Leica SM Elmar 9CM f 4 older lens

[tennis-joe]

I had an older 9cm 1.4 SM Leica Elmar lens thrown in on the purchase of a Voit/Bessa R off of Ebay and the marking on it seem strange and not very readable. I assume on 4 on the lens is the same as 4 on a lens today but the following are the figures for the f stops are as follows 4.4, 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18, 25, 36. These must be the f stops and I assume 36 = 16? The serial # is 606302. Can anyone give me an idea how old it is?
Joe

 

[VictorM.]

This: http://www.forloren.dk/lbf/leica_lens_serial.htm indicates it's from 1946. The old style (old skool?) f-stops are just ⅓-stop removed from the modern ones; i.e., f/36 is ⅓-stop down from f/32.

 

[rbiemer]

Joe,
I have an earlier Elmar with the old f stop scale and I really like the images this lens gives me. As well, with the Bessa R, you don't need to worry too much about the progression. The DOF markings will let you know what the range should be and the meter will let you get a decent exposure accordingly. I do sometimes have to slow down a bit if I'm using a meterless camera since the stops on the old Elmar don't match the stops on my meter, but as Victor said, it's just a half a stop difference.
Rob

 

[chris00nj]

It is called the Continental Aperture scale.

 

[tennis-joe]

When I was in College, 1961-66 I had a friend whose father had a riding stables near White Rock Lake. Their names were Oddison or something like that. I think the student became a doctor as he was very smart.
Joe

 

[David Hughes]

I saw this and thought of you...

I saw this and thought of you...

Hi,

I've a collection of elderly photo magazines and saw this the other night. I thought you'd like to know that you're not the first to be baffled.

http://idrh.smugmug.com/photos/499924346_2aZAV-XL.jpg

The page has been cut down a bit and the logo has been moved over.

Regards, David

 

[payasam]

9cm 1.4 = 9cm 1:4