Zunow 35mm f1.7. Leica screw mount. Coupled to the rangefinder. Introduced around 1955 as the first wide-angle lens by Zunow Optical Industry. This example is the later black-barrel version, engraved Zunow Opt. The earlier version was finished entirely in chrome. Distance scale in feet.

Gauss-type optical design with 7 elements in 5 groups. Minimum aperture f22. Minimum focusing distance 3.5 feet. Actual weight approx. 181g. A lightweight, compact, large-aperture fast wide-angle lens. Filter size is E46, though the threads are shallow and the filter does not screw in deeply.

At full aperture, this lens delivers a distinctive rendering characterized by aberrations, giving it a very individual look. Zunow lenses produced in Leica screw mount include the 50mm f1.1, 50mm f1.3, 50mm f1.9 (an extremely rare item), 100mm f2, and this 35mm f1.7. All are rare lenses. Among them, this later version of the 35mm f1.7 appears slightly more often, yet even so its production is estimated at only a few hundred units at most, making it a lens seldom encountered.

There are minor scuffs on the front edge, but overall the lens shows little sign of use and retains a clean appearance.
It received a full overhaul in December 2025, and both the aperture ring and helicoid now operate with a smooth, well-balanced torque. Rangefinder coupling is also accurate.
The front element shows some coating deterioration and traces of fungus, and there is one extremely faint cleaning mark on the rear element, but these have virtually no effect on actual shooting. No balsam separation or haze is present.
Wide open, due to residual aberrations, peak contrast appears slightly in front of the point of focus. Depending on shooting conditions, this may give the impression of slight front focus, but stopping down a little results in a calm, pleasing rendering with good atmosphere.
Test shots produced very good results, and sample images have been posted in our test-shot gallery. We would be delighted if you take a look.
Included are a valuable original front cap—which at first glance may look like a cheap copy, amusingly enough—and an aftermarket rear cap.