Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit 28mm 2,8 Version 1 (9/6) "yellow scale"

[nomisinad]

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Hey everyone,

this is my first thread and I just wanted to show you something interesting and hope for some further information from you advanced collectors.

 

I came along this Leitz Elmarit 28mm 1st version made in Wetzlar with a yellow scale, S/N 2197XXX from 1966.

What I could find out so far by some literature and mainly forums like this: 

 

The first batch of version 1 was made in Wetzlar with a red scale (2000 pieces) in 1964. No serials were applied for 1965, though the 2000 pieces were probably still made during 1965. 

 

The second batch was made from 1966 (1500 pieces), with a yellow scale and a chrome infinity lock. In 1966 Leitz moved to Canada, so most lenses say Leitz Canada?

 

Later on (Lager states 1969) they started producing this lens with a similar barrel but with eight elements only. In 1972 they introduced the second type.

 

So what I am still not aware of, how many lenses were actually made in Germany in 1966. Were there any made, or did they just used up some engraved parts from Germany? I saw one saying "Made in Germany" on the barrel and "Leitz Canada" on the front.

Everything about this lens is the Leitz Canada version but it says Wetzlar. Did anyone saw that before? 

 

Since it is so hard to find informations, this topic really caught my interest. 

 

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[nomisinad]

Two more.... 

 

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[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Nomisinad,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

The "Leitz Wetzlar" on the front of the lens was the Logo that the Company used at that time on their lenses.

 

The "Lens Made In Germany" further down on the lens means that, that INDIVIDUAL lens was made in Germany. Altho others from that same general group might have been made in Canada. Because: Sometimes a group of lenses that were mostly made in 1 place: Might have some members from that group that are made in a different location. This is not unusual with Leitz/Leica lenses.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[luigi bertolotti]

The Elmarit 28 "9 elements" has Always intrigued me, as a collector, so I try to keep record of any item I see . My findings are :

- Not all the 2000 items of the first batch (2.06x.xxx) are from Wetzlar : several Canada items do exist

- I have no evidence, though, of any Canada in the 2.061.xxx range... they start to appear regularly in the 2.062.xxx, intermixed with Wetzlar items.

- The Canadian items of the above first batch have both Red and Yellow feet scale ... most of them anyway have the red one.. but I have recorded some in Yellow.. ; Wetzlar items on the contrary SEEM to be all with red scale (including my 2.063.241): I have no record at all of Wetzlar items with Yellow feet scale.

- On the contrary, the second batch (1966 - 2.19x.xxx) seems to be almost exclusively made of Canadian items

- And the feet scale, again, is red or Yellow, apparently in random mixing within the progression of s/n

- So... I'd appreciate if you could send me a PM with your complete s/n... just to add an item to my list : at the moment the only Wetzlar item that I have recorded in the 2.19x.xxx batch is the 2.198.003, also it with Yellow feet scale and "Lens Made in Germany" in White paint on the base as yours.

- I have never seen an item with Canada on front and "made in Germany" at base : have you some other detail on the item like this that you quote ? My explanation is that as a "multifactory" item, in certain cases mixing of manufacturing parts could happen... there are other examples in the complex Leica history...

- Just as a curios : I record also the item 2.314.860... number belonging to the first batch of the 2nd version - 8 elements -, which on the contrary is clearly a version 1 (Canada - was sold by a Hong Kong dealer years ago)

 

btw... happy to share with you my list, if you like... is not so long compared to the production numbers (there are two other intriguing items for which I have a list : Elmarit 180 2,8 for Visoflex and Telyt 800 6,3...but they were made in really few items...)

[luigi bertolotti]

....- I have never seen an item with Canada on front and "made in Germany" at base ....

Sorry... looking more in detail in my lists, I spotted one with CANADA in front and LENS MADE IN GERMANY at the base... 2.062.157 ... Yellow feet scale.. sold from a well known German dealer time ago (not long, I think, but haven't the date of record...)

[nomisinad]

Hey, 

thank you for your replies and especially luigi for the very detailed information! What an amazing lens history ! Would be nice to know if Leica knows the truth about all their produced lenses. But anyway, this way it is more fun  

[Pecole]

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The Elmarit 28 "9 elements" has Always intrigued me, as a collector, so I try to keep record of any item I see . My findings are :

- Not all the 2000 items of the first batch (2.06x.xxx) are from Wetzlar : several Canada items do exist

- I have no evidence, though, of any Canada in the 2.061.xxx range... they start to appear regularly in the 2.062.xxx, intermixed with Wetzlar items.

- The Canadian items of the above first batch have both Red and Yellow feet scale ... most of them anyway have the red one.. but I have recorded some in Yellow.. ; Wetzlar items on the contrary SEEM to be all with red scale (including my 2.063.241): I have no record at all of Wetzlar items with Yellow feet scale.

- On the contrary, the second batch (1966 - 2.19x.xxx) seems to be almost exclusively made of Canadian items

- And the feet scale, again, is red or Yellow, apparently in random mixing within the progression of s/n

- So... I'd appreciate if you could send me a PM with your complete s/n... just to add an item to my list : at the moment the only Wetzlar item that I have recorded in the 2.19x.xxx batch is the 2.198.003, also it with Yellow feet scale and "Lens Made in Germany" in White paint on the base as yours.

- I have never seen an item with Canada on front and "made in Germany" at base : have you some other detail on the item like this that you quote ? My explanation is that as a "multifactory" item, in certain cases mixing of manufacturing parts could happen... there are other examples in the complex Leica history...

- Just as a curios : I record also the item 2.314.860... number belonging to the first batch of the 2nd version - 8 elements -, which on the contrary is clearly a version 1 (Canada - was sold by a Hong Kong dealer years ago)

 

btw... happy to share with you my list, if you like... is not so long compared to the production numbers (there are two other intriguing items for which I have a list : Elmarit 180 2,8 for Visoflex and Telyt 800 6,3...but they were made in really few items...)

 

Hi, Luigi.

You are the only one whose detailed  descriptions lead me to my old files and check.

Seven Elmarit 2.8 came in my Fontenelle Collection. Here are the serials and the basic information I have noted :

- 2061933 Leitz Wetzlar, Lens made in Germany, red feet scale and white m. I noted a similar sample nº 2061624 sold by Westlicht in November, 2002 (item nº89)

- 2062120 Leitz Canada, Lens made in Canada, red feet/white m. I noted this one as being code 11801, and it came with shade 12501M, back cap14042 and viewer 12017

- 2062881 Leitz Canada, Lens made in Canada, red feet/white m

- 2062979 Leitz Wetzlar, Lens made in Germany, red feet/white m

- 2063334 Leitz Wetzlar, Lens made in Germany

- 2315734 Leitz Canada, Lens made in Canada, 2d type, yellow feet/white m

- 2977835 Leitz lens made in Canada, serial number engraved on the diaphragm ring, yellow feet/white m

Thats it.

Have a very nice Xmas, and friendly yours.

Pierre