35MM SCREW MOUNT LENSES

It is important to note that Leica lenses had their focal lengths specified in millimeters from 1925 to 1928, in centimeters from 1928 to 1970, and again in millimeters from 1971 onwards³⁶⁰.

35mm (3.5cm) f/3.5 Elmar

Introduced at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1930 alongside the Leica I interchangeable model, the 35mm f/3.5 Elmar (code-named EKURZ) was the first non-50mm lens made for the Leica after the 50mm Hektor³⁶⁰.

In terms of optical construction, the lens is similar to the 5cm Elmar, consisting of four glass elements cemented together, with an aperture scale ranging from f/3.5 to f/18³⁶⁰. The original Elmar was engraved as 35mm (not 3.5cm), was non-coupled (as the Leica I did not have a rangefinder), and was non-standardized: each lens was paired with a specific camera body³⁶⁰. Later models were standardized, but all wide-angle Elmar lenses were available only in screw mounts³⁶⁰.

The wide-angle Elmar became the most popular early accessory lens for Leitz and remained in production until 1949, with total production reaching about 40,000 units³⁶⁰. It was eventually replaced by the 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron³⁶⁰. With a depth-of-field scale that exceeded that of 5cm lenses—which were notable innovations in their own right—the Elmar opened up an entirely new field: snapshot photography. Its slim build made it particularly popular among those who preferred to carry their cameras in their pockets³⁶⁰.

Weighing 115 grams, the lens measures just 15mm from the lens flange when at the infinity focus position. The f-stop scale includes the pre-war continental sequence of 3.5, 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.5, and 18. There are rumors of a very late coated post-war version featuring the modern sequence of 3.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, and 16. The focusing mount is of the rotary type; an infrared focusing mark is unnecessary due to the short focal length¹⁶⁶.

The highest known serial number for the 35mm (3.5cm) f/3.5 Elmar lens, as reported by the author, is 694055¹⁶⁶.

Leitz recognized the potential market for this type of lens; however, although a Snapshot Leica with an even cheaper 35mm f/4.5 lens was planned for production in 1934-35, it never progressed beyond the prototype stage, likely due to a lack of production capacity. Many variants of the wide-angle Elmar lens were produced during its time³⁶⁰.

Variants

Type 1 was introduced in 1930, featuring a nickel finish and lacking both an infinity lock and rangefinder coupling. The back focus was nonstandard, as the lens was matched individually to the nonstandardized Leica I Model C, with the last three digits of the serial number engraved on the distance scale ring. This model had a near focus of 18 inches (0.5 meters). In cases where no three-digit number is found on the distance ring, an internal examination will uncover a five-digit serial number of a Leica I Model A that has been converted to a nonstandardized Leica I Model C, inscribed in pencil¹⁶⁶.
Type 2 features an "O" engraved on the distance ring near the focusing lever, indicating a standard back focus of 28.8mm. Aside from this distinction, Type 2 is identical to Type 1¹⁶⁶.
With the introduction of Type 3 in 1931, close-focus capability was eliminated. The near focus for Type 3 and all subsequent lenses was standardized at 39 inches (1 meter). Type 3 has no other differences from Type 2. Types 1, 2, and 3 all feature a focusing tab positioned at the 11 o'clock position when set at infinity focus¹⁶⁶.
Type 4 was introduced in 1932 alongside the Leica II Model D. It includes a pin (sometimes referred to as a bell) infinity lock at the 11 o'clock position and is rangefinder coupled via a thick cam known as the "snail" cam. Theoretically, this lens should have its own five- or six-digit serial number¹⁶⁶.
Type 5 followed closely, featuring a flat-top infinity lock at the 11 o'clock position and is identified by the serial number 143XXX. The only difference between Types 4 and 5 lies in the presence of the serial number and the flat-top infinity lock¹⁶⁶.
Type 6 was introduced shortly thereafter, starting at serial number 149xxx. It has a familiar cone-shaped infinity lock at the 11 o'clock position. Types 1-6 are all nickel-based and are quite rare, making them nearly impossible to find today. When present, the serial number is always engraved on the front f-stop adjustment ring. The absence of five-digit (9XXXX) serial numbers for these lenses remains a mystery. It can be theorized that changes in the design of the infinity lock were aimed at maximizing manufacturing efficiency, similar to the design progression of the 50mm (5cm) f/3.5 Elmar¹⁶⁶.
Type 7 is the last and most common version of the EKURZKUP. The cone infinity lock was relocated to the familiar 7 o'clock position, and rangefinder coupling via the thick "snail" cam was replaced with a more easily manufactured regular cam, which is also seen on the 2.8cm f/6.3 Hektor lens. Type 7 was introduced around serial number 182xxx¹⁶⁶.
Type 8 (EKURZ CHROM) was introduced around serial number 215xxx and features a satin chrome finish. Otherwise, Type 8 is identical to Type 7 and is the most common version. In 1940, a small batch of Type 8 lenses was produced for the German army, beginning with serial number 5577XX. These lenses are marked "HEER" ("Army") engraved on the front f-stop adjustment ring, along with the serial number. In 1941, another small batch was made for the Luftwaffe, beginning with serial number 5669XX, marked "Luftwaffen Eigentum" around the f-stop scale ring¹⁶⁶.
The introduction of Type 9 in 1941 brought routine antireflection coating, although the outdated pre-war f-stop sequence was retained for unknown reasons. It is possible that this was due to a large stock of pre-war engraved f-stop rings.
A Type 10 may exist with a modern f-stop sequence, and if it does, the serial number is expected to be around 70xxxx¹⁶⁶.

