What Are These Lenses Worth Today?

[E-messer]

I'm trusting in you guys and gals to let me know what a fair price ( both to buyer and seller ) would be for the following LTM lenses. All are in excellent + condition ( and I'm a very conservative rater ):

1954 Elmar red scale LTM 50/3.5 with Valoo lens shade/diaphragm actuating ring
1957 Elmar LTM 50/2.8
195? Konishiroku Hexar LTM 50/3.5 ( allegedly very rare )

Thanks in advance for your kind responses.

 

[LeicaTom]

Both Elmar's should be in the $300 to $450 area, ($450 is collectors grade/nearly spotless) and price also depends if they have the original caps.....the Red Scale Elmar is collectable only for the red paint, but it's STILL the same lens formula since the 1930's and the f2.8 is a nice shooter, overlooked by most people, it was the standard lens on the Leica IIIG.

These prices are naturally with near mint shooting glass and EX+ condition, ready to screw on and shoot, if they need CLA, they are both in the under $200 bracket....

The Leitz VALOO is a enlarging lens attachment which people have been misusing for YEARS! if it works for you and it's not too heavy out there....hahahahhahaaa!!!! They are worth $40 to $60 depending on condition.....

The Hexar, no clue.....the only non Leica lenses I indulge in are Canon/Nikkor and my real love CarL Zeiss.

If you have any Carl Zeiss Sonnar M39 LTM lenses let me know?? 😉

I hope that was some help to you.

Tom

 

[johannielscom]

There is a Hexar 3.5/50mm for sale at eBay, through gokevincameras.

Kevin is always asking above current market value, and his example is priced at USD 1325 plus shipping. Mind you, his is complete with both original caps and box, and has no haze, just a faint cleaning mark. He's had it for sale for several years now, IIRC.

I'd value your Hexar at USD 500-600, maybe 800 if as-new, maybe 1000 if all accessories are present. But, you'd have to find the collector with money to burn to get that, else subtract 25%.

 

[Dralowid]

The old debate regarding Elmar vs Red Scale Elmar might get stirred up again but I agree with Tom.

Now, optically, is an Xenon simply an uncoated Summarit?

Michael

 

[E-messer]

Tom: Yes it helps - thanks very much. The Valoo ( although a bit heavy ) does make the old Elmar into a click stop lens and serves as a sunshade at the same time. Sorry, no LTM Zeiss glass.

 

[E-messer]

Johan - yes, I've seen the ad and thought it overpriced; but I didn't know by how much. Your answer helped to close the gap, thanks. Mine has the caps, but not the box and is very clean.

E-messer ( Peter )

 

[LeicaTom]

The old debate regarding Elmar vs Red Scale Elmar might get stirred up again but I agree with Tom.

Now, optically, is an Xenon simply an uncoated Summarit?

Michael

Well, the Xenon vs. Summarit vs. CZJ Sonnar vs. Canon f1.5 Test I never got to do. :/

I sold BOTH Leica lenses and now I pine for a WW2 Xenon AND a late 1950's Summarit......I would say from experience, they are very similar in looks, maybe the Rit handles color just a little better, (Xenon color is a little flat/pastel looking) but I think BOTH have about the SAME sharpness, I used both for really intimate portraits, they work well in artistic nudes and have a real softness.

Problem is cleaning marks really do effect the look, so either lens I'd say find in TOP glass condition for the BEST performance......

Tom

 

[Dralowid]

Hi Tom,

Yes, I still have a Summarit that does get used from time to time but I do find it rather on the large side.

My question was really about the optical design, apart from coating/mounting etc they are the same optical design aren't they?

 

[Erik van Straten]

they are the same optical design aren't they?

The 'true' red scale Elmar is different. The tube is longer and the "circle of sharpness" at full aperture is bigger than that of the earlier ones.
Post war converted Elmars often have red dept of field scales too, but these are no true red scale Elmars of course.

I also think that the M version of the Elmar 50mm f/3.5 (and the latest incarnation of the screw-mount variant) is optically different too, altough it is possible that it performs better only because of it's much better mechanical construction.

Erik

 

[Dralowid]

Hi Erik,

In a previous thread you showed an easy way of telling the difference between 'true' and 'converted' red scale Elmars, I can't find it so can you remind me?

Thanks

Michael

 

[HuubL]

Here a few pictures of my 50mm (5cm) Elmars with their period-correct lens caps.
From left to right:
1932, nickel, bell-button release 11 o'clock, non-coated
1933, nickel, non-coated
1933, chrome, non-coated
1952, chrome, dark blue coated
1956, red-scale, purple coated

The last two photos show close-ups of the last two lenses.
The red-scale (right), is just a tiny bit longer, perhaps half a mm, has less shiny chrome, a slightly different focussing ring with the distance indication on it and the dof scale (in red) on the base mount. The others have distance and dof scales reversed.

