PAM Britar 105mm f/4.5

PAM Britar 105mm f/4.5

The PAM Britar 105mm f/4.5 is an uncommon American short telephoto made in Leica-compatible screw mount. Its compact chrome barrel, coupled focusing and simple triplet construction made it a practical telephoto option for Kardon and other LTM rangefinder cameras.

Optical Qualities

The lens uses three elements in three groups in a classic triplet arrangement. The 105mm focal length provides a compressed short-telephoto perspective suited to portraits and distant details. The modest f/4.5 maximum aperture keeps the construction relatively compact. Results from surviving examples depend strongly on coating and optical condition.

History

PAM produced the Britar in the United States during the mid-1940s. Leitz auction documentation records a coupled example associated with the Kardon system from approximately 1945, while later auction records confirm a standard Leica 39mm rangefinder-coupled mount. The lens remains relatively uncommon.

Handling

The original lens uses a dedicated focusing barrel mechanically coupled to the camera rangefinder. A separate finder with an approximately 105mm field of view is recommended for framing on cameras without suitable framelines. Reliable minimum-focus and filter specifications are not consistently documented and are left open.

Compatibility

The documented factory version uses the Leica thread mount, also known as LTM or M39. It can be mounted directly on compatible screw-mount rangefinders and used on Leica M bodies with a suitable adapter. The coupling allows focus confirmation on correctly calibrated rangefinder cameras.

Sources

• Leitz Photographica Auction, PAM N.Y. Britar 4.5/105mm
• Flints Auctions, PAM Britar f/4.5 105mm
• 35mmc, PAM Britar 105mm f/4.5