Accessories

Various accessories can be used alongside the wide-angle Elmars, but only a select few were specifically designed for this purpose³⁶⁰. The most significant include lens hoods, viewfinders, filters, and specialized copying apparatus (code: BEKUR)³⁶⁰.

Lens hoods

The adjustable lens hood (code: FIKUS) was designed for a focal length of 3.5 cm³⁶⁰. It was discontinued due to its tendency to cause vignetting when used with A36 filters³⁶⁰. However, it can still be used with filters as long as they are of the 19 mm screw-in variety³⁶⁰. Additionally, a separate 3.5 cm hood, originally available in black and later in chrome (code: FIQOO), was also offered³⁶⁰.

Viewfinders

The earliest viewfinder specifically designed for the wide-angle Elmar was the Weisu³⁶⁰. Initially, it was finished in black, but later versions were available in chrome³⁶⁰. Eventually, the chrome version was remodeled into a tapered, torpedo-like shape and was fitted with a frame for a focal length of 35mm³⁶⁰. In the author's opinion, the Weisu served as a prototype for a model intended to replace the combination of the 50mm viewfinder and the 135mm swing-over mask found on the Leica I interchangeable model³⁶⁰.

A small batch of black Leica Standards was equipped with black, permanently attached Weisus instead of the 50mm viewfinders, possibly as a trial for the much-publicized, yet never commercially produced, Snapshot Leica³⁶⁰.

Subsequently, several additional viewfinders were introduced³⁶⁰. Two of these, identified by the codes VIDOM and VIOOH respectively, were designed with frames accommodating focal lengths of 35mm, 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm³⁶⁰. It's also worth mentioning the Aufsu viewfinder, which was used with a swing-over 35mm lens³⁶⁰. The first model of the Aufsu was a bolt-on conversion, used prior to the availability of a new casting that was introduced alongside the 28mm Hektor and the matching 28mm swing-over mask in 1935³⁶⁰.

3.5cm f/4.5 Elmar

The very rare 3.5cm f/4.5 Elmar wide-angle lens was made in 1935 and is listed in that year's German catalog under the code ELROO. While this lens is not included in the Leitz production records, at least one example is known to exist in Wetzlar. The lens does not couple with rangefinders; instead, focusing is achieved using click stops marked at 1.75 meters, 10 meters, and infinity. The diaphragm can be closed down to f/18⁸⁷.

3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron

The 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron (code-named SOONC) lens, perfected by Professor Max Berek during the war¹⁶⁶, was announced in 1946 but did not become available until 1949, when it replaced the 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar lens³⁶⁰. Some sources claim that the 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron is believed to have first appeared in 1946, with an initial production run of 700 units, which should have serial numbers less than 700000¹⁶⁶. The lowest reported number for this run is 706XXX, rendering the 1946 production claim somewhat uncertain¹⁶⁶.

The lens features a 6-element, 4-group symmetric Gauss achromat design, providing improved contrast, resolving power, and more uniform illumination compared to its Elmar predecessor¹⁶⁶. It incorporates the modern f-stop sequence, with at least five variations known to exist. All examples are fully coated¹⁶⁶. Two of the elements in that lens were single, while the other four were arranged in pairs³⁵⁸. Vignetting could be a significant issue when the angle of view increased³⁵⁸. To address this, Leitz had enlarged the diameter of the front element in the Summaron lens beyond what was typically needed for a maximum aperture of f/3.5³⁵⁸. Additionally, the back element was specifically designed to magnify angular rays, which helped to increase the light in the corners of the image and effectively reduced vignetting³⁵⁸.

