Show your Berg-Elmar Photos

[johannielscom]

The Leitz Berg-Elmar 6.3/10,5cm lens was made from 1932 to 1937, in less than 4,000 examples.

Every now and then I see one come up, and since I have three Elmar lenses with my lovely Leica II's already, I find it intriguing. It's use was very specialist, 'Berg' meaning Mountain, it was supposed to be taken out on walks in the Alps etc. It's design was very specific too, like the 'fat' Elmar 4.0/9cm (another lens of interest to me).

Rather than turning to Flickr, where there are many unknown-to-me people posting their shots, I'd like to ask for shots taken with the Berg-Elmar here, where people can also comment on the quality of the image with a bit more knowledge!?

And, if you can post shots taken with a 'fat' Elmar 4.0/9cm, that's okay too... 🙂 Even if they are portraits! 😀

Show me what you got!

 

[Vince Lupo]

Taken with my M9 (which I don't have any more - actually I don't have the Mountain Elmar any more either!).



Here is a detail of the same shot -- not bad!



Such a sweet combo -- too bad it's gone!

 

[johannielscom]

Wow. That is pretty awesome for a pre-war, uncoated lens!

And it looks great too, although I would've preferred it on a Barnack... 😉

Anybody else got something to show? You have my attention!

 

[Dralowid]

With a aperture of 6.3 you would expect pretty good results wide open!!!

 

[Vince Lupo]

Yes, I actually think that shot was done wide open, but it did surprise me too.

 

[goamules]

That's pretty cool. I don't know anything about these lenses, other than it's a "rare version." But I wonder how close the 1930s Fed 100/6.3 lens is in design? I have one of those, and was shocked at how sharp it is. It's long and thin just like this Elmar.

 

[johannielscom]

Garrett,

Used to have a FED 6.3/100mm myself, but it's not RF coupled...

Which would make it agree with any Leica body, in fact 😀

The optical lay-out of that lens is unknown to me, but I can imagine it to be pretty close to a Berg-Elmar, since they were made in the same era and are of similar specs.

Reason I'm interested in the Berg-Elmar is also because it would complement my black-and-nickel Leica II and nickel Elmars so nicely. And because of the image quality, although that can be mimicked with a regular 90mm Elmar I reckon.

 

[Penny Lane]

For those interested, the diagram for the Berg-Elmar is over at the neighbors, scanned from Erwin Puts' Leica lens compendium. 4 elements, 3 groups, diaphragm in the middle (between 2nd and 3rd group).

The FED 100/6.3 diagram is here; 4 elements, 2 groups, diaphragm is in the middle.

Derk

 

[goamules]

Thanks Derk, I guess that answers my question, they are different designs. To Johan, I had a 90 Elmar that did not impress me, and I sold it. I kept the Fed (mine is RF coupled). The Fed 100 is sharper, and I bet the Mountain Elmar is better too. There is a reason Leica 90mm Elmars sell for so cheap.

 

[Jerevan]

For those who wish to spend some money, Leicashop has five of the Berg-Elmars in the shop at the moment. 🙂

 

[johannielscom]

Ha Jimi,

thanks for poking up the fire under my Berg-Elmar lust!

Broke but happy, so it's not going to happen for a long time I reckon, but those lenses sure look nice...

Other items on the wish list would be the 3.5/35mm Elmar in nickel, the Fat Elmar 4.0/9cm in nickel and a coupled, nickel Hektor 1.9/73mm.

And of course a nickel VIDOM to hook all those lovelies up to the little Leica II! 😎

Ow well, an man can always dream!

@ Derk: thanks for putting the links to the optical layouts of those lenses up! That explains it all!

@ Goamules: afaik no coupled version was ever produced of the FED 6.3/100. It does touch the RF cam in the camera, but the RF does not actually display the distance that you set on the lens. Unless you have something special, in which case I'd be interested to see pictures of your lens in my email!


Anybody got more shots of the Berg-Elmar? Wouldn't mind if you put them up here! :angel: 🙄

 

[Jerevan]

Johan,

I hear ya - a man can always dream... 🙂

Back to the regular program - more photos with the Berg-Elmars you're hiding in the closets. 😀

 

[Miles.]

Just picked one of these up and was shocked at how small it was (I thought the seller had sent me the wrong lens when I saw the box).

Looking forward to posting my results here.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

It's still on my wanted list. There's a few on offer from (reasonably) local sellers.
Been meaning to get one this year, but at the moment I can't justify the expense. Too many other goodies that took priority.....

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have the Minolta 11cm F5.6, was a fraction of the cost of the Elmar 10.5cm F6.3. Minolta's version of the Leica lens, but had to be a little bit longer and a little bit faster.

 

[raid]

The tiny Canon 100 3.5 is also a good lens.