Leica Lens Names

[hjsesq]

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As a recent Leica convert I have taken an iterest in learning about the history of Leica. I hope this does not sound stupid, but in all I have read (and I am sure I have only scratched the surface so far) and asking around, I have been unable to find the reason or reasons behind the different names given to a Leica lens, ie, Elmart, Summicron, Elmar, Summarit, etc. I would appreciate it if someone could enlighten me on this subject.

Thanks, Harris

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[gmaurizio]

Harris, check this site

Leica FAQ - Glossary of Leica Terms

You might find most of your answers.

[lars_bergquist]

In the days (Neolithic, more or less ...) when lenses were computed manually with slide rules, log tables and pencils, designing a lens could keep a team of engineers and computers – a term which in that age meant human computation assistants – busy for a year or more. A successful design received a name. Names like Tessar sold many a camera. For obvious reasons, it was unusual for a lens to be designed from scratch. Most lenses were modifications of successful designs, so they too shared the name.

 

Names like Elmar and Hektor were actually 'design names' until the middle of the 1950's, i.e. until after the introduction of the M3. The re-thinking came in 1957, with the introduction of the 90mm Elmarit. This was (and is) a typical Hektor design, but it was faster, and got a new name. From now on, names indicated speed, nothing else. The new 35mm f:2 lens was thus named 'Summicron' just like the already famous 50mm f:2 Summicron, even though the design was different. And this is how it is now.

 

These names are of course redundant. They tell us nothing more than the speed class, but the actual speed is already engraved on the front ring. But the marketing department wants to keep them, because they say 'Leica Lens' and many regard them as a quality cachet. A Bentley by any other name would still be a splendid luxury car, but the image would be different.

 

The old man from the Age of Tessar Lenses

[lars_bergquist]

Harris, check this site

Leica FAQ - Glossary of Leica Terms

You might find most of your answers.

 

Have checked the site. Use it with reservations – there are many errors and inaccuracies in it.

 

The old man who once edited encyclopedias

[highlander]

Hi Lars et-al,

You have done a fine job in the explanation ,but where did those names come from or how were they arrived at??? was it after a few steins of fine lager and back to the job or was there something more scientific or perhaps historical? Hector springs to mind.

 

regards ... jim.

[Hookeye]

From the book "Leica & Leicaflex Lenses" by G. Rogliatti (2nd edition 1980):

 

"Summar" was the name given to the lens patented by Oscar Barnack in 1902.

"Tessar" is greek, meaning FOUR a triplet lens with a split rear element, also 1902.

"Elmax" was from the initials Ernst Leitz followed by the first name Max, of Prof. Berek, the lens engineer who headed the team designing it. But it turned out too complex and expensive so, using a new kind of glass it was redesigned, reducing the number of elements and the "Elmar" was born in 1925. "Hector" in 1931 was named after one of Prof. Max Berek's dogs. The other dog's name was "Rex" - and that name turns up in "Summarex" e.g.

[jaapv]

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The Summicron name was coined when lenses like Summarits, Summarex etc. were succeeded by lenses using Kron glass from Leitz' glass lab. Now it means of course, a 2.0 lens, more or less.

[farnz]

Here's the true tongue-in-cheek explanation attributed to Joe Wisniewski:

 

"The story of the Leica lens names is rather obscure, and the Leica PR bunnies did a lot to cover it up with the kind of myths you've heard repeatedly. Pretentious organizations such as "The Leica Historical Society" also propagate the "sanitized" version, which includes lenses being named after people that never existed (much as Dave Thomas never actually had a daughter named "Wendy").

 

Here's the true story...

 

Oscar Barnack, aside from his film work, also published a series of children's books called Sesamstraße, featuring characters such as Elmo, Ernie, Bert, Ploot, and Snuffleupagus. The initial line of lenses were named after these beloved characters. His publishing company requested that Barnack change the names of the lenses so that they wouldn't be confused with the characters, thus the Elmo became known as the Elmar, while the Bert (for reasons we won't get into) became the Elmarit. The Snuffleupagus became the Summicron, and the "Tickle Me Elmo" became the "Tele Elmar". The Muppet cameras simply became the "M" series, while the "little threaded muppets" became known as LTM. Ploot was dropped from the books, and therefore Barnack was free to keep that name on a camera.

 

Years later, Children's Television Workshop acquired the rights to Sesamstraße and called it Sesame Street. Jim Henson created puppet versions of the popular "muppets", he decided to create the character of "Oscar the Grouch" as a tribute to Oscar Barnack. Leica later paid a similar tribute to Jim Henson by creating a limited edition green lizard skin Leica M. Henson's workshop also added many other characters not originally penned by Barnack, including Big Bird, Grover, and The Cookie Monster (although Kermit the Frog is believed to be a tribute to Ernst Leitz. Look at their pictures side by side, the resemblance in uncanny)."

