Leitz Wetzlar Elmar 50mm F/2.8 [I]
Standard prime lens • Film era • Discontinued
- Announced:
- · 1958
- Production status:
- ● Discontinued
- Country of design:
- · FRG (Federal Republic of Germany)
- Original name:
- · Ernst Leitz GmbH Wetzlar Elmar f=5cm 1:2.8
- · LEITZ WETZLAR ELMAR 1:2.8/50
- Order No.:
- · ELMOM / 11612 - silver, scale in metres
- · ELMOM / 11112 - silver, scale in feet, later dual feet and metres
- Class:
- · Fast full-frame standard prime lens
- System:
- · Leica M (1954)
Model history (8)
Specification
Optical design: | |
35mm full frame | |
50mm | |
F/2.8 | |
4 elements in 3 groups (Cooke triplet derivative) | |
Leica M | |
46.8° (35mm full frame) | |
On Leica M8/M8.2 APS-H [1.33x] cameras: | |
35mm equivalent focal length: | 66.5mm (in terms of field of view) |
35mm equivalent speed: | F/3.7 (in terms of depth of field) |
Diagonal angle of view: | 36° |
Diaphragm mechanism: | |
Diaphragm type: | Manual |
Aperture control: | Aperture ring |
15 (fifteen) | |
Focusing: | |
Coupled to the rangefinder: | Yes |
1m | |
<No data> | |
Focusing modes: | Manual focus only |
Manual focus control: | Focusing lever |
Physical characteristics: | |
207g | |
⌀51×40.3mm | |
Accessories: | |
Screw-type 39mm | |
ITOOY / 12580 | |
IROOA / 12571 | |
12585 |
Sources of data
- Leica lenses booklet (PUB. 11-34d) (January 1963).
- Interchangeable lenses are giving your LEICA new perspective booklet (PUB. 11-34) (April 1960).
- Leica lenses booklet (PUB. 11-34b) (October 1961).
- Leitz General Catalogue of Photographic Equipment (January 1975).
- Leitz General Catalogue (October 1961).
- LEITZ General Catalogue for the LEICA system (June 1966).
Manufacturer description #1
From the LEICA photography magazine (1958, No. 4):
... the Elmar formula, famous since early Leica days, becomes available in increased speed and mounted expressly for M 3 and M 2 models. Like the screw-mount model, the bayonet 50mm f/2.8 Elmar is collapsible and has a click-stop diaphragm. It does not replace the f/3.5 model, which is still available in both screw- and bayonet-mounts. Price of the bayonet f/2.8 Elmar is $60.00, including tax.
Manufacturer description #2
The ELMAR is a 4-element triplet variant. Optimum image quality and contrast are obtained at f/4 to 5.6. When stopped down, it is very applicable for macrophotography.
The cemented Absorban film guarantees color rendering matched to that of Leitz lenses with more elements. It is, therefore, not a "cold lens" like the old types of ELMAR.
Sales figures show that even in this age of ultra-fast lenses, the 50mm ELMAR f/2.8 is still very popular today. Its outstanding advantages are moderate price and light weight. It can also be very successfully used as an enlarging and copying lens.
From the editor
The lens accepts both 39mm screw-type and 42mm slip-on filters.
Notes
- 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.