RE: [Leica] Screw Opinions!

[Greg.Chappell@bankofamerica.com]

While I'm sure the later 50 Elmars are better, I have one with a SN of
502,xxx, which is from 1939. At some point during the 50's it was returned
to the factory & was updated. It has the red focusing scale, the current F
numbers, and is coated! I specifically asked for a pre-war lens, just to see
what results I could obtain. The moral here is to make sure what you are
getting. Many Leitz optics of that period were probably updated, if sent in
for service. Sure, it's pre-war glass so will still probably not be as good
as the later models, but the coating I'm sure helps, and it's nice having
the f-stop scale with the regular stops. The resulting pictures I have
obtained from this lens are very, very nice, although I have made sure the
lens was always used outdoors with the hood (FISON). Indoors it goes sans
hood. I sent it to Golden Touch for a CLA. After the lube & cleaning, it's
just as smooth as the new stuff! Next up is to get a screw adapter to mount
it on my M cameras for fun stuff.

- -----Original Message-----
From: Jem Kime [mailto:jem.kime@cwcom.net]
Sent: Monday, October 25, 1999 2:16 PM
To: 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us'
Subject: RE: [Leica] Screw Opinions!


JB,
I'm unsure of the technical significance but would imagine (and I've just 
checked, so my guess was correct) that it signified the start of coating in 
1946. The significance to the response was that Mike Johnston had asked for 
one later than 600,000.
Make sure to use a lens hood if you have an early lens, even if you have a 
later one you'll get better pictures with a hood.
The ser. no. can be found on the black rim on the front of the lens which 
has the aperture control on it. Finely engraved and hard to see. Though 
very early Elmars (and they were made from 1925) had no ser. nos. Numbers 
were engraved from 1933 onwards.

best regards,
Jem

- -----Original Message-----
From:	Joe B. [SMTP:joe-b@dircon.co.uk]

At 09:20 PM 24/10/99 +0100, you wrote:
<snip>
I have a Leitz 50/3.5 Elmar and have been
>disappointed with that, even though its below SN 600000.
>Jem

Jem- two questions- what is the significance of a serial no below 60000,
and- where is the serial number anyway? I can't see where it is on mine!

JB