73MM SCREW MOUNT LENSES
7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor
7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor was the first long-focus 'speed' lens from Leitz and it was designed for photography in very low light conditions, such as in theatres and cafes143. Professor Max Berek completed the design work in March 1931180. In his "Geburtstage der Leitz-Foto-Konstruktionen ab 1927" book, Wilhelm Albert dated the "birthday" of this lens ("Objektiv Hektor 1:1,9 f=7,3 cm") as March 12, 1931 (or March 17, 1931, as indicated on a different page), and noted himself as designer573.
The lens was first offered for sale in December of 1931180.
The six-element, three-group design by Professor Berek gained an undeserved reputation for mediocre performance, primarily due to its well-known softness at a maximum aperture of f/1.9180. This softness was a result of Professor Berek's intentional sacrifice of other design parameters to achieve maximum speed180. Overall sharpness improves significantly when the aperture was stopped down; f/4 was considered to offer optimal performance180. The European aperture scale extended down to f/25, but little improvement was observed beyond f/4180.
Variants
With Rotating Focusing Mount (HEKON)
The first variant of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens with rotating focusing mount, code-named HEKON, was introduced in 193110. There were 7 distinct versions of HEKON180:
- The first version of HEKON (referred to here as Type 1 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- designed for use with the Leica I Model C with standardized mount180
- lacked rangefinder coupling180
- lacked serial number180
- lacked infrared index180
- was finished in black and had a nickel distance scale ring180
- extremely rare180
- featured a common reversible hood10
- the mount allowed the lens head to be removed for use on close-up devices266
- The second version of HEKON (referred to here as Type 2 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- The third version of HEKON (referred to here as Type 3 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- serial number starting from 971XX180
- designed for use with Leica II Model D180
- had rangefinder coupling180
- lacked infrared index180
- finished in black and had a nickel distance scale ring180
- weighted 500 grams180
- was introduced in 1932180
- The overlap of serial numbers for both coupled (Type 3) and serial numbered non-coupled (Type 2) lenses suggested that some serial numbered non-coupled (Type 2) lenses might have received the rangefinder coupling cams during factory conversions180
- code-named HEKONKUP30
- featured a common reversible hood10
- the mount allowed the lens head to be removed for use on close-up devices266
- The fourth version of HEKON (referred to here as Type 5 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- The fifth version of HEKON (referred to here as Type 6 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- The sixth version of HEKON (referred to here as Type 11 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- serial numbers in 437XXX and 538XXX range180
- had rangefinder coupling180
- had infrared index180
- finished in black and had a chrome distance scale ring180
- weighted 493 grams180
- featured a common reversible hood10
- the mount allowed the lens head to be removed for use on close-up devices266
- By 1937, chrome replaced nickel on the focusing scale, and black paint was substituted for the ring at the rear of the lens180
- code-named HEKON-CHROM180
- The seventh version of HEKON (referred to here as Type 12 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- serial numbers in 538XXX range180
- had rangefinder coupling180
- had infrared index180
- was finished in black and had a chrome distance scale ring180
- weighted 493 grams180
- had coated elements180
- featured a common reversible hood10
- the mount allowed the lens head to be removed for use on close-up devices266
Three types of the 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor (HEKON) are illustrated below. From left to right: Type 3, Type 5,Type 10 180 :
With Parallel Non-Rotating Focusing Mount (HEGRA)
The second variant of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens with parallel non-rotating focusing mount, code-named HEGRA, was introduced around 1933 and cataloged starting 1934542. The development of this parallel non-rotating focusing mount was prompted by the introduction of the Agfa color system in 1933180. Agfa utilized a lenticulated film emulsion surface with tricolor taking (FARBA) and projection (FARPU) filters; the red, green, and blue glass stripes of the filter needed to be precisely aligned parallel to the film lenticulation180. The fast speed of the 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor made it an ideal lens for the Agfa system180. The front of the parallel mount did not rotate during focusing, and a small stud near the front of the lens ensured proper orientation of the Agfa filters each time180. This version also came with a reversible hood and is optically identical to the HEKON10.
