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Leica 125mm hektor


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..or find the original projector lens it derived from...

 

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(it appears for sale much less than the Viso/taking version ... :) )

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Any difference between the german and canadian version? Which version is more collectible?

 

The Hektor "portrait" has always been one of my favourite lenses. So, when I saw this thread, I rushed to the files of my former collection and selected the following pictures :

- the HIKOO lens with its HKMOO hood ORPNO and EGOOI front and rear caps, and its original box

- ...and, to complete the set, the EZDOO leather case appearing on the second image

- the two different front engravings : 12,5 cm on the "classic" nº 1051393, and the "modern" 125 on the 1760176

-   and different front caps

-...and also different engravings on HKMOO hoods

- I photographed my "Canadian" nº 1223546 with an adaptor ring that I cannot remember what it was intended for (help!).

It is interesting to note that among the twelve 12,5 cm that passed through my collection, nine were "Wetzlar" (serials 1051393-543-562-723-827, 1121128, 1224029, 1650641 and 1760176) and only three "Midland" (nº 1223546 and 1760609-610)

And to finish with, I had also selected a photo of the projection lens Hektor 12 cm that, following a recommendation by the famous expert Walther Benser, had served as an optical model for the 12,5 cm, and that was - of course - also included in my collection. Luigi Bertlotti beated me but, since MY image is colored, I decided to publish it (!!)

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I also have a Hektor lens from the second Canadian batch of 1223001-1223100. Mine is 1223092 and it is characterized by a red dot for the IR focus point and no f click stops. To me this is one of the most beautiful lens ever made. The case that holds the lens is a work of art in itself. The lens hood and cap completely enclose the lens and to top it off there is a screw on back that closes the whole thing into cocoon. This is a masterly design and unlike any I have ever seen. Also in the LHSA Viewfinder there are a number of articles showing that this is a wonderful soft focus lens if you shoot wide open and block the sharp central portion of the lens. It evidently was Benzer who suggested that Leitz offer this projection lens for use on the camera. A really capital idea!

 

Unfortunately I am not able to offer any help in regards to the adaptor. I would love to know what it is for and never knew there existed such. 

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- I photographed my "Canadian" nº 1223546 with an adaptor ring that I cannot remember what it was intended for (help!).

Pierre, your set of pictures are always the BEST... :)

 

The adaptor you quote... to me it smells "Bellows"... probably a UOOXI/16572

Edited by luigi bertolotti
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Pierre, your set of pictures are always the BEST... :)

 

The adaptor you quote... to me it smells "Bellows"... probably a UOOXI/16572

Yes it is...

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Pierre, your set of pictures are always the BEST... :)

 

The adaptor you quote... to me it smells "Bellows"... probably a UOOXI/16572

 

Of course, it is an UOOXI ! thanks to both Luigi and Jean-Claude. My excuse(s) : age makes me lazy, Leica files are too extensive and Fontenelle Collection becomes part of the past. Unfortunately.

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DOC (2).pdf

 

My database of 125 Hektor lenses has about 200 entries. The attachment tries to show the lots allocated by Leitz and whether the lot was made in Canada or Wetzlar, or in some cases a mixture.  It seems the lenses in the 753,xxx lot are quite uncommon with only 79 made, some of these are marked 12 cm instead of 12.5. The allocations 1051xxx and 1121xxx are likely made in Wetzlar, and the lots 1124xxx and 1214xxx made in Canada. The subsequent lots are a mixture of build location, with the 1224xxx and 1305xxx lots not having enough data to be conclusive.  How Canada and Germany could share a lot and keep the records straight is interesting.

This website below, has some interesting photos of the 125 Hektor.

 

The total combined lots for both plants is 6079, while the oft quoted production is 3308.  Maybe that number is just for the Wetzlar production alone. My database is 55%Wetzlar and 45% Canadian. If 3308 is the German production, then 3308/6079 is also 55% Wetzlar, could be a coincidence.

As always, Leitz serial numbers are unpredictable, perhaps someone has more specific information from factory records.

Regards,

 

 

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/RF-Nikkor/Leica_RF/LeicaLSM125-127mm.htm

 

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attachicon.gifDOC (2).pdf

 

My database of 125 Hektor lenses has about 200 entries. The attachment tries to show the lots allocated by Leitz and whether the lot was made in Canada or Wetzlar, or in some cases a mixture.  It seems the lenses in the 753,xxx lot are quite uncommon with only 79 made, some of these are marked 12 cm instead of 12.5. The allocations 1051xxx and 1121xxx are likely made in Wetzlar, and the lots 1124xxx and 1214xxx made in Canada. The subsequent lots are a mixture of build location, with the 1224xxx and 1305xxx lots not having enough data to be conclusive.  How Canada and Germany could share a lot and keep the records straight is interesting.

This website below, has some interesting photos of the 125 Hektor.

 

The total combined lots for both plants is 6079, while the oft quoted production is 3308.  Maybe that number is just for the Wetzlar production alone. My database is 55%Wetzlar and 45% Canadian. If 3308 is the German production, then 3308/6079 is also 55% Wetzlar, could be a coincidence.

As always, Leitz serial numbers are unpredictable, perhaps someone has more specific information from factory records.

Regards,

 

 

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/RF-Nikkor/Leica_RF/LeicaLSM125-127mm.htm

Thanks for the database. I notice in the last batch 1760XXX, the earlier no. in that batch are German whereas the later no. are Canadian, wonder what is the no. that separates German and Canadian lenses!?  :p

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This was my very first Leica lens and I did not have a camera yet.   My neighbor always bragged over the rendition the lens made, so when I found one at Helix in Chicago, I called him and asked if I should buy it.

 

The answer was yes and I did.   Brought it home and cobbled an adapter to make it fit my Pentax.   At a family party, I took some Pentax slides, then some with the Hextor,  then more with P glass.

 

Went home and processed the slides and the difference between my new Pentax Takumars and this old German in the middle of a roll of slides was totally remarkable.

 

I was then loaned a M3 and 50 from the same man.  I finally could duplicate the tones in the paper sample books at the camera store after trying for years with Japanese lenses.

 

I sold off 4 bodies and a dozen lenses and changed systems.   

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