 

Nuff said?

[AGeoJO]

You will be in good shape as long as you keep up with just the current names of the most common lenses with pretty consistent names, such as follows:

 

Summilux - these lenses have a maximum aperture of f/1.4

Summicron - these lenses have a maximum aperture of f/2.0

Elmarit - these lenses have a maximum aperture of f/2.8

Elmar - these lenses have a maximum aperture of f/4.0

[AGeoJO]

Names like Tessar sold many a camera.

 

The old man from the Age of Tessar Lenses

 

Lars, I could have sworn that Zeiss and not Leica came up with the name "Tessar". Am I wrong? Just curious....

[carlmuck]

You forgot that now we have "Summarit" meaning f/2.5 ( but used to mean f/1.5 )

 

c.

[AGeoJO]

You forgot that now we have "Summarit" meaning f/2.5 ( but used to mean f/1.5 )

 

c.

 

I thought of that as well but I am not sure at this point whether it would be consistently called as such in the future. That's why I referred it as "the most common lenses" to keep it fairly straightforward.

[carlmuck]

I thought of that as well but I am not sure at this point whether it would be consistently called as such in the future. That's why I referred it as "the most common lenses" to keep it fairly straightforward.

 

It seems a pretty safe bet, but there was also the Summarit 2.4/40 on the CM.

 

c.

[lars_bergquist]

Lars, I could have sworn that Zeiss and not Leica came up with the name "Tessar". Am I wrong? Just curious....

 

Yes of course. I just used the Tessar as an example of the practice of naming in the industry during the first half of the 20th century. The four-element Tessar design (from Greek tessares, four) was definitely the most famous during this time – even though the Elmar was better, and Zeiss' own Sonnar lenses faster.

 

The old man from the Age of Box Cameras

[Overgaard]

Interesting story about the puppets.

 

You can read the derivation of some of the names here leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Pages - Leitz and Leica Lens Compendium

 

Theres a list of names and definitions at the bottom of the page.

[carstenw]

You will be in good shape as long as you keep up with just the current names of the most common lenses with pretty consistent names, such as follows:

 

Summilux - these lenses have a maximum aperture of f/1.4

Summicron - these lenses have a maximum aperture of f/2.0

Elmarit - these lenses have a maximum aperture of f/2.8

Elmar - these lenses have a maximum aperture of f/4.0

Exception:

 

The 50 f/2.8 is called Elmar. This is for historical reasons. Some older lenses also don't follow the scheme quite right, and there are other names, like Hektor and Summarex.

[abrewer]

 

Here's the true story...

 

Oscar Barnack, aside from ....

 

 

The mysteries of the Leica revealed....

 

 

Leica does its best to perpetuate the folklore. This from the current "M" brochure:

 

"Slow shutter speeds are controlled by a barely audible arrest mechanism, which for decades has been made for Leica lovingly and with great attention to detail by a manufacturer in the Black Forest."

 

Gnomes?

 

 

Question for the audience:

 

Where did the "M" and "R" product line name designations come from???

 

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

[luigi bertolotti]

R = Reflex (trivial explanation... )

M = Model ( in the sense of "top Model"... M3 was terribly sensual... )

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[lars_bergquist]

R = Reflex (trivial explanation... )

M = Model ( in the sense of "top Model"... M3 was terribly sensual... )

 

Right about 'R'. Wrong about 'M'.

 

M means in German 'Meßsucher'. Messen = to measure. Sucher = finder (though it actually means "seeker"!) The whole composite word "mess-Sucher" has the meaning "combined rangefinder", i.e. a combination finder and rangefinder. Earlier Leica screw-mount models had separate finders (50mm only) and rangefinders.

 

There are two reasons given why the first M model was named M3, both probably true. The first was the M3 had just three finder frames, for 50, 90 and 135mm. The other is that ever since 1935, the top Leica model had been the "three": Leica III, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc and IIIf. So it was a way of saying "this is the best there is". Both the M2 and the M1 were less endowed with 'features'. From the M4 Leitz went over to model order.

 

The old man from the Age of the Leica IIIa

[lars_bergquist]

Leica does its best to perpetuate the folklore. This from the current "M" brochure:

 

"Slow shutter speeds are controlled by a barely audible arrest mechanism, which for decades has been made for Leica lovingly and with great attention to detail by a manufacturer in the Black Forest."

Allan

 

This makes me wonder why M cameras are missing the cuckoo function that should come with this Schwarzwald component. Also makes me miss the Schwarzwaldtorte ...

 

The old man from the Age of Cuckoo Cameras