keith 發表於 2015-4-16 13:31:58

Origins of vintage Leica names

Interesting and good to know...

Leica = combination of two words Leitz camera = Lei(tz)ca(mera)
Elmax = Ernst Leitz MAX (Last name of Max Berek, the inventor of LTM lens)
Elmar = a deviation from Elmax due to improved lens design, copy right issue of old name.
Elmarit = A further improved version, a derivation of the Elmar name.
Hektor = The name of Max Berek's first dog
Summarex = The name of Max Berek's second dog is REX
Summar = short form of the name of Max's dog
Summarit = improved Summar, a deviation of the name Summar like Elmarit
Summicron = "Summi" for summit (of lens performance) & "chroma" for color. Some also said because of the use of Thorium-free Lanthanium crown glass LaK9
Summilux = summi : attainable the highest level of achievement. lux : light, i.e. attainable high level of light gathering abilities, some said it refers to deluxe or luxury model of Summicron
Noctilux = Noct = night in Latin, Noct + Lux = night light gathering
Thambar = Thambos" means "blurred" or "not sharp" in Greek.
Telyt ---- short hand for telephoto
M = Messucher = German word for Rangefinder
LTM = Leica thread mount.
ELCAN = Ernst Leitz Canada = (E)rnst (L)eitz (Can)ada
DR = Dual Range
Rigid = It is "rigid" and not collapsible like most lens during that era, first is Rigid Summar and then Rigid Summicron.
Nokton = Greek word Nykta which means Night meaning that it can shoot in darkness
Sonnar = Taken from the word for sun because this breakthrough lens design was so bright

Other names of interest:

For M cameras:

M3 = M mount with 3 frameline, or a Leica III series LTM camera in M mount.
M2 = a lower end model of M3
M1 = a further trimmed down version of M2
M4 = 4 framelines
M5 = Likely just to name camera in sequence
M6 = 6 framelines
M7 - M9 = I believe just to name the camera in sequence
MP original = M for professional
MP 2003 = mechanical perfection

Pandachief 發表於 2015-4-16 16:25:56

I remember I written something very very similar in HKLFC before...

Also a list of "seals" and meaning.. L seal, Y seal, S seal etc. etc.May be should post it here too.

keith 發表於 2015-4-16 16:32:42

本帖最後由 keith 於 2015-4-16 16:52 編輯

Pandachief 發表於 2015-4-16 16:25
I remember I written something very very similar in HKLFC before...

Also a list of "seals" and mea ...

Yes, it should be from you in HKLFC long time ago.

I found this when I was searching for Leica vintage lenses and share with the chings in this forum.I do not have the list of..."seals" and meaning.. L seal, Y seal, S seal.It will be good if you could post that and share with us.


Pandachief 發表於 2015-4-17 10:08:05

Yes Yes Keith, I recognize my own "writing" :lol

I remember when I share above in LFC it cost a lot of discussion.. seems members here now have different focus....

Let me share some of the Seals info. too..if any interest...

Kanedias 發表於 2015-4-19 00:53:18

Wow..haven't heard about this..obviously my Leica "age" is not old enough to read this back in Hklfc. Somehow discussions in both here and there have grown quieter in this 2 years..
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