The 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron offered a total field of view of 68°, with a vertical field of 38° and a horizontal angle of view of 55°. It featured a factory coating that minimized reflection, haze, and lens flare, and it was housed in a sturdy, non-collapsible barrel with a click-stop diaphragm³⁵⁸.

In 1958, a faster 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron lens was introduced³⁶⁰. Both the 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron and 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron models were produced simultaneously until 1960, when the 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron model was discontinued³⁶⁰.

Variants

Variants of the 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron Model³⁶⁰:

Variant 1 comes with rotating mount and A36 filter mount. This is a screw mount lens³⁶⁰. The available f-stops include 3.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, and 22, all of which are click-stopped¹⁶⁶. The rotary A36 accessory size focusing mount has a near focus distance of 1 meter, and no special infrared focus mark is provided¹⁶⁶.
Variant 2 with non-rotating mount and E39 filter mount (lenses with serial numbers above 1423141). This is a screw mount lens³⁶⁰. The prototype E39 Summaron is lighter and more compact than the production version. The production model is notorious for fogging or etching of the internal elements if it is stored with the diaphragms in any position other than at maximum aperture¹⁶⁶. The f-stop sequence and near focus distance remain unchanged from Variant 1. This is the second most common version of the Summaron, with approximately 10000 units sold¹⁶⁶.
Variant 3 is similar to Variant 2 but with bayonet mount³⁶⁰.
Variant 4 has a fixed-focus; made to special order: with screw mount, this variant is fitted to the IG Post Leica; with bayonet mount, to the M1 or MD Post Leica³⁶⁰.
Variant 5 came with bayonet mount, with removable spectacle for use with the M3. A prototype (no. 0000117) is recorded³⁶⁰.
Variant 6 is similar to Variant 5, but without the spectacle, since this variant was intended for use with the M2³⁶⁰.
Variant 7 is similar to Variant 5, but with redesigned mount³⁶⁰.

Accessories

Accessories for the A36 variations include a 35mm Albada-style viewfinder (SBLOO), a lens hood (FOOKH), and a 1:1 copy device. All A36 filters are compatible. The E39 variations use lens hoods ITDOO (1956), IROOA (1959), and all E39 filters¹⁶⁶.

3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron

The faster 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron (code-named SIMOO) lens was developed in 1958 as a result of recalculating the 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron model, utilizing rare Lanthanum glass³⁶⁰. This innovation allowed for an increase in the maximum aperture by one stop, while maintaining the same six-element design and its original symmetry³⁶⁰. The lens was initially equipped with a screw mount and was available in this form only from 1958 to 1962, as its introduction coincided with the end of the era of screw-mounted Leicas³⁶⁰. A prototype of this lens, numbered 0,000,463, has been documented³⁶⁰. Both the 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron and 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron models were produced simultaneously until 1960. Rogliatti reports a production total of 80219 for the more common 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron lens. From 1960 until the discontinuation of all screw mount lenses in 1963, only 5,289 units of the 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron were produced¹⁶⁶.

Variants

Variants of the 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron Model³⁶⁰

Variant 1 comes with screw mount and A36 filter mount. This is a screw mount lens³⁶⁰.
Variant 2 comes with non-rotating screw mount and E39 filter mount. This is a screw mount lens³⁶⁰. Including rare earth glasses and special lens coatings introduced in 1960. It features a lightweight parallel focusing mount with both feet and meter distance scales. The original 7 o'clock position cone-style infinity lock has been replaced with a crescent push tab design. The stop sequence remains unchanged. Version 5 is rarely found in black paint finish, with three crowns engraved at the rear of the mount, as about 100 units were sold to the Swedish military. This version represents the finest development of the Summaron design and is highly sought after by collectors and users, leading to significant prices due to its limited production¹⁶⁶. Both Variant 1 and Variant 2 of the 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron can focus to a distance of 1 meter. The E39 version on the right is sometimes encountered as a conversion from an M3-style bayonet mount lens. This creation of a rare screw mount lens can be easily identified by the presence of a 0.65-meter near focus distance and a small hole in the mount at the 6 o'clock position, where the M3 "bug eye" finder was oriented via a grub screw¹⁶⁶. The prototype E39 Summaron is lighter and more compact than the production version. The production model is notorious for fogging or etching of the internal elements if it is stored with the diaphragms in any position other than at maximum aperture¹⁶⁶.
Variant 3 is made for the Post Office. With bayonet mount, fixed focus; used in conjunction with a modified MD or MDa body³⁶⁰.
Variant 4 With bayonet mount and E39 filter mount; for use with the M2³⁶⁰.
Variant 5 is similar to Variant 4, but with viewfinder/rangefinder corrector, as this variant was intended for use with the M3³⁶⁰.

