50mm f3.5 Elmar-M produced 1954-1961.

[JB-Dancer]

I believe that the 50mm f3.5 Elmar-M produced from 1954 to 1961 is now very difficult to find having had only a limited production of 13198 lenses in total.
It was the first Elmar to be produced in bayonet mount for the then new Leica M3.
Can I assume that it was the bayonet lens equivalent of the of the "Red Scale " LTM version with the same improved optical design that was being produced for the IIIf and IIIg at the time?
I have searched numerous books to try and find information if this lens in bayonet mount was of the improved "Red Scale" type but there appears to be nothing in print about this.
I presume its early demise was due to the introduction of the f2.8 bayonet version in 1958.
My lens is illustrated below and dates to 1956.
Do other forum members own, use and love this lens?
Any photos taken using this lens would be very much appreciated.
I know that Erik van Straten produces some superb results with this lens.

 

[Pioneer]

I own a very nice copy and it is an excellent lens. But I am partial to Elmar lenses.

I always assumed that this lens was optically just a continuation of the same f/3.5 Elmar built for the IIIg but I have no official information that confirms this.

 

[megido]

I own the said lens and use it almost daily. It is a good match for the Summaron 35 2.8 (if changing lenses mid roll) and certainly an improvement over the red scale ltm version.

 

[megido]

Elmar 50 3.5 M

 

[Erik van Straten]

This is a very sharp and nice lens. It is not clear that it has the same computation as the "red scale" LTM-lens, but in any case the mount is much better.

Leica M2, Elmar 50mm f/3.5 M, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[bayernfan]

i stumbled upon a very nice copy a couple months ago. they don't pop up for sale very often, so I would concur that they are a bit on the rare side. the look, size and handling are terrific... don't see myself parting with it anytime soon.

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Elmar_(III)_f=_5_cm_1:3.5

 

[rodt16s]

Mine is from the same batch as yours 1335***
Still a great performer with that classic look

 

[Matthew Runkel]

Here are a couple of old threads of interest. Consensus seems to be that it is optically the same as the red-scale LTM. It’s definitely a “sleeper” lens and I find no reference to it in Erwin Puts’s original “Leica Lens Compendium.”

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45798

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126648

I’ve had one for about 6 months and really like it. It’s significantly lighter than the original 50/2.8 Elmar, which I also have. I never really bonded with the 2.8, but find a special quality in some images from the 3.5. I was glad I added the silver chrome hood made for the latest 50 Elmar.

These do seem to come up infrequently and are well priced when they do. The last one I saw for sale sat on Fred Miranda for maybe a month at $275. I seriously considered getting it as a backup.

I’d say if you find one, try it. Good luck!

 

[aizan]

it would be a great candidate for leica’s line of vintage lenses. the slow aperture isn’t so slow on digital now.

 

[xayraa33]

Great lens, that was the lens on my 1957 M3, my first Leica.