Nickel-finish Hektor 5cm f/2.5. No serial number. Uncoated. The back of the focusing knob is engraved with 0. Optical construction is 6 elements in 3 groups. The distance scale is marked in meters.
This lens appears to be a Hektor 5cm originally fitted as standard to a Leica Model A made around 1930, and later factory-converted by Leitz to Leica L mount. Many Hektors of this type have a noticeably short barrel, but this example has a barrel length that, at first glance, is close to that of a regular Hektor.
The helicoid is the full-rotation type. Since the back of the focusing knob is flat, there is no concern about interference when using an L/M adapter.
This type of Hektor is very rarely seen on the market, and most examples have been heavily used. This one, however, is a rare example in good condition. The correct genuine hood is the FIKUS. Our original FB-10 hood, with aperture-control functionality, can also be used. The correct filter is the A36 slip-on FIOLA, but our original FB-19 filter for the Hektor also fits perfectly.
For an early nickel Hektor, this example is in excellent exterior condition. It shows relatively little sign of use, and the nickel plating remains in good condition. The plating on the collapsible section is also well preserved.
In June 2026, the lens underwent a full overhaul, including focus and rangefinder coupling adjustment. The aperture and helicoid operate with a smooth, finely damped feel. The rangefinder coupling is also spot-on. At the minimum focusing distance, the rangefinder roller would touch the rear end of the barrel, so the rear edge of the barrel has been very slightly machined. As a result, proper rangefinder coupling is now achieved even around the 1m minimum focusing distance. We are truly grateful to the repair technician for such thorough servicing.
The front element has a few extremely faint cleaning marks, and the rear side of the front element shows the slightest haze caused by age-related yellowing, but for a Hektor, the glass is in very good condition. We carried out test shooting in various situations, including front light, backlight, indoors, and with light sources in the frame, and could not feel any effect on the images.
As expected from an early Hektor, it delivers a well-defined plane of focus from wide open, together with a pleasing sense of depth. This is a lens that lets you fully enjoy the rich, classic rendering of a vintage Hektor.
A front cap from the Leica Model A era, made of brass with black paint finish, is included. The cap has a velvet lining, and the lens marks left inside clearly match the Hektor, which is quite moving to see. It is the original cap from the period. The included rear cap is also genuine, finished in black paint over brass.