Accessories

Accessories for the A36 variations include a 35mm Albada-style viewfinder (SBLOO), a lens hood (FOOKH), and a 1:1 copy device. All A36 filters are compatible. The E39 variations use lens hoods ITDOO (1956), IROOA (1959), and all E39 filters¹⁶⁶.

35mm f/2 Summicron

Extremely rare¹³⁶
Code-named SAWOO¹³⁶
Introduced in 1958¹³⁶
Only 577 of this lens were made before it was discontinued in 1963. This number may only apply to the Wetzlar-manufactured lenses; if so, it is significantly low, as a substantial number were produced concurrently at Midland¹³⁶.
The Wetzlar and Midland lenses are identical except for minor variations in the lens coating color. Both versions share an 8-element, 6-group design that originated with Dr. Walter Mandler at Midland in 1957. The extensive use of rare earth glasses and exotic coatings resulted in a very fast wide-angle lens with superb optical performance. The minimum aperture is f/16, and the lens features a parallel mount engraved in feet and meters, focusing to 1 meter. Optimum results are obtained at f/4 or f/5.6¹³⁶.
A very rare version with a black chrome finish is seldom seen. The distance scales in feet and meters are filled with red and white paint, respectively. A heavy, black-painted brass E39 cap for the lens was available by special order only. The black lens is optically identical to the much more common satin chrome version of 35mm f/2 Summicron . A special black-painted version of the SBLOO 35mm bright line viewfinder was also available on a special order basis. Neither the black version of 35mm f/2 Summicron nor the black SBLOO was ever officially cataloged or assigned a code by Wetzlar or Midland. Production of the black version of 35mm f/2 Summicron and black-painted version of the SBLOO 35mm bright line viewfinder was very limited, with only two examples of each reported¹³⁶.
There are some counterfeit copies of 35mm f/2 Summicron lenses that you should be aware of. An unfortunate practice involves modifying bayonet mount lenses, originally designed for the M2 and M3 cameras, by removing their factory bayonet adapters to convert them to a screw mount. This is often done by loosening a small set screw¹³⁶.
While the modified lens will fit onto a screw mount camera and is optically identical to the original, it’s important to note that the focusing helix of the bayonet mount lenses was not designed to work with screw mount rangefinders. This mismatch can potentially lead to focusing issues¹³⁶.
Table from¹³⁶:

SERIAL NUMBER	Made in	FINISH	YEAR
16522XX	Midland	Chrome	1959
16556XX	Midland	Chrome	1959
16714XX	Wetzlar	Chrome	1959
16862XX	Wetzlar	Chrome	1959
17461XX	Wetzlar	Chrome	1960
18538XX	Midland	Black	1961
19972XX	Wetzlar	Black	1963
21032XX	Midland	Chrome	1965

35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH

Catalog number 11608³⁴⁹
In 1999 or 2000, Leica AG in Solms produced a special edition screw-mount (M39) lens specifically for a Japanese Leica dealer. This lens was made with a bright chrome finish and is mathematically and optically equivalent to its contemporary Leica M counterparts²⁵².
It comes with a push-on lens hood (catalog number 12504). Although the lens was intended exclusively for the Japanese market, not all of them sold, resulting in some being returned to Germany. As shown in the second chart, these rare lenses have significantly increased in value in US dollars. The total number produced remains uncertain, as Leica Camera Company does not disclose this information, and these lenses were never included in the official price catalog²⁵².
The motivation behind producing these screw-mount lenses is also a matter of speculation²⁵².
Length = 33,5mm²⁵²
Weight = 0, 330kg²⁵²
Closest Focusing Distance = 1m²⁵²
Price in October of 2000 = 1705.69 USD and by July of 2001 = 3144.55 USD²⁵²
A total of 1080 lenses were produced, with 65 of them shipped to New Jersey. Notably, the hood for this lens, unlike its M counterpart, features a round metal design that can be twisted off to accommodate Series drop-in filters. This is different from the plastic rectangular hood that comes with the M equivalent lens²⁵⁶.