Other differences: the older Elmars have F=50mm indication while later ones have f=5cm.

 

[johannielscom]

Ow, I need a front cap for my lens, that left one... 🙂

 

[Erik van Straten]

In a previous thread you showed an easy way of telling the difference between 'true' and 'converted' red scale Elmars, I can't find it so can you remind me?

The 'true' red scale Elmars have a trangular distance index mark wile the 'converted' ones have a diamond shaped one.

Erik.

 

[HuubL]

The 'true' red scale Elmars have a trangular distance index mark wile the 'converted' ones have a diamond shaped one.

Erik.

Hi Erik, does that mean my "Red scale" shown above is a true one? Do you have photos of a converted red scale?
Huub

 

[Erik van Straten]

Do you have photos of a converted red scale?

I have an example, but no pictures of it. I am too busy with work at the moment to make one.

Very nice collection of Elmars, Huub! I specially love that old one, with the bell-push lock.

Erik.

 

[Dralowid]

Just as an aside, some of the converted red scale lenses do not have serial numbers (for obvious reasons)

Michael

 

[David Hughes]

Here a few pictures of my 50mm (5cm) Elmars with their period-correct lens caps.
From left to right:
1932, nickel, bell-button release 11 o'clock, non-coated
1933, nickel, non-coated
1933, chrome, non-coated
1952, chrome, dark blue coated
1956, red-scale, purple coated

Snip! ...

Hi,

Can I ask for some references please?

I've spent a lot of time and money trying to track down pictures of the cameras and lens caps from that period and have found just one so far. Needless-to-say, it showed a lens cap you've not got there and it was the left hand one in chrome, fitted to a Summar. (It was beside a similar one and a FED with the |Summar copy.)

My ideas about the lenses and caps match you photograph, btw.

Regards, David

 

[HuubL]

Hi,

Can I ask for some references please?

I've spent a lot of time and money trying to track down pictures of the cameras and lens caps from that period and have found just one so far. Needless-to-say, it showed a lens cap you've not got there and it was the left hand one in chrome, fitted to a Summar. (It was beside a similar one and a FED with the |Summar copy.)

My ideas about the lenses and caps match you photograph, btw.

Regards, David

Hi David, I see I made a mistake with the lens caps. I also have a chrome one like you described, matching the black paint one at the left of the picture above and it came with the 1933 chrome Elmar in the middle. I forgot I had it sitting on the contemporary 28mm Hektor lens. BTW, the 1933 chrome Elmar in the middle has a lower number (is actually "older") than the nickel one at position 2, so that would fit with the similar, although black paint and chrome caps.

I also have a black paint cap that came with a 1935 black and chrome 90mm Elmar. It's a lot thinner metal though. As it's the same size as the caps for the 50mm Elmars, I guess Leica offered quite a variety of these caps during the 1930-s.

Oh, and my only proof that these are the actual contemporary caps is that all came with the lenses and bodies from (relatives of) previous first owners who said they belonged together since the time they bought the cameras.

 

[furcafe]

Re: the Hexar, in my experience, the most avid collectors of Japanese LTM glass are in the home country (maybe Taiwan & HK, now, too). You might want to forward your question to someone in Japan, like Bellamy of Japan Camera Hunter, to get a better sense of the market there.

I'm trusting in you guys and gals to let me know what a fair price ( both to buyer and seller ) would be for the following LTM lenses. All are in excellent + condition ( and I'm a very conservative rater ):

. . .

195? Konishiroku Hexar LTM 50/3.5 ( allegedly very rare )

 

[David Hughes]

Hi David, I see I made a mistake with the lens caps. I also have a chrome one like you described, matching the black paint one at the left of the picture above and it came with the 1933 chrome Elmar in the middle. I forgot I had it sitting on the contemporary 28mm Hektor lens. BTW, the 1933 chrome Elmar in the middle has a lower number (is actually "older") than the nickel one at position 2, so that would fit with the similar, although black paint and chrome caps.

I also have a black paint cap that came with a 1935 black and chrome 90mm Elmar. It's a lot thinner metal though. As it's the same size as the caps for the 50mm Elmars, I guess Leica offered quite a variety of these caps during the 1930-s.

Oh, and my only proof that these are the actual contemporary caps is that all came with the lenses and bodies from (relatives of) previous first owners who said they belonged together since the time they bought the cameras.

Hi,

Thanks, I'd forgotten the original outfit in a case proof. So another piece of the jig-saw puzzle to add to the picture.

My only outfit in its case from an estate was a Standard (1939) with the Elmar and the Bakelite cap. I just can't afford such luxuries and get them all as bits and pieces, most of the time.

Regards, David