1938 50mm Elmar in 1950's mount ?

[Pyrogallol]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I picked up another Leica Standard, 309010,  off the internet, with a 50mm f3.5 Elmar. Both dated 1938.

Now I realise the lens, serial number 433497 appears to be in a 1950's mount, with the post-war aperture scale, f3.5, 4, 5.6, 8,11,16. If the optics were remounted in the 50's why was it not coated at the same time?  

I have sent an enquiry off to Leitz to see if they have any record of the camera and lens.

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!

[romanus53]

if the mounting had some issues it could be replaced when sent in to service. Also coating was possible but had to be paid extra and maybe the former owner did not want to spent that money. I have pre-war Elmars mounted while upgrading the camara in the 1950ies, mounting was replaced but one was coated and the other not. If one compares these lenses today I can understand that someone shooting mainly b/w did not wanted or needed coating. Performence was close except when shooting against the sun; differences depend more on condition of the glas today.

[luigi bertolotti]

Anything can happen on an old Elmar... because, as previously said, they were highly maintainable items... coating, when introduced, was considered let'say "highly desirable" by some...not so much by others... I have the opposite situation : an Elmar of 1937, regular old scale, coated.

[jerzy]

does the aperture goes  beyond 16? It is possible that only front ring and DOF were replaced postwar

[Pyrogallol]

4 hours ago, jerzy said:

does the aperture goes  beyond 16? It is possible that only front ring and DOF were replaced postwar

The aperture does go a little beyond f16, maybe to f22.

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!

[jerzy]

I believe it is 18, like the lens was originally. The whole optics barrel with elements remained from original lens. Repair could have been done as well by third party, regardless if the whole mount was replaced or front ring only

[Pyrogallol]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Leitz have responded with dates for the camera and lens. I had wondered if they had been together from new as they are both from 1938.

But the Leica Standard body was sent to Auckland New Zealand on 15 December 1938 and the lens was sent somewhere, they do not know where, on 12 September 1938.