Old Delft Delfar 90mm f/4.5

Old Delft Delfar 90mm f/4.5

The Delfar is a compact Dutch short telephoto built in an original rangefinder-coupled Leica screw-mount focusing barrel. Its restrained aperture and uncommon postwar production make it a distinctive Old Delft alternative to better-known 90mm lenses.

Optical qualities

Rendering

Detailed factory optical data for the Leica-mount Delfar is scarce. Its f/4.5 maximum aperture points to a design centered on compactness and practical daylight use rather than high-speed portrait work. Contrast and flare behavior can depend strongly on the condition of an individual example.

Handling

The coupled M39 mount supports normal rangefinder focusing. The chrome barrel is compact for a short telephoto. Exact minimum-focus, filter and optical-construction fields remain unspecified because dependable production documentation has not been located.

History

Development and Launch

A documented Leica M39 Delfar was manufactured in 1949, placing this version in Old Delft's early postwar optical production.

Production Evolution

Available evidence confirms a factory rangefinder-coupled M39 version. The limited surviving documentation does not support a detailed chronology of barrel changes.

Special Editions/Variants

No separate edition is established here. Finish or engraving differences should be treated as production variation unless a mechanically or optically distinct version is documented.

Collector Notes

Original coupled examples are uncommon. Correct Old Delft engraving, a native M39 mount and an intact focusing mechanism are important identifiers.