I recently came across an ad for two Leica Super Angulon 21 mm f4 lenses. One was a "R", the other a "Wetzlar" 3-cam. Will the Wetzlar work on a R8 body? What is the differece between the two lenses?

-- Tom Maras (t.maras@worldnet.att.net), March 11, 2002

Answers

history of cams detailed elsewhere, but sometime (early 80's?) Leica switched from the 3 cam arrangement to a "R only" arrangement, without the earlier SL cams. Both will work with all R series bodies (lacking only the ROM'ing for the R8), the 3 cam also with earlier bodies. This switch time varied by lenses, but generally a R only might be ewer (but then, you've got serial numbers). At least, from the info you gave, I surmise that is the difference.

-- Lacey Smith (lacsmith@bellsouth.net), March 11, 2002.

On 3-cam lenses, the 3rd cam was added for the R camera series. Thus the 3rd cam is referred to as the "R cam". Later R lenses often had only this 3rd R cam, and the first 2 cams were dropped. These lenses are referred to as R-cam lenses.

A 3-cam lens will work on any Leica SLR - early SL all the way through the R8. An R-cam lens will work only on R series cameras, not on the early SL cameras.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), March 11, 2002.

Sorry, Tom. I forgot the poor ol' Leicaflex in all this. The first cam was for the Leicaflex cameras. The second cam was added for the SL series cameras. And the 3rd cam ("R" cam) was added for the R series cameras. Hope this makes it clearer.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), March 11, 2002.

All the above info re: cams is correct. But as for the 21/4 SA, it was made in only two variations: 2-cam (Leicaflex, SL and SL2 only) and 3-cam (all Leicaflex and R models). And the 2-cam can easily have the 3rd (R) cam added for around $50. The 21/4 was *never* produced in 3rd-cam-only. Most dealers know one from another and usually specify if a lens is 2-cam, since it is the one that requires modification for the R bodies. All the 21/4's were engraved "Super Angulon-R". The "Wetzlar" would indicate it was made prior to 1988 when Leica moved to Solms. As for the camming, it's best to verify with the seller.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 12, 2002.