Leica LTM Where have all the Elmars gone?

[Coldkennels]

Well Rulnacco, gotta say I owe you a beer for the hat tip. Reg and Paul did NOT let me down. They found me a great Elmar which actually matches the year of my IIIf - 1951 vintage all round, and absolutely beautiful condition. Not sure if I can get away with hotlinking to Facebook for the image, but yeah. This thing is fantastic.

They also found a lens case for my Voigtlander 28/3.5 and threw it in for free. Top guys. I'm a big fan, and I'll be going to visit once the current lockdown is over.

 

[rulnacco]

Awesome! So glad I could be of help--and so happy I've made another Leica enthusiast aware of the gem that is High Street Radio and Photographic in Croydon. One of my favourite places on the planet--and some of my very favourite people!

Yes, you really must go for a visit. You'll really enjoy leaning on the counter and chatting, and looking at all the hidden jewels and arcana Reg has stashed away. And if you stay for a bit, someone will bring you a steaming cup of tea.

Cheers, and hope you get great use out of that lovely Elmar!

 

[David Murphy]

Wow, that one is a beauty - apparently a postwar model judging by the aperture scale, thus likely coated too. Expect some amazing results.

 

[peterm1]

Much the same could be said for Summars. No one wanted them. Then they became trendy and now they are almost impossible to find - or over priced and "rough as guts" if you can find one.

PS. For one crazy moment I thought this thread was about this bloke. (He's off hunting wabbits)

 

[dourbalistar]

PS. For one crazy moment I thought this thread was about this bloke. (He's off hunting wabbits)

Those wascawwy Wetzlar wabbits! 😀

 

[Coldkennels]

Wow, that one is a beauty - apparently a postwar model judging by the aperture scale, thus likely coated too. Expect some amazing results.

Yep, serial number dates it to 1951. I think that puts it in one of the very last batches before the "red scale" Elmars came in. First test photo (on an X-Pro 2) came out real nice - good contrast, tack-sharp in the centre, and nice out of focus areas. Very happy with it.

Hopefully going to shoot a roll of APX 100 tomorrow, but god only knows when I'll get to develop it - my house is still an ice box.

 

[David Murphy]

Handsome cat I must say.

 

[DLox]

A few weeks ago I bought a 'Red Scale' Elmar, unseen but returnable. It turned out to be a beauty. I have just, two days ago, received a 36 d&p colour group, the first film through. I bought it to replace a Canon 50mm. f1:1·8 black barrel which I bought new in 1962. The Canon has not been kicked into touch it has been booted out of the ground.
A SOOGZ with E39 filters and a VOOLA and click, click clickety click. Well, that's the plan!
D.Lox

 

[farlymac]

Just as an update on my earlier post, I broke down and ordered a 50/2.8 from Igor that is "hazy". Plan on cleaning it out, but if the haze turns out to be something else I'll salvage the front element if it's clear for my current Elmar that has a scratched up front.


PF

 

[DownUnder]

Down here in Australia, Elmars are mostly all on Barnacks which are being used by their owners - one of the (few) plusses to come out of the Covid blah period has been a resurgence in interest in old film cameras by people who like to take them out and photograph with them, and not keep them on altars with candles and incense and prayers to them on their knees. Super good, says I!!

In my case, yesterday I bit the fiscal bullet and bought, not cheaply but at what I consider a reasonable price, a Leica iiif kit - camera, red scale Elmar 3.5/50, lens hood for same, filters, Nooky, a clip-on viewfinder, other Leitz bits and a big lot of (expired but refridg'd) films. I will be collecting my prize later today. The camera and lens I assessed as above 9/10. I have wanted a good iiif or iiig for many years, and now, at my age and given my financial situation, I've decided it's time to indulge myself.

A brief look online shows only Melbourne dealer known for secondhand Leitz gear has two Elmars available, neither cheap. A prewar nickel 3.5 for A$495 and a '50s 2.8 for A$1395, both too rich for my blood or bank balance.

Ebay has a few, at prices more to satisfy seller fantasies than real world value.

The Elmars are out there. A little patience will snare you a good one, given time and fast finger-work on Ebay or photo retailers' web sites. Do persevere.

Now to somehow sneak my new Weztlar babe into the house without SWMBO seeing it, or I'll be dead beef for sure...

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Down here in Australia, Elmars are mostly all on Barnacks which are being used by their owners - one of the (few) plusses to come out of the Covid blah period has been a resurgence in interest in old film cameras by people who like to take them out and photograph with them, and not keep them on altars with candles and incense and prayers to them on their knees. Super good, says I!!

In my case, yesterday I bit the fiscal bullet and bought, not cheaply but at what I consider a reasonable price, a Leica iiif kit - camera, red scale Elmar 3.5/50, lens hood for same, filters, Nooky, a clip-on viewfinder, other Leitz bits and a big lot of (expired but refridg'd) films. I will be collecting my prize later today. The camera and lens I assessed as above 9/10. I have wanted a good iiif or iiig for many years, and now, at my age and given my financial situation, I've decided it's time to indulge myself.

A brief look online shows only Melbourne dealer known for secondhand Leitz gear has two Elmars available, neither cheap. A prewar nickel 3.5 for A$495 and a '50s 2.8 for A$1395, both too rich for my blood or bank balance.

Ebay has a few, at prices more to satisfy seller fantasies than real world value.

The Elmars are out there. A little patience will snare you a good one, given time and fast finger-work on Ebay or photo retailers' web sites. Do persevere.

Now to somehow sneak my new Weztlar babe into the house without SWMBO seeing it, or I'll be dead beef for sure...

Congratulations! I've been enjoying using the IIIf kit I put together recently, it's often with me whenever I leave home. I wrote about some of the repairs I did to make it right, recently.

 

[farlymac]

Well, my hazy Elmar 5/2.8 from Igor arrived after only two days in transit with UPS. Had to run down to the hardware store to get a sink stopper so I could open it up. Two applications of Ponds Cold Cream later and most of the haze was removed. At least you can't see it from the front with the rear cap in place like you could before. Shine a flashlight in the back and it is visible. Just wish Leica would have used a different glass for that front element as it seems to be the only one affected from it.

Looks really nice on the IIIf, and is newer than the one I already had. I didn't ask ahead of time but it is measured in feet like all my other lenses so I don't have to do the brain calisthenics to convert from meters when necessary. The front cap it came with fits my Summitar better, so I'll have to dig through and see if I have one that fits the Elmar correctly.

Now if the darn weather would cooperate and be nice on the days I have free for photography.

PF