Hektor 73mm f1.9, Leica code name HEKON. A renowned prewar medium telephoto lens by Leitz. Serial number in the 430,000 range, made in 1938. Marked in meters, featuring a rotating helicoid design. The elegant combination of black paint and chrome finish pairs beautifully with both Barnack and M-mount Leica bodies. Filter size E39.
At wide apertures, it produces a soft, gentle rendering with a touch of glow—an unmistakably classic old-lens character. When stopped down, resolution increases significantly, giving subjects a strong presence. The sweet spot lies around f3.2 to f6.3, but the wide-open setting is also worth exploring to enjoy the vintage softness and atmosphere that define this lens.

There is visible paint loss on the helicoid and aperture rings, with some brass showing through. Considering that nearly 90 years have passed since its manufacture, it remains in remarkably fine condition.
Fully overhauled in September 2025. Thanks to meticulous maintenance, both the aperture and focusing rings move with a beautifully smooth and refined feel. The rangefinder coupling works perfectly from the minimum focusing distance all the way to infinity.
The glass shows some aging-related discoloration and minor stains but no haze. There are no noticeable cleaning marks, making this an excellent example of the Hektor in terms of optical condition.
Sample images are posted in the Test Gallery. The first cat photo was taken wide open at f1.9, while the others were shot between f2.2 and f3. This particular lens renders rather softly when wide open, so stopping down one or two stops seems to produce the best results.
Comes with the original hood and hood cap, both in condition matching the lens itself.