Lens mystery

[Squiddt]

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Hello,

I have this lens from my father's collection and would like to know more about this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

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[jankap]

7 hours ago, Squiddt said:

Hello,

I have this lens from my father's collection and would like to know more about this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

A piece of value!

 

Edited October 28, 2022 by jankap

[luigi bertolotti]

Welcome to the Forum !

Your lens belongs to this batch of 500 items, that Leitz planned to build in 1938 (and probably did build that year... Thambar was a "low volumes" item) :

 

416501-

417000

Thambar 9 cm 1:2.2

1938

500

You can easily find many informations on this special lens (made for portraits, mainly) and how it works : as you see, it has a double diaphragm scale... this, becaues the lens was designed for using a special filter to achieve a soft focus effect...  with the filter on , effective diaphragn closure is the one painted in red ; your item looks to be in good conditions and complete with caps and hood: do you have also the front filter ? it is a simple glass ring with a metal thread mount and a typycal "spot" in the center.

It's a famous and highly valued lens, well known to Leica passionates as we people of this Forum. So famous that recently (a pair of years ago, around) Leica decided to make a "re-edition" of it. Anyway, if you do not know Leica cameras, is a lens that can be still used and correctly focused on a recent digital Leica camera of the M line (M10. M, M9 etc...), adding only a very simple intermediate ring (your lens has a thread mount , for the "old"  Leica cameras of the era... currently Leica M cameras have a bayonet mount, the ring has the function to couple old lenses on modern cameras)

 

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2022 by luigi bertolotti

[LocalHero1953]

There's a thread on the forum discussing the reissued lens and showing examples from both new and old.

I have the new version. For practical use, the value of yours will be highly dependent on the condition of the glass (haze, fungus, scratches etc). It looks in good condition on the outside.

Forum member @Milan_S best demonstrates the intended use and qualities of this lens.

Edited October 28, 2022 by LocalHero1953

[Overgaard]

Here are some sample photos made with the lens by @Milan_S and with some of the history and value.