Superb! Excellent 1959 Red Scale, f3.5/50mm coated Elmar lens.

For Leica screw mount bodies.

In this listing we have an 3.5/50mm coated Elmar lens. It’s the so-called red scale version (because of the red numbers on the lens mount). This is the last version of the 3.5/50mm screw mount Elmar lens and it widely regarded the best one that Leitz produced. The red scale elmar featured newer postwar glass and a mild rework of the classic optical design. The cosmetics and the precision of the assembly was improved as well. What didn’t change was the unique Leica look these lenses produce. Leitz was careful to leave that just as it was. As with all the standard 50mm elmars, the lens has a beautiful rendering and beyond the plane of focus, the background bokeh rolls off very gently and smoothly.

The serial number 1163609 indicates that it was produced in 1955.

This lens can be used on all Leica screw mount bodies (as well as Canon, Bessa and other Leica based designs). It can also be used on later Leica M mount cameras if you have an adapter, which is very easy to find. Naturally this lens also works very nicely on mirrorless digital cameras. 

The coated lens is in excellent condition. The glass is clean and clear with just a few light cleaning wisps (but you’ll need a magnifier to see them) There are no separated elements, fungus, or crystallization. The diaphragm and focus adjustments move smoothly and it’s capable of producing very lovely photos on modern color and B&W films.