Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The first attempt to establish a "system standard" for filter sizes was adopted at the turn of the century by Carl Zeiss: these tended to all use 32mm, 37mm, or 42mm slip-on sizes -- and these have remained part of the Zeiss inventory ever since. (I picked up a Triotar from this era several years back -- and a modern Zeiss riflescope lenscap fit it perfectly!) When Zeiss Ikon brought out the Contax RF system, they soon adopted a 40.5mm screw-in/42mm slip-on as standard for most lenses from 28mm to 135mm focal lengths, the 2/85 Sonnar being the sole exception. It took Leitz two decades to recognize the sense in this, but, by the '60's, all Leitz lenses save for the 1.4/35, 1.4/50, 2/90, and 2.8/135 used the E39 filter size -- the 4/21, 2/35, 2.8/35, 2/50, 2.8/50, 4/90, 2.8/90, and 4/135 all took E39, a grand convenience for the bedazzled in our midst. It is a shame we have gone full-cycle and are back in the days of confusion again, with too many unique filter sizes. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!