Oops, what have I bought?

[David.Boettcher]

I have been hankering after a 35mm pre-war lens and I saw this one on eBay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280698388511. It looked OK to me, and a reasonable starting price, so I left a bid on it.

I won the item for the starting price, and there were no other bidders. At first I was pretty happy, but now I am worried that there is something wrong with the lens, that it is not a genuine Elmar. Is it OK or is it wrong?

Regards - David

 

[250swb]

Well you've made me sick, I looked on Ebay yesterday for a 35mm Elmar and somehow or other missed this one, or you could have had a bidding war! Well done, it looks OK, I don't think any of the slight 'proviso's are going to affect image quality 🙂

Steve

 

[peterm1]

Looks genuine to me. I do not know of any other Leica copies (eg from the ex-USSR) that look like a 35mm Elmar - of course there are some that were direct copies of the 50mm Elmar. The Elmar 35mm does not have quite the reputation of the later Summaron 35mm f3.5 in Leica Screw Mount but I am sure it will never the less give a nice classic look. But you may have to budget for a clean - the ad says there is haze and this will affect image quality. Plus I have found that the aperture adjustment lever often becomes sticky on these (dried lube I suppose) and needs a CLA to loosen up.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Looks good to me David,

It'll get you that vintage look, that's for sure. It flares....a lot. The slight haze might make that worse. The lens does gets pretty sharp stopped down to f/5.6-f/8-ish.

I have one with a nickel finish, but it does not get used a lot.

 

[sparrow6224]

It looks very HCB-ish, very cool. That "slight haze" probably put off some potential bidders but these lenses are soft anyway so I agree with others that likely it won't affect your outcomes much. Avoid strong light.

 

[David.Boettcher]

Oh that's a relief, thanks guys. (And sorry Steve, but I am glad that you didn't spot it.)

My theory is that because the vendor didn't mention Leica in the listing title it attracted less attention, to my advantage. And even with a CLA I think it's a good price.

Now I just need a finder - any recommendations? - Belay that, I just picked up a VIDOM for £29, fingers crossed that it arrives OK and it looks like it's my lucky day.

Regards - David

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I'll go along with the others. Cleaning will set you back about £20 to £30 and is worth doing but don't look upon it as a prime example of Leitz optical design because they are not as good as the later ones.

A hood for it will ruin you if you go looking for a FLQOO

As for view-finders: the universal but not original one (VIDOM from 1933 onwards) is an irritation as it reverses things left to right. They later on corrected it as the 1949 VIOOH. Both expensive but we are talking Leitz...

There's the ex-USSR ones that are the Contax version and are worth getting (cross hairs, parallax adjustment and view the right way round). They fit to the right or to the left to clear the shutter speed dial; check when buying. They cover 28, 35, 50, 85 and 135mm lenses.

People will tell you that the Contax is taller than the Leica and it is by about half an inch measured from at the VF's optical axis; not very important with wide angle lenses. Nor when compared to other fudges like film positioning and framing by lab's.

The "Helios" ones made in Japan are cheaper; an al bada VF - some people dislike these as they work best in bright light (I am being very polite). They cover 35, 85 and 135mm and are often available new and in the original wrapping with a little case for the camera strap.

Regards, David

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I think you meant 1939 where the VIOOH was concerned David 😉


Both the VIDOM and VIOOH are not ideal viewfinders, certainly for 90mm and up, but not too bad for 35mm and 50mm. And they look pretty snazzy on a Leica.
At 29 GBP I think you got a good deal for a VIDOM. The glue between the prisms might have become a little hazy though.

 

[David.Boettcher]

As for view-finders: the universal but not original one (VIDOM from 1933 onwards) is an irritation as it reverses things left to right. They later on corrected it as the 1949 VIOOH. Both expensive but we are talking Leitz...

Hi David,

Thanks for that, but you missed my edit (stupid way to do it, sorry) saying that I had just acquired a VIDOM for £29. It will be interesting to see how I get on with the reversed viewing - it can't be any worse than a waist level viewer on a TLR surely? But I will also look out for a reasonably priced VIOOH.

Regards - David

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Personally I don't think the reverse image with the VIDOM is that bad by itself, except when using longer lenses. You get tunnel vision 😉

 

[David Hughes]

I think you meant 1939 where the VIOOH was concerned David 😉

Hi,

In my defence can I say both 1939 and 1949 versions exist?

Regards, David

 

[David.Boettcher]

Cleaning will set you back about £20 to £30 ...

Where could I get it cleaned for £20 to £30?

Regards - David

 

[Mr_Flibble]

In my defence can I say both 1939 and 1949 versions exist?

Undoubtedly! The list of the different versions in the the Collector's Guide and Accessory Pocketbook takes up a full page as I recall. 😀

 

[David Hughes]

BTW, this is a nice site:

http://cccp.alien-planet.net/index.htm

Regards, Daviud

 

[David.Boettcher]

My *bargain* Elmar 3.5cm just arrived, complete with original lens cap.

And the best bit is, it's better than I expected. The aperture lever is a little stiff, but the glass is in great shape. The ebay listing said "specks of dust and slight haze, there are also some superficial cleaning marks" but looking at it through a watchmakers x3½ loupe I can't see any marks on the front element, and looking through it I can't see any haze or black spots. A very honest ebayer I'd say, I'm really pleased.

If I wanted to get it CLA'd, who is the best person to send it to? David Hughes mentioned that cleaning should be about about £20 to £30 but I think Malcolm Taylor charges a lot more than that.

Regards - David

 

[Ronald M]

You missed nothing. Low resolution, extreme field curvature, and low contrast. and flair.

It is worth 5 for the cap, not 90. You did not miss a thing.

Look for a 35 3.5 Summaron.

 

[David.Boettcher]

Look for a 35 3.5 Summaron.

But the Summaron is post-war - like I said, I was after a pre-war 3.5cm lens.

Regards - David

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

It's hard to chose between MT and Newton Ellis & Co in Liverpool who have/had one technician doing RF's full time.

But I've never had just a lens done they have usually been with a camera or a pile of other junk. Both charge about the same both will ring you and chat/explain.

Add Oleg to the list and that's all my CRF shots fired.

Regards, David

PS I think you're right; if you want to go back to your photographic roots or just play with a pre-war Leica then the Elmar's it. Otherwise get a Summicron 35mm and a more modern one like the M6 etc, etc.