Leica Elmar 13.5cm f/4.5

Leitz Elmar 13.5cm f/4.5 LTM

The Leitz Elmar 13.5cm f/4.5 LTM is an early Leica screw-mount long-focus lens introduced in the early 1930s for Leica interchangeable-lens rangefinder cameras. It was one of the first long lenses offered for the Leica system and predates the more common Hektor 13.5cm f/4.5 that later became Leica’s standard long-focus screw-mount lens [1]. The lens uses a 4-element, 3-group optical design and was sold under the Elmar name, with the official inscription commonly given as Elmar f = 13.5 cm 1:4.5.

The lens is built in Leica screw mount / L39 and was produced in black lacquer with nickel or chrome-plated brass fittings. Later product listings and collector references describe the lens as a manual-focus LTM rangefinder lens with 15 aperture blades, 1.5 m minimum focusing distance, A36 filter fitting, and a long metal body [2]. Unlike later Leica telephoto lenses, the early 13.5cm Elmar belongs to the long-focus tradition rather than a compact telephoto construction, making it physically long for its focal length.

For LeicaLensList, this entry should be kept separate from the Hektor 13.5cm f/4.5 and the later Elmar 135mm f/4. The Elmar 13.5cm f/4.5 exists in several early variants, including non-standard, standardized, uncoupled, and rangefinder-coupled versions [3]. Because of this, collectors should not assume that every example will focus correctly on every Leica screw-mount body without verification. The lens is mainly collector-relevant today because of its early Leica system history, EFERN and EFERNKUP catalogue-code significance, black/nickel or black/chrome finish, and comparatively limited production.

History

Development and Launch

The Elmar 13.5cm f/4.5 was introduced around 1931 as one of the first long lenses for the Leica screw-mount system. Summichronica describes it as the third commercially produced lens for Leica cameras after the 50mm f/3.5 Elmar and 50mm f/2.5 Hektor, and notes its importance as Leica’s first non-50mm lens. Its optical concept was connected to earlier Max Berek long-focus work and was adapted for use on Leica cameras as the system expanded beyond the normal lens.

Production Evolution

Leica Wiki lists production from 1931 to 1936, with more than 7,000 lenses recorded by one authority and about 5,250 by another. Summichronica describes multiple variants, including non-standard uncoupled lenses, standardized uncoupled examples, standardized coupled examples, numbered rangefinder-coupled examples, and later versions with infrared markings. Many early examples were made in black and nickel, while later examples can be found in black and chrome.

Special Variants

Important catalogue-code variants include EFERN, LEDUP, and EFERNKUP. EFERN was used in Wetzlar and London catalogues, while LEDUP was used in the 1931 Ernst Leitz New York catalogue for the non-coupled version. The rangefinder-coupled version was later identified as EFERNKUP. Some early examples were non-standard and matched to individual camera bodies, while later examples were standardized and more practical for use across Leica screw-mount cameras.

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify whether an example is uncoupled or rangefinder coupled, standardized or non-standard, numbered or unnumbered, and whether it has black/nickel or black/chrome finish. Early non-standard lenses may carry a matching number and may have originally been calibrated for a specific camera body. Important checks include the EFERN or EFERNKUP identity, Elmar f = 13.5 cm 1:4.5 engraving, rangefinder coupling, mount standardization mark, aperture blade condition, haze, coating or uncoated glass condition, brass wear, tripod bush, and whether parts have been mixed with later Hektor or other 13.5cm Leitz lenses.