Leica Snapshot Elmar 3.5cm f/4 Prototype, ca. 1949–1950
In mint condition, featuring very clean coated optics and excellent overall preservation. This extremely rare post-war Leica Snapshot Elmar was specially designed for rapid photography without the need to use the rangefinder.
A lens of this type is documented by Wilhelm Albert in Geburtstage der Leitz-Foto-Konstruktionen ab 1927 (page 223), where it is listed as: “Objektiv f=3,5cm / 1:4 mit Schnappschußrastungen” (35mm f/4 lens with snapshot detents). In accordance with this description, the present example is equipped with distinctive click-stop detents at every distance marking on the focusing scale, as well as a dedicated detent at f/5.6 on the aperture scale, enabling fast and intuitive operation for snapshot photography.
Another known example of this exceptionally rare lens is illustrated in Lager II: Lenses on page 124.
An important and highly desirable Leica rarity from the immediate post-war period, combining historical significance, unusual technical features, and extreme scarcity.
