The 7.3cm Hektor from 1934, with a serial number in the 230,000 range, product code HEGRA. Leica's first medium-telephoto lens with a large aperture, this model is black and chrome with a straight-focus helicoid, distance marked in feet. It is uncoated and rangefinder-coupled.
At wide apertures, the lens delivers a soft, classic rendering with beautiful flare—a true hallmark of vintage lenses. When stopped down, the lens gains sharpness, enhancing the subject with excellent detail. While the ideal range is between f/3.2 to f/6.3, the unique character of this lens is especially enjoyable in the f/2.2 to f/3.2 range, where it exhibits a distinctively atmospheric quality.
This lens includes the original hood and caps, making it a complete set.
The barrel shows slight paint wear, but for a Hektor lens that has reached its 90th anniversary, the exterior is remarkably clean. Both the original hood and caps are also in excellent condition.
It underwent a full overhaul in October 2024, resulting in a smooth, highly responsive aperture and helicoid operation, with rangefinder coupling in perfect working order.
The front element has some mild yellowing from age and a few white spots around the edges, but overall, the glass is in good condition for a Hektor lens, with no signs of separation. Image tests produced excellent results, with additional sample images included since its last sale in 2019. We hope you’ll enjoy viewing them in our sample gallery.