There were 5 distinct versions of HEGRA180:
- The first version of HEGRA (referred to here as Type 4 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- serial numbers in 972XX range180
- was rangefinder coupled180
- was completely black in finish180
- lacked infrared index180
- weighted 475 grams180
- was extremely rare and might have been a factory modification of unsold uncoupled HEKON lenses (referred to here as Type 1 and Type 2 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens)180
- the black paint on the focusing ring wore off quickly with use, prompting Leitz to replace it with a bright chrome finish (see Type 7 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens)180
- Some lenses of Type 1 with a nickel finish on the focusing ring were reported180
- came with a reversible hood10
- optically identical to the HEKON10
- The second version of HEGRA (referred to here as Type 7 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- The third version of HEGRA (referred to here as Type 8 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- had serial numbers in 1669XX range180
- was rangefinder coupled180
- was black in finish and had a chrome distance ring180
- had infrared index180
- weighted 475 grams180
- The small stud near the front of the lens provided proper orientation of the Agfa color filters180
- came with a reversible hood10
- optically identical to the HEKON10
- The fourth version of HEGRA (referred to here as Type 9 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- The fifth version of HEGRA (referred to here as Type 10 of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lens) had the following features:
- was rangefinder coupled180
- was fully chrome in finish180
- had infrared index180
- the existence of a chrome ORXDO front lens cap supported the theory that a small run of Type 10 lenses were produced180
- a sample of Type 10 variant was reported in Japan180
- the brushed all chrome Type 10 might have been a special-order item or a unique factory conversion180
- came with a reversible hood10
- optically identical to the HEKON10
Three types of the 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor (HEGRA) are illustrated below. From from left to right: Type 4, Type 7, Type 8 180
Accessories
7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor was well-suited for use with rangefinder cameras starting in 1932, featuring an enlarged rangefinder image with diopter control starting in 1933266. From 1935 onward, it offered good direct viewfinding for available light subjects like sports, theater, and journalism266, facilitated by the rare143 SAIOO Albada folding sport finder266.
The 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor front cap, known as ORXDO, fits only the reversed lens hood (FGHOO) 180.
Push-on filters were introduced in 1933, but early push-on filters for the 50mm Xenon were also compatible, such as the "Gelbfilter 2" (code-named XOOCN)266.
Early 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lenses had a flange that appeared threaded but, upon closer inspection, were merely parallel grooves designed to reduce reflections entering the lens266. Although the interior diameter was still 39mm, E39 filters could not be mounted due to the absence of helical threads266.
Late models of the 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor had a threaded front flange compatible with E39 screw-in filters266.
COOAB special short focusing mount could be used with this lens542.
VIDEO, VIUNA, VIDOM and VIOOH viewfinders could be used with this lens542.
RASAL folding frame sports viewfinder could be used with this lens542.
Rare143 SAIOO Albada266 folding optical sports viewfinder could be used with this lens542. In fact, it was specifically designed for this lens542.
SOOAW rigid optical sports viewfinder could be used with this lens542. In fact, it was specifically designed for this lens542. It was catalogued in 1943 but probably never reached production542.
Military
In 1940, lens coating was applied to some of the last batches of the black/chrome 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lenses that specifically intended for the Kriegsmarine180. These coated lenses were engraved with the Reichsadler and "MF" navy markings, and they carried a specific serial number180. They were very rare180. Among these:
- The lens number 437752 dated 1938 was sold for 41250 Euros including buyer's premium at the 1st WestLicht Camera Auction on November 15, 2002422. The lot was described as "Rare Hektor 7,3cm engraved with the Reichsadler + M113, delivered to Berlin on 6 September 1939 (bln 31604) only a few of these Hektors with this type of engraving for the navy are known to exist, rear cap engraved M 113"422.
- The HEKON number 538242, dated 1941, was manufactured for the Kriegsmarine (German Navy), had original Reichsadler with 'M' and 'W' engravings on both head and barrel, and delivered to Berlin on January 31, 1941381.
- The lens number 538433 was engraved with Reichsadler, M and MF685540. It was delivered to Kiel in 1941540. The lens was illustrated on page 93 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book540. It was illustrated in Mr. Lars Netopil's "Museum Leica" book in 2018596.
- The lens number 538438 was engraved with Reichsadler, M and MF681540. It was delivered to Kiel in 1941540. The lens was illustrated on page 93 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book540.
Quantity
According to the list of lens serial numbers published in Appendix 2 of Erwin Puts' Leica Chronicle, the first batch of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor began at 94140, followed by a second batch that started at 96492305. The next recorded block of lens numbers was 96611 – 97118, which had been allocated to 9 cm Elmar lenses305. This was followed by a third batch of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor numbered from 97185 onward305.
Closing Remarks
Once Kodachrome and Agfa color transparency films became available around 1936, the need for the more complex HEGRA diminished, and the last models of the 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor returned to the rotating mount HEKON266.
For many years, the development of the 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor was regarded by Leitz as one of their outstanding optical achievements, and it remained the fastest lens in the Leitz catalog until the introduction of the 5cm f/1.5 Xenon in 1936180. The launch of the 8.5cm f/1.5 Summarex in 1943 ultimately marked the decline of 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor180. Throughout its twelve years of production, the 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor was considered the premium lens offering for the Leica180. Leitz consistently sought a relatively high selling price for this lens180.
There were 49952 7.3cm f/1.9 Hektor lenses produced between 1931 and 1939, with serial numbers ranging from 94140 through 538500439.