LTM Elmar 135/4 - any information?

TheHub

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I just picked up an Elmar 135/4 in LTM today. I'm looking for some information on this lens, but can't really find much other than bits in pieces in some photo.net threads.

Does anyone here have one? Do you like it?
 
I have one; all black / nickel, no RF coupling. I believe they were Leitz's first 135mm lens, for the Leica I.

In good condition, they are OK; they were replaced by the 135 Hektor, which was a better lens.
 
Thanks. Mine seems to be quite nice so far. Sold off my Canon 135/3.5 to replace it (it was nice but far too heavy.)
 
This is what the Head bartender has to say about the 135 / 4,5 Elmar:

135/4.5 Leitz Elmar(1931-1936): an early uncoated black lens. Not great in the sharpness department, but it can give interesting effects. Watch for fogging. Lens head removable for Visoflex reflex housing.

Was there a later version that I am missing ?

The Hub - would you care to post some pictures of yours ?

LF
 
Ken Rockwell's review from his site (he's usually correct though he grates on some folks). It was one of the early M-mount designs; there weren't too many LTM version made.

LEICA ELMAR 135mm f/4

1960-1965, 39mm filters, 405g 11 850.

A swell performer, and a bargain today second-hand. It's a traditional non-tele design and therefore not marked as such, and its a little longer than the newer TELE-ELMARs which replace it.

It is the lightest 135mm ever sold by Leica, and seeing how inexpensive it is, along with high performance, this is the cheapskate's top pick.



.
 
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Correct - the early LTM 135 mm Elmar and Hektor were both 4,5 lenses.

I was not aware that there was a subsequent, faster Elmar 135 when I first chimed-in... and now methinks me wants one !
 
The Hub - would you care to post some pictures of yours ?

Certainly. Mine is indeed LTM, all chrome. Click stop f-stops from 4 to 22 (and in between.) It focuses down to 5ft? Marked in both feet and meters. The serial number indicates in was made in 1960.

As for not being all that sharp, it is good enough for me. Not the greatest photo, but I've attached a sample which is more than sharp enough for me.


Yes, but I didn't pay $500 for it 😱 More like $100. It was "cloudy", but that came off with some very minor polishing.
 

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I recently picked up one good cosmetics and mint glass. Optics are a computer designed 4/4 configuration with use of Lanthanum glass. When tested against my previously owned 135/4 TE, I found resolution of the Elmar to be at least as good or slightly better than the renowned TE, but the TE had more contrast. The main reason I got it was that it has a tripod socket, a must for use on my Olympus E-P2 with it's 2x crop factor, something absent on the 135 TE or APO-Telyt. My only criticism is that the focusing ring moves forward with the lens head when the lens focus' close rather than more modern lenses where it only rotates.
 
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I am waiting for a 135mm Hektor 1:4.5 to arrive, bought here from the classifieds and keen to compare to my 135mm Elmarit.
 
One of my favorites. I have the M Mount f4 version. F5.6, 1/125th Handheld on my M3.

p764126565-4.jpg


And wide open; Tri-x
p604571377-4.jpg
 
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