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Specification

Source of data

• Own research.

Manufacturer description

The Leitz-Elmar lens F/3.5, 3.5 cm. focus is intended primarily for architectural photographs. With these it often happens that the practical distance between the camera and the building is not sufficient to show the latter in its entirety upon the negative. Since the 3.5 cm. lens embraces an angle of nearly 65 degrees, and the 5 cm. lens only an angle of 48 degrees, the former has an undoubted advantage over the latter when architectural subjects are to be photographed. The smaller lens is also very useful for interiors. This lens, it should be noted, is mounted in an inextensible tube. We should like to mention that photographs of interiors are possible with long exposures even without a tripod, by holding the camera with its back against a wall. For the 3.5 cm. lens the universal view-finder is used.

This lens may also be used for photographing general subjects, especially when taking photographs of objects at rapidly changing distances. By this means, one can avoid constantly altering the focus, as the great depth of field resulting from the short focus makes it possible to keep a large depth of field in sharp focus at a constant focal adjustment. For instance, at an aperture F/4.5 and the focus set to 21 ft., the field extends from 9 1/2 ft. to infinity.

The Leitz-Elmar lens F/3.5, 3.5 cm. focus also has a working aperture of F/3.5, although a slight vignetting effect due to the large aperture and wide angle is removed only by stopping down to 4.5 or 6.3.

From the editor

The first interchangeable lens for Leica introduced after the standard 50mm. In 1930 produced for the non-standard Leica I (Model C). Standardized version appeared in 1931. Rangefinder coupling cam added since 1932. Coated since 1946. Shortly before the end of production the aperture scale was changed from the European sequence to the international sequence.

Notes

• LEICA lenses HEKTOR 28/6.3, ELMAR 35/3.5, HEKTOR 50/2.5, ELMAR 50/3.5 [I], [II] have the aperture scales engraved on the front of the lens mount. The iris is opened and closed by adjustment of a small finger-piece engraved with an index line. On all other LEICA lenses the diaphragm is controlled by means of a milled ring.
• All LEICA lenses having a focusing lever are automatically locked at the infinity position. This feature enables the camera to be used for infinity scenes and subjects without danger of the lens becoming accidentally out of focus due to unintentional movement. To release the lever for focusing on nearer planes press the knob at the end of the lever.

Other wide-angle prime lenses in the Leica SM system

Lenses with similar focal length