Lumax 45mm f1.9, made for Corfield in England. This was the higher-grade standard lens for the Periflex 3, the eccentric SLR introduced in 1957 with its unusual periscope-style focusing system. The standard lens supplied at the time was a Tessar-type 45mm f2.8.
It is not rangefinder-coupled and, somewhat curiously, uses the Leica screw mount. The flange focal distance is also the same as Leica. Thanks to this, the lens can now be enjoyed freely on Leica cameras or digital mirrorless bodies via adapters.
It has a 5 elements in 4 groups optical design. Manufactured in West Germany under license from Wray of England, it was most likely produced by Enna. The base of the barrel is engraved LIC'D BY WRAY, meaning Licensed by Wray.
It is also said to use the same 5 elements in 4 groups Unilite-type optical design as the Unilite 50mm f2 made for the equally eccentric British Wrayflex, another camera notorious for making focusing rather demanding. This type of design is related to the Biometar and Xenotar formulas.
Both the Periflex and Wrayflex are cameras that seem to demand a certain amount of patience and perseverance, rather like some other classic British products. Yet both sold in respectable numbers, which perhaps says something about how well their character suited British tastes at the time.
Remarkably, the minimum focusing distance allows subjects to be approached to approximately 22cm from the front of the lens. Thanks to its aluminum barrel, it weighs only 158g despite its bright f1.9 maximum aperture.
Distance scale in feet. There is no filter thread.
There are some small scratches around the front edge of the barrel. The aluminum body shows slight corrosion, but overall this example shows relatively little use. The leatherette and black-painted parts remain deep and clean in appearance.
A full overhaul, including focus adjustment, was completed in August 2026. The aperture ring and helicoid now operate smoothly with a pleasantly moderate amount of torque.
The glass shows only extremely slight coating deterioration, visible only under a strong LED light. There are no noticeable cleaning marks or haze, and the glass is clear and bright.
Test shots also showed excellent results. Sample images are available in our Test Shoot Gallery, and we hope you will take a look.
A small original box is included, with purple velvet lining and gold trim that gives it a wonderfully elegant appearance.
