SOM Berthiot Flor 55mm f/1.5

SOM Berthiot Flor 55mm f/1.5

The Flor 55mm f/1.5 is an exceptionally scarce SOM Berthiot normal lens documented in an original, rangefinder-coupled Leica thread mount. Its bright-chrome brass barrel was prepared for SOM Berthiot by the Paris specialist A. Garneau.

Optical qualities

Rendering

The unusually fast f/1.5 aperture gives the lens shallow depth of field and a distinctly vintage wide-open character. Reliable factory data for the element and group count has not been located, so the optical formula remains unspecified rather than inferred from related Flor lenses.

Handling

The original LTM barrel is rangefinder-coupled and provides direct focusing on compatible screw-mount cameras. Published evidence does not establish a dependable minimum focus distance, filter size or barrel dimensions for this rare version, so those specifications are left blank.

History

Development and Launch

Known Leica-mount examples date from the 1950s. The documented auction lens was built in bright-chrome brass, with its coupling mount made by A. Garneau in Paris for SOM Berthiot.

Production Evolution

The 55mm f/1.5 Flor appeared in several non-Leica camera mounts. This profile is limited to the original coupled LTM execution and does not merge later professional adaptations to Leica M.

Special Editions/Variants

Small engraving and mount details may vary among the few surviving examples. No separate optical subtypes are established here.

Collector Notes

Original LTM construction and functional rangefinder coupling are essential identification points. Adapted examples in other mounts should not be treated as this factory-associated Leica thread version.