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View Full Version : Hektor135mm ;Leica's cheapest lens?

dadsm3
10-11-2006, 19:20
Pulled my Hektor out, now you pull yours. I know there's a lot of closet Hektor users out there......consider this an opportunity to come clean and admit it. M6, Fuji400.
peterc
10-11-2006, 19:48
The Hektor is a great little lens ... really liked mine until the focusing helical seized up.

Peter
dadsm3
10-11-2006, 19:53
Too bad.....you were one of the guys I was targeting on this one.....
David Murphy
10-11-2006, 19:56
The 9cm Elmar's are sometimes almost as cheap -- a little soft IMO though. Looks like your Hektor handles color well -- my guess is that it's coated.
physiognomy
10-11-2006, 19:57
Looks like a nice lens... to bad I accidentally bought a M mount instead of ltm... :bang: :bang: :bang: Oh well, one of these days I'll sort it out. They can be had cheaply (mine was <$40), but I'm guessing not for long if this thread gets around!

Cheers!

Peter
phototone
10-11-2006, 22:40
Looks like a nice lens... to bad I accidentally bought a M mount instead of ltm... :bang: :bang: :bang: Oh well, one of these days I'll sort it out. They can be had cheaply (mine was <$40), but I'm guessing not for long if this thread gets around!

Cheers!

Peter

UM, the 135mm Hektor was available in "M" mount also.
abesapien
10-12-2006, 01:56
Love mine. I use it with my M6. Great lens for portrait, at full aperture. Cheap and useful, I don't feel the need to buy a modern 135, since for my portrait work is perfect used in combination with 75mm Summilux. Cheers, and don't be embarassed by the old goldies... I have modern lenses, but find lot more interesting to try old cheap scratchy lenses, and always I am amazed by the results... :)
Ben Z
10-12-2006, 05:24
I find 135mm has the most bang-for-the-buck in rangefinder lenses. Not only the Leica ones, but Nikkors, Canon/Serenars, Steinheils and a few others are remarkably good lenses for dirt cheap. I have a Hektor in screw mount which I used quite a bit with an M adaptor, until last year I got a T-E for $250 in KEH "Bargain" which for the life of me is at least EXC+ if not Mint-. If I get an M8 it will finally get me back the 180 I have missed dearly. I even picked up the short focusing mount that goes on a Visoflex, and discovered that by using a 14167 M-R and an R-EOS adaptor I can use it on my 20D!
jkelly
10-12-2006, 05:44
The 9cm Elmar's are sometimes almost as cheap -- a little soft IMO though. Looks like your Hektor handles color well -- my guess is that it's coated.

The old 9cm LTM Elmars aren't THAT soft.
SteveRD1
10-12-2006, 06:17
I paid $100 for it and its in perfect condition. The shot below was taken with it
mauro scacco
10-12-2006, 07:39
UM, the 135mm Hektor was available in "M" mount also.

no, I have a screwmount one... :)
jaapv
10-12-2006, 07:54
The old 9cm LTM Elmars aren't THAT soft.

Err... a little heavy on the USM maybe???
Nikon Bob
10-12-2006, 08:35
I seldom use my 50's coated Hektor 135/4.5 and the times I have used it found it to be good.

Bob
raid
10-12-2006, 08:55
I have a mint Hektor in M mount, and I have never used it.
mauro scacco
10-12-2006, 12:24
no, I have a screwmount one... :)

2 image with hektor serie M with leica m2
TEZillman
10-12-2006, 14:35
I picked up a M mount 4.5 for under $50 two years ago. I've probably used it a half dozen times, but I've been impressed with the results I get from a 50 year old lens! I think the M mount 135 Hector was only made for a year or two. It's kind of surprising how often one sees them available.
butch
10-12-2006, 16:15
Last Sunday. Hektor 135 f4.5 M with HP5+
butch
10-12-2006, 16:23
Or same lens, same roll.
FPjohn
10-12-2006, 16:43
Hello:

M-Hektors (HEFAM) were made from 1954 t0 1960. A total of 34722.

yours
Frank
dadsm3
10-12-2006, 17:31
FYI they weren't that cheap originally. In my 1959 catalogue they're listed at $126. The rigid 50mm Summicrons were $129.....M3's were $270, M2's were $216.....but everyone knows they're not as good!
Here are other prices; (note they are all bayonet mounts)
21mm Super Angulon F4: $240
35mm Goggled Summaron F3.5: $126
Same no goggles for M2: $82.50
35mm Goggled Summaron F2.8: $138
Same no goggles for M2: $105
35mm Goggled 'cron F2: $207
Same no goggles for M2: $174
50mm Elmar F2.8: $60
50mm Elmar F3.5: $51
50mm 'cron Rigid: $129
50mm DR 'cron w/goggles: $168
50mm Summarit F1.5: $99
50mm Summilux F1.4: $198
90mm 'cron F2: $199.50
90mm Elmarit F2.8: $165
90mm Elmar F4: $93
90mm Elmar F4 collapsible: $126
135mm Hektor F4: $126
So these Hektors were by no means budget lenses at that time....
Trius
10-12-2006, 19:02
Mike: That's an interesting price list. I once had a 21/3.4 Super Angulon. Any idea what those went for?

Oh, and all these Hektor shots are very nice.
FPjohn
10-13-2006, 12:15
Hello:

If a bargain is defined as possessing a high value to price ratio then the hecktor has become a better one. I think it is undervalued because of its looks-that jules verne futuristic aesthetic and its size.

yours
Frank