Hektor 2.8cm f6.3, chrome finish. Leica product code HOOPYCHROM. Serial number in the 580,000 range, made in 1941. Distance scale in meters. Aperture scale is continental style.
This piece features a light blue coating. Other Hektors in the 580,000 serial range I have seen were also coated, so it seems this is when Leica began applying coating. For reference, earlier batches in the 540,000 and 530,000 range from 1940 were uncoated.
The coating compensates for the Hektor 28mm’s weakness against backlight, delivering excellent image quality.

Among Leica lenses, the Hektor 28mm is one of the most compact, making it a perfect travel companion. With an M/L adapter it mounts beautifully not only on Barnack Leicas but also on M-mount bodies. Its ultra-thin design pairs well with chrome bodies as well as black paint finishes. The correct Leica hood is the trumpet-shaped SOOHN, which gives the lens a charming appearance when mounted.

The exterior is in beautiful condition, with only minor scratches around the base and hardly any signs of use. Fully overhauled in September 2025. The aperture and helicoid operate smoothly, and the rangefinder coupling is perfectly aligned.

The front element shows slight glass tanning, but there are no cleaning marks or haze. Test shots produced excellent results, and thanks to the coating, the lens performs well even against backlight.

Sample images are posted in our test gallery. I carried it along on a trip to Osaka during the busy Expo, and once again rediscovered the charm of the Hektor 2.8cm—its compactness and delightful rendering make it truly a wonderful lens.