Look what I found under the Christmas Tree - Leica 5cm 3.5 Elmar

[RalllyFan]

Knowing I've been on a vintage lens kick, my Mom was kind enough to pick me up a Leica 5cm f3.5 Elmar. I was quite surprised, and more than thrilled. My very initial impressions are...well...I love it. It's quirky to use (have you seen the aperture ring??), small but with a little heft, and in amazing shape for a 63 year old lens. Certainly not one of the speedy, nifty fifties, but it definitely has a lot of character. Haven't given it much of a test run, but a few pics are below.

The bad boy in question:

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A few test shots of some old cameras I have:

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I love the way the dials rendered here:

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As excited as I am, it's been a long day and I'm spent. Hopefully the weather will cooperate tomorrow and I can give it a bigger test run.

 

[Jefenator]

Wow - your mom must be pretty hip!!

I know almost nothing about Leica lenses - particularly the older stuff - but it already seems like your new-to-you Elmar does some real nice renderings! Congrats!

 

[Bimjo]

That's a pretty cool present regardless of the occasion.

 

[ChangshaNotes]

My mom bought me socks.

 

[RalllyFan]

Wow - your mom must be pretty hip!!

LOL - hip, and she has a great camera store (EP Levine) a mile from her work.

Certainly not what I normally get for Christmas, but she knows I had a pretty rough year and this makes for a nice distraction from that.

 

[christilou]

This looks like a very special lens, love the pics. Hope to see some more when you have the time One of my daughters bought me a pack of mono Polaroid film for the old Polaroid cam I inherited in the Summer and I was quite surprised!

 

[Rich]

My mom bought me socks.

I got socks, underpants and a biography of Keith Moon. A 50mm Leica lens would have been nice, but hey, always next year!

You're lucky to have a Mom like that.

Rich.

 

[Jefenator]

Let's see it on the camera!

You'll be in the top tier of coolness in this thread very shortly, no doubt.

 

[Ad Dieleman]

Great set of gear and the pics look good too. Isn't it a pity that you can't use that Retina Xenon 50/2 on your NEX?

 

[RalllyFan]

Great set of gear and the pics look good too. Isn't it a pity that you can't use that Retina Xenon 50/2 on your NEX?

Or the Carl Zeiss on the Exakta. Both are rather moldy, too.

 

[RalllyFan]

Couple of quick color shots while passing through Salem, MA today. Love this thing:

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[Bimjo]

Huh, go figure, them old lenses still take pretty good pictures.

Pressed to death sounds deliberate...

 

[freddytto]

well, I'm still waiting for Santa, a pair of socks would be great, now a new lens would be much better, congratulations, it's a great lens.....

 

[Jefenator]

Way to put a new lens through its paces! Is it just me or is that thing getting some very nice colors? (All the more impressive, coming from the peak of the B&W era...)

 

[BJW]

I had and used one many years ago on a 3F Leica. I think it was a 3F. Might have been a 3G. Anyway it was a really nice lens. Congrats! You need to give your mom a BIG kiss for that.
BJW