Leicaflex / Leica R lenses

One-cam lenses

The Leica reflex lenses were first introduced in 1964 with the original Leicaflex body. The very first lenses are called one-cam lenses.

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, the very first ones were in chrome finish
• 50/2 Summicron-R, the very first ones were in chrome finish
• 90/2.8 Elmarit-R
• 135/2.8 Elmarit-R

Two-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.

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
• 35/4 PA Curtagon shift lens made by Schneider, no diaphragm coupling at all
• 50/1.4 Summilux-R
• 50/2 Summicron-R, there was a dummy (Attrappe) version with no serial number
• 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 Zoom lens made by Angénieux
• 80-200/4.5 Vario-Elmar, same remark as 16/2.8, 19/2.8 and 24/2.8

Three-cam lenses

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.

Here is a list of three-cam lenses, in the first style without the focal length engraved on the barrel:

Here is a list of three-can lenses, in the later style with the focal length engraved on the barrel:

ROM lenses

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.

Elcan lenses

Ernst Leitz Canada made special military lenses at the time of the Leicaflex SL, called ELCAN:

• Elcan-R 75mm f/2
• Elcan-R 180mm f/3.4
• Elcan-R 450mm f/5.6

See this informative post at a Leica forum.

Lens accessories

• Adapter to mount the lenses for the Visoflex III:
  • 14127, for the original Leicaflex
  • 14127*, for the original Leicaflex and the later bodies
  • 14167, for the later bodies

• Fast focusing ramp Televit-R, for the 400/5.6 and 560/5.6 Telyt heads

• Set of extension rings, for close-ups until 1:1 with the Summicron-R 50/2
• Close-up lenses Elpro (first called Macrotar)
• Bellows

Links

In Japanese (with some English):

• Leicaflex and Leica R lenses in the R Leica Fan Club website

In French :

• Objectifs Leica R at summilux.net