Rare & Superb! 1930‘s 11:00 O’clock Leitz Elmar 3.5/5cm (50mm) factory conversion lens

The 5cm/50mm Elmar was first available to the public in 1926 and became the standard lens on the Leica I (which was a fixed lens camera). Some four years later Leitz introduced a screw-mount variation of this lens for use on the “Leica Standard” which accepted interchangeable lenses. The then new screw-mount lenses used the same internal elmar optical design in a different mount.

In 1932 elmar lenses became standardized so that all lenses would correctly word on all interchangeable bodies. This standardization was indicated by an “O” marking on camera lens mounts and an “O” marking on the lens.  (Earlier lenses didn’t have this marking which meant that they had to be inspected and adjusted for correct focus when used on a specific camera.)

To eliminate confusion and to generate income, Leitz offered a conversion service in which early lenes were remounted in custom tailored standardized mounts to correctly set the back focus. There were various mounts and these were identified by a small number on the rear of the focus lever. All completed lenses were marked with a “O” to indicate that they were fully interchangeable.

This lens conversation service was also available to Leica I owners who upgraded Leica I cameras to accept the interchangeable lenses. (I should point out that early lenses didn’t have serial numbers because they’d previously been permanently attached to a specific Leica I camera.)

The lens in this listing is one of those hard to find, early converted elmar lenses with no serial number and was produced sometime between 1927- 1930. It has an 11:00 O’clock mount, meaning the focus lever sits higher up (at 11:00) than later lenses when mounted on a camera. There's no infinity lock, the distance scale numbering font is unique and last but not least, the mount plate with the distance engraving is slightly smaller than the diameter of the lens mount on the camera. Naturally it has an “O” engraved on the rear of this plate indicating it is standardized and there’s also a number “4” stamped on the backside of the focus lever. In case you’re wondering, all of this means that this rare lens will focus correctly on any of your early screw mount camera. (We even double-checked the focus for you and it’s perfect.)

This hard to find lens is in very fine condition and I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better example, especially given that it's 95 to 98 years old. The cosmetics are beautiful. Aperture and focus controls move smoothly. The glass is clean and clear, there are no scratches no cleaning marks and capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and b&w films. 

All in all a great lens if you you’ve been looking for an authentic early lens for your prewar Leica!