Leica Mountain Elmar

[Byuphoto]

While researching lenses I came a cross the reference to a Leica Elmar Mountain 100 anyone heard of this lens. I have owned the 90 Elmar but had never saw any reference to this lens before

 

[doubs43]

While researching lenses I came a cross the reference to a Leica Elmar Mountain 100 anyone heard of this lens. I have owned the 90 Elmar but had never saw any reference to this lens before

It's actually a 105mm f/6.3 Elmar and is quite elegant..... and rare. Made only from 1932 until 1937, production was about 4,000. It was called the "Mountain" Elmar because of it's small size and light weight. It was uncoated as were all Leitz lenses of the time.

Walker

 

[ducttape]

Yes, I believe the reference was to it's ability to travel well in a rucksack. Small, light.

 

[jaapv]

Yes, I believe the reference was to it's ability to travel well in a rucksack. Small, light.

That is correct. Hiking in the mountains (Bergwandern) and skiing have been (and still are) an important part of German culture, especially in the second half of the 19th and first half of the 20th century. That, of course coincides with the rise of photography and therefore it was totally logical for Leica to build a special "mountain lens".
They promoted it by having famous photographers make series of mountain shots with long lenses.
A similar thing happened when they brought out the special "Safari" set for the R3, which coincided with the first safari-hype driven by films like Daktari and people like Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands who was originally German and a keen safari-photographer and filmer.

 

[former member]

This lens is very expensive, but you can find a Russian version of it for under $150 or so.

I should add that the Contax line also had an "equivalent" Lens and Nikon had the 105/4 Nikkor-T as lightweight entries. Given how much larger the Contax's and Nikon's are compared to a screw-mount Leica, seems silly.

 

[ChrisN]

Two of these on ebay at the moment (at least).

# 7578650575

# 7578530709

 

[former member]

I want to see what those end up as!

This is the Russian Version:
http://cgi.ebay.com/FED-Rare-F6-3-1...ryZ30063QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Andrew3511]

Morning all, just registered on this forum as I have returned to Leica use after a 22 year gap.

My original Leica kit was a 1932 Leica II with the 50mm Elmar and a 105mm Mountain Elmar. I used it from 1972, when my father passed it on to me after acquiring a Pentax Spotmatic F, till I too went off to the SLR in 1982. The lens was light and portable, had it's own leather pouch and a detachable tiny lens hood. Though the max aperture was limited it was really sharp at 6.3 and flare wasn't that much of a problem. I parted with it for a Dallmeyer 135mm lens that I still have and probably for well below the lens's true value, but I knew nothing and just used it!

I bought an M2 a couple of months ago with a rigid S'cron & went off taking photos guessing the exposure as I couldn't find the Weston - like coming home again.


Andrew

 

[jaapv]

Most welcome Andrew. You will fit in here nicely! 🙂 Standard remark: post some photo's asap.

 

[Andrew3511]

I'll do just that when I am at home with photos, scanner, time etc etc.

Within a month of buying the M2 I had bought a 90mm Tele-Elmar and 35mm Summaron as well, have now acquired a Summarit - can't think why really except it was reduced to £175 and I just felt I'd like the extra stop for available light stuff. It can't possibly be as sharp as the 50mm Summicron, when I got the 1st roll of film back I was just bowled over by the quality & that's in comparison to the Olympus Zuiko prime lenses I was using before.

 

[doubs43]

Morning all, just registered on this forum as I have returned to Leica use after a 22 year gap.

My original Leica kit was a 1932 Leica II with the 50mm Elmar and a 105mm Mountain Elmar. I used it from 1972, when my father passed it on to me after acquiring a Pentax Spotmatic F, till I too went off to the SLR in 1982. The lens was light and portable, had it's own leather pouch and a detachable tiny lens hood. Though the max aperture was limited it was really sharp at 6.3 and flare wasn't that much of a problem. I parted with it for a Dallmeyer 135mm lens that I still have and probably for well below the lens's true value, but I knew nothing and just used it!

I bought an M2 a couple of months ago with a rigid S'cron & went off taking photos guessing the exposure as I couldn't find the Weston - like coming home again.


Andrew

Welcome to RFF and to rangefinders again. It's nice to hear the experiences of someone who has actually used the legendary Mountain Elmar. I've only seen pictures of it.

This is a great forum. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Walker

 

[Traut]

Trus story. My Dad bought 2 LEica lenses at a home sale in the mid 1960s. One was the Mountaineering Elmar and the other a 127mm Wollensak. THe prices paid were $3 and $5 respectively.

If memory serves me the 105 went in a trade for a Contax G2 a few years ago. It was in pretty rough shape. The value to collectors are whether there is the original shade and caps. The objective of the lens was very small - somewhere between a nickel and a quarter in size.

 

[Andrew3511]

The lens head was detachable as well and was tiny, only about an inch long and less than that across. The pictures I took with it are all up in the loft in my large box of old slides, might dig one out some day if there's any interest

 

[egpj]

if there's any interest

As if there would not be any interest??!?!! I want to see them right now. 😛 😀

 

[Mike Kovacs]

I should add that the Contax line also had an "equivalent" Lens and Nikon had the 105/4 Nikkor-T as lightweight entries. Given how much larger the Contax's and Nikon's are compared to a screw-mount Leica, seems silly.

If by the Contax "equivalent", you mean the 85/4 Triotar, my prewar example is narrow (40.5mm filter) but quite long and of HEAVY chrome on brass construction. I recently serviced it but haven't had time to test it on film!

 

[reagan]

Has anyone had experience with the Russian version mentioned above?

 

[Andrew3511]

Here is a Mountain Elmar picture. Taken in early 1977, exposure was probably f6.3 @ 20th, as that was the slowest speed of the Leica II & it was fairly dark. Taken from the top of a ferry on Lake Volta, the sticks poking up above the water are the remains of the trees inundated by the lake after the dam was constructed. I expect they are long gone now.

 

[Corot2]

What Size of threaded Filter?

What Size of threaded Filter?

Does anyone know what size of threaded filter the mountain elmar 105 f6.3 takes useful if you dont have the hood

Thanks

 

[Dralowid]

Not sure if thread filters were intended. Took the old A36 filters.

 

[Spavinaw]

Light? I just did a quick Google search. It tells me the Leica 90/6.3 lens weighed 220 gm, the Canon chrome and black 100/3.5 lens version I weighed 205 gm, and the version II weighed 184 gm.