetzlar type though.

Laney (mine is the 1st edition) says the first type was built in Germany, as does Sartorius.

Finally, Hasbroeck (Leica: A History...) says on pp206, "The initial Wetzlar model was superseded in 1966 by a Leitz Canada version constructed of eight elements."

Laney say the second type appeared in 1972, but the serial number from which the lens is said to be OK for use on the CL and M5 (2314921) is a 1969 batch, and Lager does say an eight element version was introduced in that year.

The plot thickens!