Can anybody tell me about this Elmar 50mm?

[monkowa]

So I was perusing some online stores, looking at different leica lenses when I saw this:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/561951089/leitz-elmar-3550-mm-rf-m39-lens-leica

Any ideas about this lens? Is it a fake because I have never seen this color combo before and the seller only seems to have various Russian RF's and lenses. It's very interesting looking, ill say that much.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

These lenses with the bizarre colors are definitely not Leica Elmar lenses. The original (before painting) was one of the Soviet copies of the Elmar. Note the aperture ring. The real Elmar has a rather fiddly small knob right next to the glass, but this Soviet copy is an improvement with a larger knurled aperture ring. I have no experience regarding the optical quality of these Soviet lenses. The photo below is my old Elmar (which, of course, I should have never sold).

 

[Theo Sulphate]

...
https://www...
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Ack!

What's been seen cannot be unseen.

 

[BAC1967]

Those Russian copies are all over eBay. The Fed and industar copies are not bad lenses but don’t pay a lot for one.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Where is no Elmar, but wandalized industar. None of the Elmars have this aperture ring...

I didn't know something worse than eBay exists. But after seeing this ad.
On eBay same lens has clear note about been copy.

 

[summicron1]

Optically they are copies of Zeiss Sonnar formulae, or based on them would perhaps be more accurate -- not bad glass. The paint job gives this one an amusement value, but I wouldn't pay that much for it. It and a camera are worth maybe $150 to $200.

 

[btaylor]

Surely it's an Industar. I liked mine. Looks like they go for $30-60 on the 'bay in original chrome.

 

[darkosaric]

Note the aperture ring. The real Elmar has a rather fiddly small knob right next to the glass

This is important to see, and also F stop blades are very close to front glass in original Elmar, in Industar f stop leafs are more deep in the lens body.

One of the best Elmar copies that I have seen had writings "5cm f3.5 Summicron" on it .

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Optically they are copies of Zeiss Sonnar formulae, or based on them would perhaps be more accurate -- not bad glass. The paint job gives this one an amusement value, but I wouldn't pay that much for it. It and a camera are worth maybe $150 to $200.

Not even close. Jupiter 50 lenses are copies of Zeiss Sonnars. Industar is typical Tessar formula lens. As any Tessar they have small amount of glass...

 

[E. von Hoegh]

So I was perusing some online stores, looking at different leica lenses when I saw this:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/561951089/leitz-elmar-3550-mm-rf-m39-lens-leica

Any ideas about this lens? Is it a fake because I have never seen this color combo before and the seller only seems to have various Russian RF's and lenses. It's very interesting looking, ill say that much.

Boy, they really went to town on that one, even to the point of reproducing the older aperture scale. Halloween colors too.
Actually the Industar 10, 22, and 50 lenses are pretty good Tessar clones. I have an I-22 on a Zorki C that does a fine job.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Not even close. Jupiter 50 lenses are copies of Zeiss Sonnars. Industar is typical Tessar formula lens. As any Tessar they have small amount of glass...

You mean Jupiter 8, Jupiter 9, lenses. There is no "Jupiter 50"

 

[Ko.Fe.]

You mean Jupiter 8, Jupiter 9, lenses. There is no "Jupiter 50"

Jupiter 50mm lenses to be exact.
Jupiter 8 is 50mm f2, Jupiter 3 is 50mm f1.5 and both are Zeiss Sonnar copies.
Here is even Zorki ZK 50mm lens.
http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1424201095

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Jupiter 50mm lenses to be exact.
Jupiter 8 is 50mm f2, Jupiter 3 is 50mm f1.5 and both are Zeiss Sonnar copies.
Here is even Zorki ZK 50mm lens.
http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1424201095

Actually they are 52.4mm, as are the "5cm" Sonnars.

 

[cliveh]

Never buy a Leica product outside Europe or the USA.

 

[MattKing]

Never buy a Leica product outside Europe or the USA.

Why would Canada be a problem?

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Why would Canada be a problem?

Isn't Canada just outside of Chicago?

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Jupiter lenses (3,8,9) were copies of the Sonnar. Industar lenses were Tessar types, although I think the I-10 was an Elmar copy. Pretty sure the later I-20 and I-50 were Tessar clones. I have an I-50 collapsible and it is a nice lens. Made quite a few nice images with it mounted on a Zorki 5.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Jupiter lenses (3,8,9) were copies of the Sonnar. Industar lenses were Tessar types, although I think the I-10 was an Elmar copy. Pretty sure the later I-20 and I-50 were Tessar clones. I have an I-50 collapsible and it is a nice lens. Made quite a few nice images with it mounted on a Zorki 5.

All Industats are Tessars.
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Индустар#Индустар-10
It looks like Elmars are the same:
https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/46382-50mm-elmar-construction/?p=494522

I never owned Elmar 50 3.5. But all three collapsible Industars.
I-10 is very similar to Elmar 50 3.5, but much more weaker optically comparing to I-22 and I-50.

Tube length, focus pin shape and aperture ring are very close to Elmar. It is also less crude made lens, comparing to I-22 and I-50 (worse).

 

[MattKing]

Isn't Canada just outside of Chicago?

It is south of Detroit.
(It is - look at the map!)

 

[Ko.Fe.]

It is south of Detroit.
(It is - look at the map!)

To me it is on the right from Alaska and well above on United States.

 

[BMbikerider]

If you Google...... Collectable cameras.co.uk.......Right down near the bottom of the price list, there are a number of both Russian Zorki's and a couple of genuine Leica's, plus a Zorki with engravings that suggest it is actually a Leica (but isn't) so you can see the problem, whist not endemic, is far from uncommon.

 

[cliveh]

Sorry, Canada accepted.

 

[MattKing]

Sorry, Canada accepted.

phew - Midland Ontario's history thanks you.