Staeble Lineogon-L 35mm f/3.5

Staeble Lineogon-L 35mm f/3.5 LTM

The Staeble Lineogon-L 35mm f/3.5 LTM is a rare German wide-angle lens made for Leica screw-mount rangefinder cameras. It was produced by Staeble-Werk, also known as Dr. Staeble, Friedl & Co., a German optical manufacturer based in Altenstadt after the Second World War [1]. The lens is collector-relevant because it belongs to the small group of non-Leitz German LTM lenses made for Leica-compatible rangefinder bodies.

The Lineogon name is also found on Braun Paxette lenses, and this is the main identification problem for collectors. Most Staeble Lineogon 35mm f/3.5 lenses encountered today are Braun Paxette M39 lenses, which use a 39 mm screw thread but a different 44 mm register [2]. The true Leica screw-mount version is identified by the “-L-” or “L-Lineogon” marking and is designed for Leica LTM register and rangefinder use [3]. A documented Leica screw-mount example is listed with rangefinder coupling, coated optics, click stops to f/16, 40.5 mm filter size, and focusing down to 1 m [3].

Published technical data for the Lineogon-L is limited. A technical collector source for the Staeble-Lineogon 35mm f/3.5 documents a 4-element, 4-group retrofocus construction, 10 aperture blades, 40.5 mm filter thread, and about 1 m minimum focusing distance [4]. Because much of the published optical data concerns the Paxette-register version, LeicaLensList should treat exact length, diameter, weight, production dates, and factory production numbers as unconfirmed unless measured from a verified Lineogon-L example.

History

Development and Launch

Staeble-Werk was founded in Germany in 1908 and produced photographic, projection, enlarging, and industrial optics for several camera and equipment makers [1]. The Lineogon 35mm f/3.5 belongs to the postwar Staeble lens family and is most often associated with Braun Paxette rangefinder cameras, but a small number of examples were also made for Leica screw mount [2][3]. The Leica version appears to have been a specialist or low-volume variant rather than a common catalogue lens.

Production Evolution

The main production context for the Lineogon 35mm f/3.5 was the Braun Paxette system, where Staeble supplied interchangeable M39 lenses using the Paxette register [2]. Collector discussion notes that the same lens family was made both for Braun Super Paxette and for Leica thread mount, with the Leica examples marked “L-Lineogon” [2]. A later dealer listing describes a Lineogon-L example as a coated West German lens from the 1960s, but an exact introduction year and production end year are not reliably documented [3].

Special Variants

The most important distinction is between the Lineogon-L Leica screw-mount version and the ordinary Staeble Lineogon 35mm f/3.5 Braun Paxette version. Both use a 39 mm screw thread, but they are not the same mount standard in practical use [2]. The Paxette version should not be entered as LTM unless it is specifically marked “-L-” or “L-Lineogon” and verified to focus correctly on Leica screw-mount bodies. No major Leica-specific finish variants or official model-code variants are widely documented.

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify the “-L-” or “L-Lineogon” marking before buying. A normal Paxette M39 Lineogon can physically screw into some Leica adapters but will not provide correct infinity focus or proper rangefinder behavior on Leica LTM cameras [2]. Important checks include the LTM register, rangefinder coupling, 40.5 mm filter thread, 1 m close-focus marking, coated optics, aperture click stops to f/16, smooth focus, internal haze, coating spots, front thread condition, and whether the lens has been modified or incorrectly adapted. Because reliable factory data is sparse, serial number, mount confirmation, and actual focus testing are especially important.

Sources

• [1] Staeble-Werk. History of Staeble-Werk. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staeble-Werk
• [2] Photo.net. Anyone heard of Staeble-Lineogon 35mm in Leica M mount?. https://www.photo.net/forums/topic/169812-anyone-heard-of-staeble-lineogon-35mm-in-leica-m-mount/
• [3] The Real Camera Company. Staeble Lineogon -L- 35mm f/3.5 Rangefinder Lens, Leica Screw Mount. https://realcamera.co.uk/product/staeble-lineogon-l-35mm-f-3-5-rangefinder-lens-leica-screw-mount/
• [4] Malykh.com Notes. Staeble-Lineogon 35/3.5, M39x1/44, Retrofocus evolution of a triplet. https://malykh.blogspot.com/2024/04/staeble-lineogon-3535-m39x144.html