[Prince Harbinger]

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Interested in buying a Leica won't be from this seller. Because of his feedback. This is just an example. I see a few in these colors that look identical.
Lens Leitz Elmar 3.5/50 mm RF M39 LEICA Zeiss/Limited Edition+ adapter ring m42 | eBay

[photoptimist]

Perhaps it's just a case of poor English but the fact that the seller admits "If you need more lenses, just write to me. I will create for you any item of your choice." suggests there is some fakery going on.

[Prince Harbinger]

Perhaps it's just a case of poor English but the fact that the seller admits "If you need more lenses, just write to me. I will create for you any item of your choice." suggests there is some fakery going on.

Good catch! I was thinking that he meant adapting it to any mount.

[Bewatek]

Also, the typo "optischen" on the lens cap pretty much gives it away
Cant read the rest but there is no word combination where optischen would make sense.
"Optische Werke Ernst Leitz Wetzlar" was an early company name but as far as i know they never printed it on any cameras or lenses.

Reminds me of fake ebay- Leica IIs with ridiculous national-socialist sounding and gramatically wrong inscriptions directly from google translate

[BigMackCam]

It's almost certainly not a Leitz Elmar, but rather a Russian FED. They look similar externally, to the casual observer. Actually, the FED lenses are pretty good (I have a few in different focal lengths), and some might say they perform quite similarly to the Leitz... But if you're going to buy a FED, buy one that proudly shows off its true identity

[pentaxus]

Notice that the description calls it a Carl Zeiss Sonnar.

[stevebrot]

Fake...The lens started out life as an Industar. For details as to why...

Elmar vs Industar

Edit: As noted above, is probably a FED, but the linked page above is still pertinent.

Steve

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Last edited by stevebrot; 03-11-2019 at 02:08 PM.

[stevebrot]

It's almost certainly not a Leitz Elmar, but rather a Russian FED.

Ukrainian FED? *

I was going to ask how you differentiated from the Industar 50/3.5, but then spotted the difference in the distance scale for MFD...1.25m vs. 1.2 for the Industar.

Steve

* FED lenses were made in Kharkov, at least according to Fedka...LINK

[BigMackCam]

Ukrainian FED? *

I was going to ask how you differentiated from the Industar 50/3.5, but then spotted the difference in the distance scale for MFD...1.25m vs. 1.2 for the Industar.

Steve

* FED lenses were made in Kharkov, at least according to Fedka...LINK

Thanks for the correction, Steve

As I understand it, the FED 3.5/50 (a.k.a Industar-10), Industar-22 and Industar-50 are all essentially versions of the same lens... yes?

I'm less-well-informed on these earlier rangefinder lenses than on the SLR models, I'll admit

[stevebrot]

As I understand it, the FED 3.5/50 (a.k.a Industar-10), Industar-22 and Industar-50 are all essentially versions of the same lens... yes?

That has been my impression too.


Steve

[Prince Harbinger]

Found a real one that I'm interested in owning. What do you guys think of this one?

[BigMackCam]

Found a real one that I'm interested in owning. What do you guys think of this one?

Difficult to tell without more supporting details, photos, seller info etc. This could be original, or it could still be a fake (there are lots of them around ). You'll need more photos than these to decide, or buy from a seller who will stand behind the originality of their wares...

I'd also say, you'd be better off buying a mid-to-late 60s or early 70s Industar-50 or -50-2 in M39 (SLR) or M42 mount respectively. The optical formula is the same, but the coatings make one heck of a difference. The later lens might not look quite so cool, but it's far more usable for day-to-day photography, whilst still retaining most of the rendering character (with the exception of troublesome flare)...

The older rangefinder lenses are still good optically, and they'll still produce decent photos, but I respectfully suggest they have more value to collectors than modern day photographers.

[Prince Harbinger]

Difficult to tell without more supporting details, photos, seller info etc. This could be original, or it could still be a fake (there are lots of them around ). You'll need more photos than these to decide, or buy from a seller who will stand behind the originality of their wares...

I'd also say, you'd be better off buying a mid-to-late 60s or early 70s Industar-50 or -50-2 in M39 (SLR) or M42 mount respectively. The optical formula is the same, but the coatings make one heck of a difference. The later lens might not look quite so cool, but it's far more usable for day-to-day photography, whilst still retaining most of the rendering character (with the exception of troublesome flare)...

The older rangefinder lenses are still good optically, and they'll still produce decent photos, but I respectfully suggest they have more value to collectors than modern day photographers.

I checked out those Industar-50's. While I do like how small they are. "The optical formula is the same, but the coatings make one heck of a difference." Thing is I read that they are Zeiss copies. The photos will look closer to Zeiss.

[BigMackCam]

I checked out those Industar-50's. While I do like how small they are. "The optical formula is the same, but the coatings make one heck of a difference." Thing is I read that they are Zeiss copies. The photos will look closer to Zeiss.

Trust me, the optical formula of a 1960s - 70s Industar-50 is the same as an earlier Industar-22. Except that the later lens is better, IMHO.

But, by all means buy different lenses and find out for yourself. That's part of the fun

[stevebrot]

Found a real one that I'm interested in owning. What do you guys think of this one?

Fake

Real adjusts aperture with a tab, not a knurled ring Edit: not always. Also note the reflections in the front element. The genuine Elmar is uncoated. The photo shows a bluish reflection typical of Soviet-made copies.


Steve