What's the oldest lens one can use on a Barnack (or an M for that matter)?

[philipus]

The title says it all, really. What's the earliest lens, still around which one can use on a Barnack or an M?

[dogberryjr]

How old is the pinhole? That old.

[sepiareverb]

Elmax 50/3.5? Elmar perhaps.

[buzzardkid]

Prewar 50/3.5 Elmars were made as early as 1924. In 1931 there were also 73/1.9 Hektors and the 50/2.5 Hektors. The 50/2.0 Summar is from 1933.


The Elmax and Anastigmat lenses were permanently attached to the early type 'A' camera's. So you could use these on a Barnack, in a way... but could not take them off!

[krötenblender]

Originally Posted by dogberryjr

How old is the pinhole? That old.

Well, a pinhole is not a lens, right?

I would refer to E. Putts "Leica Chronicles" for that question. Don't know, if it is in there, but I guess, the first real lens for a Barnack was made by Leitz.

[buzzardkid]

Right, forgot my source.

It's the Leica Pocket book by Dennis Laney, 6th edition, 1995. German edition, published by Laterna Magica.

It even states that the 1924 Elmar 50/3.5 was made in a run of 6 pcs. only.

[Dralowid]

see my avatar for earliest Leitz lens converted to ltm.

I am quite sure that there older lenses converted to ltm, probably from 35mm cine around.

Michael

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Well, wasn't one of the real prototypes sold recently. I guess that would be the oldest lens on a Barnack. But it wasn't removable, or was it? for the use on the M's later on.

So I guess the earliest would be from what the factory and our American friends call the model C of 1930. Or, perhaps, one of the pre-production runs in, perhaps, 1929.

They weren't standardised then and so it might be hit or miss with the M's adapter.

Regards, David

[buzzardkid]

But, why do you ask, Philipus? Got plans?

[philipus]

well my thought process went something like, hmm I'd like a pre-war lens to go with my Leica II which is from '31. Then I thought why not get one that's from that year. And that got me thinking of how far back one can go to find compatible lenses.

[buzzardkid]

Mine is from around that date I suppose. It does not have a serial number.

I'm hoping to hang on to it but that will depend on whether I find some photography related gig or job soon, else I might have to sell it

Anyway, you would have to buy my 1932 Leica II (from the first 1,000 ever made) with it and that'll cost you...

Hope you find one soon, Philipus! I love mine for the pastellish colors it produces, I even started a thread on prewar uncoated lenses in the Leica LTM forum.

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

Do adaptations count? About thirty five years ago, my wife and I were considering buying a studio in Devon. Part of the fittings was a pre-war Leica, I think a 1b, with a big old Voigtlander lens on the front that the vendor used for baby pictures. I'd guess that the lens dated from 1900 or earlier and may have been something like a Collinear.

[raid]

I use lenses from the 30's, like the CZJ 5cm on the Standard Leica. I also uss the Standard with SLR very wide angle lenses, such as the Canon 19mm and the W-Rokkor 21mm. There is no meter in the Standard, and I wach the shutter curtain not to get damaged.

[Luddite Frank]

With a Leica II, as a general historical note, the most common lenses available back in 1931-32 would have been LTM lenses in standardized mounts:

Elmar 50
Hektor 50
Elmar 90 (Fat)
Elmar 135

Hektor 28 / 6,3 (?)

It was probably fairly rare to buy a new leica body then send your old Leica fixed-lens body back to the haev the glass extracted and remounted in LTM... this might have happened, perhaps Leitz offered some attractive trade-on deals...

I have a Leica II, # 77xxx with 50 Elmar nickel #99xxx, 11 o'clock Inf lock. I have also accumulated a black Elmar 90, a couple of black Hektor 135s and a black Elmar 135 (uncoupled)...

Just my two cents-worth...

Perhaps back before the War, it was reasonably affordable to have lenses "hacked" and remounted ?

Regards,

Luddite Frank

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Several lenses were available from other makers for the Leica and looking at a 1937 magazine I can quote a Meyer 5cm f/1.5 as costing new UKP31 and that was when a Leitz IIIa and Summar cost UKP 41. Or a Rolleicord for UKP 16...

I've also seen 1030's advert's for Sonnars modified to fit Leicas but they were all second hand.

Since Meyer would have been mass producing them, albeit in small runs I guess having one modified would have been expensive.

I wonder if anyone has a price list for Leitz showing their standard factory charges for modifications. Standardising a Leica II's lens and body ought to have been available.

Regards, David

[Dralowid]

David, if you search back though the 'conversions' thread you'll find a post war price list for conversion of bodies...if not I have a copy somewhere.

Lenses I don't know. I guess the only factory conversions I can thing of would be 'fixed to screw' or 'unstandardised screw to standardised screw', or adding a range finder cam to a longer lens...after that the term 'standardised' kind of speaks volumes!

Michael