Leicaflex / Leica R lenses
The Leica reflex lenses were first introduced in 1964 with the original Leicaflex body. The very first lenses are called one-cam lenses.
The lens mount was first modified in 1968 with the adjonction of another cam to transmit information from the lens to the body, to operate the new TTL exposure meter of the Leicaflex SL. The lenses are now called two-cams.
The introduction of the automated exposure on the Leica R3 forced a new change in the lens cams. The new lenses are the three-cam ones.
The electric data transmission between body and lens introduced with the Leica R8 meant that the new lenses were released with ROM contacts, and are now incompatible with the Leicaflex bodies.
Here is a list of the one-cam lenses, from the time of the original Leicaflex:
- 21/3.4 Super-Angulon, a special lens that mounts only with the mirror up, and is used with an external viewfinder. It is only compatible with the original Leicaflex body.
- 35/2.8 Elmarit-R
- 50/2 Summicron-R, the very first ones are in chrome finish
- 90/2.8 Elmarit-R
- 135/2.8 Elmarit-R
One special lens is the 35mm f/4 PA Curtagon shift lens. It only exists with no cam at all, which means it does not operate the exposure meter, and with manual diaphragm, which means the finder becomes darker when you turn the aperture ring.
Here is a list of the two-cam lenses, from the time of the Leicaflex SL and SL2. They can mount on an original Leicaflex with full operation unless noted.
- 16/2.8 Elmarit-R fisheye, can only mount on the Leicaflex SL2 and later, interferes with the mirror movement on the earlier bodies
- 19/2.8 Elmarit-R, same remark
- 21/4 Super-Angulon, replaces the older 21/3.4, operates normally, retrofocus type
- 24/2.8 Elmarit-R, same remark as 16/2.8 and 19/2.8
- 28/2.8 Elmarit-R
- 35/2 Summicron-R
- 35/2.8 Elmarit-R
- 50/1.4 Summilux-R
- 50/2 Summicron-R
- 60/2.8 Macro-Elmarit-R
- 90/2 Summicron-R
- 90/2.8 Elmarit-R
- 100/4 Macro-Elmar-R, for bellows only, no diaphragm coupling at all
- 135/2.8 Elmarit-R
- 180/2.8 Elmarit-R
- 250/4 Telyt-R
- 45-90/2.8 Angénieux Zoom
- 80-200/4.5 Vario-Elmar, same remark as 16/2.8, 19/2.8 and 24/2.8
