Elmar 35mm f3.5 variants

[Perceval]

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Can someone clarify the variants of the Elmar 35mm f3.5? (Heavy Cam, etc)

[Guest Ron (Netherlands)]

There has been some discussion at the German part of this site concerning the difference between the regular and the red scale elmar. See here:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-sammler-historica/187101-unterschied-elmar-3-5-5cm-und.html

 

Some believe the red scale elmar has a somewhat improved optical formula that also was used with the later 2.8 50mm Elmar. Other differences between the 3.5 elmars are mostly concerning whether it is coated or not. Concerning the differences in the barrels: in the early years they were nickel coated, lateron chromium. I had two post-War chromium coated lenses whereas there was also a clear difference: one had shiny chromium, the other matt.

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[lars_bergquist]

I understand that Ron is wondering about the 35mm (3.5cm) Elmar, while Perceval is speaking of the 50mm lens. There was, a.f.a.i.k., no red scale 3.5cm Elmar. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

The old man fr om the Age of the 3.5cm Elmar

[UliWer]

Isn't the 50mm-Elmar's neglected little cousin with 3,5cm on question?

 

I don't know if there were any significant differences during this lenses time of production. Just the usual variants of non-standardized/standardized, nickel/chrome, uncoated/ coated.

 

P.S.: Lars was quicker (though perhaps mixing up Perceval's and Ron's posting).

Edited July 2, 2011 by UliWer

[Perceval]

Thank you. My query concerns the Leitz f3.5 lens with a focal length of 3.5cm.

[Guest Ron (Netherlands)]

Thank you. My query concerns the Leitz f3.5 lens with a focal length of 3.5cm.

 

Sorry, You are all right, and I had - may be - a long day, or to much wine..... Indeed I wrongly reffered to a discussion about the 50mm elmar.

 

About the 3,5cm elmar then of which I have a nickel and a chromium one. So only two different barrels, with only one optical formula. Some were coated.

 

See here for a picture which I made recently with my oldest nickel Leica 35mm lens - stems from 1933 (the nickel ones were only made from 1931 until 1933):

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/architecture/187470-old-church.html

Edited July 2, 2011 by Ron (Netherlands)

[luigi bertolotti]

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Thank you. My query concerns the Leitz f3.5 lens with a focal length of 3.5cm.

 

Your description applies also to the Summaron 35 f 3,5 , which indeed had many variants.

[jc_braconi]

I have one, 1935 made, is Elmar f = 35 mm 1:3.5 engraved another one, 1940 made, Elmar f = 3,5 cm 1:3.5 engraved.

[rickp13]

mine just arrived in the post - it's soooooo small. 35mm elmar 3.5, sn 541337, from 1940. even the caps might be original - rear cap is black painted brass (?), and front cap with "Leica" in script.

 

according to the Leica Pocket Book, 2nd edition, this lens was manufactured between 1932 and 1950. early examples in nickel, after 1933 in chrome. 4 ounces weight. filter size A36. 42503 were built.

 

the lens shade (one of many?) should be the FIKUS, which fits lenses up to 135mm.

 

 

 

greetings from hamburg

 

rick

Edited July 13, 2011 by rickp13
addit. detail

[jc_braconi]

the lens shade (one of many?) should be the FIKUS, which fits lenses up to 135mm.

rick

 

The right one is the FOOKH

[UliWer]

...

 

the lens shade (one of many?) should be the FIKUS, which fits lenses up to 135mm.

 

 

 

greetings from hamburg

 

rick

 

There is a FIKUS version which shows marks for the 3.5cm-Elmar, though I think it's very rare and therefore unreasonable expensive. It seems as if the marks for the 35mm-lens have the same position as those for the 50mm Hektor (there is a photo in Laney's Collector's Guide on page 402, which gives this impression). Though when I try my FIKUS with Hektor marks, I see vignetting when I use it with the 35mm Elmar.

 

The FOOKH is probably the safer - and more original - solution.

 

Greetings from Hamburg to Hamburg!

[rickp13]

thanks, greetings and gruesse to JC and Uli for the correction. the meisters at meister thought that my new/old FIKUS should work with a 35mm lens at its fully collapsed position (below the 5cm mark), but i'll have to try it tomorrow to see if it vignettes.

 

at least it's somehow unique to have to choose between FIKUS and FOOKH lens shades. far more interesting than choosing between boring old HB-32 and HB-34.

 

ttyl

 

rick

[George Furst]

Talking about variations of this lens, I have read that there are at least six. I had an interesting experience recently related to this lens. I was in Seoul visiting OhRiSa camera store in the camera district and Mr. Im said that he had an Elmar 3.5 35mm lens that did not couple and no one was interested in it as they thought it was defective. Well I took a look at it and realized that this was a very early 35mm Elmar as there was no serial number and it had the short focus mount that focused down to .5 meters and nickel too. Then I knew that it was a rare early lens from the first year of production. No locking tab and a notch in the focus knob so it moved down to the .5 m range. I also noticed a little "O" inside. Maybe this was one of the first 28.8 thirty fives. I did purchase it even though Mr Im said I would regret the purchase and sold it far about $240. I took a ruler and it does seem to be the standardized focus. I really like the effect of the lens. Very small and it matches my early standard black body 606XX body.

[jerzy]

The very first 3,5cm Elmars were nickel, non-standard. Here there are 2 variants: with 5 digit serial number of camera body, later with the last 3 digit only. They were matched with specific camera. Infinity (no lock yet) at 11 o'clock.

With introduction of Leica III infinity (with lock) was moved to 7 o'clock not to touch the long speed dial.

I never saw 7 o,clock chrom, 11 o'clock are both chrom and nickel.

I've heard about "heavy cam" but I do not know what is it.

Jerzy

[luigi bertolotti]

Wow... I think that the version with 0,5 m focusing is REALLY a rare item... you have found a very tasty lens for a collector... (I think it's even more difficult to find the external rangefinder with the "double" scale to 0,5 m, which probably was made just for this Elmar 35.... )

If it is unnumbered and has the "O" that you quote, it's a standard one... so maybe not from the first year of production but surely, as you say, one of the first with the std. flange distance of 28,8 mm

Edited December 2, 2014 by luigi bertolotti

[George Furst]

I did write James lager and he said that it is an early one. The "O" is not in the usual location near the eleven o'clock focus knob but on the back of the lens on the black lens surround and it is very little, hard to see. There was an earlier variation with no depth of field surround too. What was most interesting on this lens was the notch in the focus knob so it will turn enough to meet the .5 Meter mark on the surround.

 

When I purchased the lens I thought there was something missing as the back of the lens was so empty relative to the later 1946 model that I have. Now I realize that this is a rare lens. It is interesting that all the early 35 Elmars were short focus models as I understand it. It also has a little spring in the depression in the helicoil like the early Elmars on the first Leicas with the hockey stick. This disappeared sometime later but seems to be characteristic for the early ones.

[George Furst]

The very first 3,5cm Elmars were nickel, non-standard. Here there are 2 variants: with 5 digit serial number of camera body, later with the last 3 digit only. They were matched with specific camera. Infinity (no lock yet) at 11 o'clock.

With introduction of Leica III infinity (with lock) was moved to 7 o'clock not to touch the long speed dial.

I never saw 7 o,clock chrom, 11 o'clock are both chrom and nickel.

I've heard about "heavy cam" but I do not know what is it.

Jerzy

 

The heavy cam is a cam that is very wide. It is sometimes called the snail cam. It was common in lens made in the 30s and is very distinctive. Luigi I am sure can provide more information about the duration of this cam on the lens. It was finally dropped as it was difficult to manufacture.