Staeble Underwater Ultra Wideangle 28mm f/3.5 M39

Staeble Underwater Ultra Wideangle 28mm f/3.5 M39

The Staeble Underwater Ultra Wideangle 28mm f/3.5 M39 is a rare German wide-angle lens made in Leica screw mount for rangefinder cameras. It is an unusual specialist lens because it was not simply a normal 28mm LTM wide-angle. Leitz Auction describes an example as an original rangefinder-coupled M39 lens, optically corrected for use in an underwater housing, with two click stops on the focusing ring [1].

Leica Classic also lists the lens as “Staeble f. M39 28/3,5 Underwater Ultra Wideangle” and describes it as a very rare wide-angle lens in rangefinder-coupled M39 mount [2]. MW Classic describes another example as a coated chrome 28mm f/3.5 lens in original Leica L39 screw mount, noting that it focuses normally and has click stops at the engraved “NUW” and “SUW” positions [3].

This lens should not be confused with Staeble’s more common Lineogon 35mm f/3.5 M39 lenses, Braun Paxette M39 lenses, or other Staeble projection, enlarging or Paxette-system optics. The key collector identifiers are the 28mm f/3.5 focal length and aperture, Leica M39 / L39 screw mount, rangefinder coupling, underwater-correction concept, chrome finish and the special focusing-ring click stops [1] [3].

Optical qualities

Rendering

Reliable optical testing is extremely limited. The available sources mainly document the lens as a rare underwater-corrected M39 wide-angle rather than as a normally tested photographic lens. Because Leitz Auction states that it was optically corrected for underwater housing use, its above-water rendering should not be assumed to match a conventional 28mm rangefinder lens [1].

Sharpness

No reliable published bench test or detailed independent image evaluation was found. Sharpness should therefore be treated as unknown and copy-dependent. Claims about edge sharpness, field curvature or high-resolution digital performance should be avoided unless tested with the exact lens [1] [2].

Contrast and coating

MW Classic describes its example as a coated chrome lens with clean optics [3]. That confirms that at least some examples are coated, but coating type, coating generation and optical formula are not currently well documented in public sources.

Underwater use

The lens’s defining feature is its underwater-correction purpose. Leitz Auction specifically states that the lens was optically corrected for use in an underwater housing, and MW Classic notes engraved “NUW” and “SUW” click-stop positions on the focusing ring [1] [3]. The exact meaning of those markings should be documented from the physical lens or housing instructions before using them as database fields.

Digital use

The lens can physically be used on Leica M bodies through its L39 / M39 screw mount with an L39-to-M adapter, and on mirrorless cameras with suitable adapters. However, because it was designed for underwater housing use, above-water performance, focusing accuracy and edge behavior should be checked carefully before presenting it as a general-purpose 28mm lens [1].

History

Development and Launch

The lens appears to belong to Staeble’s postwar period as a specialist optical manufacturer. Leitz Auction lists a documented example with 1950s manufacture year and serial number 993044 [1]. Staeble-Werk was a German optical manufacturer known for camera, projector, reproduction and enlarging lenses, and it produced some Leica-compatible M39 lenses in addition to lenses for other systems [4].

Production Evolution

Public documentation about exact production years, production quantity, optical formula and version changes is very limited. Known public examples include Leitz Auction serial number 993044 and Leica Classic serial number 993919 [1] [2]. Both are described as rangefinder-coupled M39 examples, which supports treating this as a real Leica-compatible lens rather than a simple seller-modified mount.

Special Editions/Variants

No commemorative factory special edition is documented. The collector-relevant distinction is the underwater-corrected 28mm f/3.5 M39 form itself. Known examples appear in chrome finish, and MW Classic notes engraved “NUW” and “SUW” click-stop positions [3]. If another copy lacks those markings, it should be examined carefully before being merged with this entry.

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify the front engraving, Staeble name, 28mm f/3.5 specification, Leica M39 / L39 mount, rangefinder coupling, infinity focus, underwater focus click stops, chrome finish, serial number and optical condition. Important condition checks include haze, cleaning marks, coating damage, aperture operation, smooth focusing and whether the lens has been modified. Because ordinary M39 thread lenses can belong to other systems with different flange distances, the rangefinder coupling and Leica-standard focusing behavior are especially important [2] [3].

Special editions

No confirmed factory special edition is currently documented.

Known collector-relevant variants and related examples include:

• Staeble Underwater Ultra Wideangle 28mm f/3.5 M39, rangefinder-coupled Leica screw-mount version.
• Leitz Auction example, serial number 993044, described as 1950s manufacture.
• Leica Classic example, serial number 993919.
• Coated chrome example with “NUW” and “SUW” click-stop positions, documented by MW Classic.
• Staeble Lineogon 35mm f/3.5 M39, related Staeble wide-angle but a different lens.
• Braun Paxette M39 Staeble lenses, not automatically Leica-compatible because Paxette M39 used a different register.

Sources

• [1] Leitz Auction. Staeble f. Leica M39 Underwater Ultra Wide Angle 3.5/28mm. https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Staeble-f.-Leica-M39-Underwater-Ultra-Wide-Angle-3.5-28mm/A02006
• [2] Leica Classic. Staeble f. M39 28/3,5 Underwater Ultra Wideangle. https://classic.leica-camera.com/it/Staeble-f.-M39-28-3-5-Underwater-Ultra-Wideangle/27639-2
• [3] MW Classic Cameras. Staeble Underwater Ultra Wide Angle 28mm f3.5 coated chrome lens in original Leica L39 screw mount. https://mwclassic.com/product/staeble-underwater-ultra-wide-angle-28mm-f3-5-coated-chrome-lens-in-original-leica-l39-screw-mount-caps-lense-focuses-normally-and-has-click-stops-at-nuw-suw-2-engraved-positions-rare-lens/
• [4] Wikipedia DE. Staeble-Werk. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staeble-Werk
• [5] CollectiBlend. Staeble Lenses. https://collectiblend.com/Lenses/Staeble/