Very early Leitz Elmar 50mm f3.5 lens, possibly circa 1930, nickel coated, 11 o’clock, no externally visible serial number, optically excellent, mechanically fully functional – used.
Lens professionally serviced and checked by Malcolm Taylor in 2003 and then stored in dry, clean, dust free conditions when not is use. I have used it on my Leica M9 digital camera on various occasions in recent years and it produces beautiful pictures; it is fully functional:
- Glass is clean and clear – no fungus, dust, haze, separation nor obvious scratches
- Focus and aperture adjustment are smooth
- Aperture blades are clean and undamaged
It is cosmetically in very good condition (see photos which form part of the description of sale):
- No dents, pealing or chips to the nickel coating and hence no corrosion
- All digits and lettering are in excellent condition - very clean and clear
- distance and depth of field scales are in excellent condition without any visible scratches
- The front of the lens is also in similar condition except for some very fine scratches
- The lens mount face has minimal fine scratches
- The barrel is covered with very fine scratches, consistent with it having been retracted and pulled out many times over its very long life.
It comes with original Leica chrome lens cap and a rear cover (with its original box dating from approximately the 1970’s)
Serial number is believed to be 30903, only visible when lens dismantled for cleaning (see copy of receipt for professional service of lens by Malcolm Taylor in 2003).
This possibly indicates it was manufactured to fit a specific Leica model 1 camera with serial number 30903. Publicly available info says that camera would have been manufactured in 1930 and it would have had a non-standard lens mount and a lens manufactured specifically to match that camera. However, there is a digit “0” engraved on the lens flange. This indicates that it was later modified to a standard universal Leica Thread Mount (LTM also known as M39) enabling it to be fitted on any standard LTM camera.
I inherited the lens in 2003, fitted to a Leica Standard camera dated 1938 which is currently for sale in a separate auction on Ebay.
Feel free to ask any questions.
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