Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8

Variants & identification

1. Specification from Leitz and Leica documents: the September 1978 catalogue (11205 and 11203), the 1982 catalogue (11212), the December 1989 handbook (11253) and the 2000/2001 handbook (11347). All give 39°, six elements in five components, f/22 and 27 cm (1:2) alone, and 24 cm (1:1) with the adapter. Field at 1:2 is 48 × 72 mm. The 1982 and 1989 books give 62.3 mm from the flange and 67.5 mm across for the second version, and 0.39 kg in 1982 and 1989 against 0.400 kg in 2000/2001. The first version is 67 mm long, 70 mm across and 0.375 kg (1978). The page's dimensions and weight are those of the second version.
2. Other sources disagree on the weights, the angle and the first version's filter. Photoethnography gives 390 g for the first version and 400 g for the second, and 45° for both. English Wikipedia's Leica R bayonet table gives 450 g and 400 g, 67.5 × 67 mm for the first version, 40° and Series 7 for it. Kamerastore's text says Series VII for the 2-cam lens, but its own specification table says Series VIII. Leitz's 1978 catalogue says Series 8 in the hood 12514, and Photoethnography (Series VIII/E60) and Flashback Camera (E60, Series 8 in the 12514) agree. The 1978 entry also lists 'Built-on lens hood' among the features while selling the 12514 separately as 'necessary for filter adaptation'.
3. Six diaphragm blades are reported by Kamerastore and Photoethnography, not by a Leitz document.
4. Dates. Kamerastore, English Wikipedia and Photoethnography give 1972 for the first version. Flashback Camera puts the first batch at 2,497,101, a 1971 number. For the change to the second version, Kamerastore and English Wikipedia give 1980; the break at 3,013,651 is the first number of the 1980 serial band. English Wikipedia gives 2009 as the end of production, the year Leica ended the R system. No Leica document dates the change to ROM.
5. Body fit. Leitz's 1978 catalogue lists the 11205 for the R3, Leicaflex SL2, SL and the original Leicaflex without any restriction. Camera-wiki's list of R lenses marks the lens 'SL2 and later only' and gives no reason. Kamerastore says its 2-cam lens works on the standard Leicaflex and the R bodies in stop-down mode only, and that a 3-cam lens fits every Leicaflex and R body. The R-only 11253 and ROM 11347 do not fit any Leicaflex without Leica's added cams. This page lists every Leicaflex and R body because the bayonet is the same and the earlier versions fit them all. The lens is not among those whose rear fouls the Leicaflex mirror on the lists cited on the Leicaflex page.
6. Close-up accessories. The 1:1 adapter of the first version is 14198, sold with the lens as set 11203; Leitz's 1978 catalogue says it locks on only with the diaphragm closed, and Flashback Camera describes setting both lens and adapter to the smallest aperture and aligning the red and green marks. From 1980/81 it is the Macro-Adapter-R 14256, which Leica says cannot be modified for the Leicaflex bodies. The 2000/2001 handbook lists a Macro-Adapter-R 14299 that passes data to the R8 and cannot take lenses with the Leicaflex cams. On Leitz's Universal Focusing Bellows-R the lens covers 1:1.5 to 2.8:1 at 12.5 to 5.7 cm (1982); on the Focusing Bellows-R BR 2 it covers 1:1.2 to 3.2:1 at 7.2 to 2.2 cm (2000/2001).
7. No Leitz or Leica document cited here names the designer. The uploader's description of a 2007 Wikimedia Commons photograph of the lens (File:Leica_Elmarit_R_60.jpg) credits Heinz Marquardt; that is a caption, not a primary source.
8. Market prices seen in November 2026: Kamerastore gave certified condition reference prices of US$526 for a 2-cam 11205 and US$632 for a 3-cam 11212 (dealer prices for used lenses, both sold). Leitz Auction 43 sold a 1974 3-cam 11203 set for a hammer price of €480 including buyer's premium (24% within the EU, 20% outside). No period list price in DM or dollars has been found.

• 2-cam, Series VIII front (11205; 11203 with the 1:1 adapter 14198): The first version as Leitz sold it from 1972 to the R3 of 1976, when the third, stepped cam arrived. Leitz's September 1978 catalogue gives its specification: 39°, six elements in five components, Series 8 filters held by the lens hood 12514 and an internal thread M 60 × 0.75, f/22 with half-stop clicks, focusing from infinity to 27 cm (1:2), 67 mm from the flange and 70 mm across, 0.375 kg alone and 0.540 kg with the 1:1 adapter. With the adapter 14198 it reaches 1:1 at 24 cm and is 97 mm long; the catalogue warns that the adapter locks on only with the diaphragm closed. Kamerastore has sold a 2-cam lens as 11205 at 375 g and 69 × 70 mm, with six blades, and says a 2-cam lens works on the standard Leicaflex and the R bodies in stop-down metering only; Leitz's 1978 catalogue lists the lens for every Leicaflex without restriction. Leica's R9 instructions say Leicaflex lenses without the R control cam must not be used on the R9, as they can damage it, and must have the cam fitted for use on any R body from the R3.
• 3-cam, Series VIII front (11205, to No. 3,013,650): The first optical and mechanical design, made with the third cam once the R3 appeared in 1976. Leitz's 1978 catalogue lists 11205 among the lenses for the R3, SL2, SL and the original Leicaflex, with no restriction in its remarks column. Flashback Camera has sold 3-cam lenses numbered in the 2.76 million range (1976, which the dealer calls the first year of the three cams), the 2.82 million range (1977) and the 2.97 million range (1979), all with the hood pins on the front, and an 11203 set of 1977 with the 1:1 adapter 14198. Photoethnography's own first-version lens is 3-cam too. Flashback writes that a 1976 lens came with a printed note on using the later Macro-Adapter-R 14256, and that another works with it; Leitz's 1982 catalogue sells that adapter only for the second version.
• 2-cam lens given the R-cam by Leitz service: Leica's December 1989 handbook says existing Leicaflex lenses can be fitted with an additional cam for the full use of the R exposure modes, and that the modified lenses remain usable on every Leicaflex. Leitz Auction 43, lot 209, sold no. 2697961, which it dates to 1974 and describes as 3-cam, as an 11203 set with the 1:1 extension ring, front cap, keeper and box, in A- condition; the hammer price was €480 including buyer's premium, against an estimate of €800–900. Flashback Camera lists a first-batch 11203 of 1971 as 3 cam. Both lenses carry numbers from years before the third cam existed.
• First version converted by Leitz to the E55 front: Leica's December 1989 handbook lists the 60 mm Macro-Elmarit up to serial no. 3,013,650 among the R lenses that its service centre and authorised workshops could convert to the E55 filter thread. It does not say how the converted front looks. No converted lens has been found in a dealer or auction record.
• 3-cam, E55 with built-on hood (11212, from No. 3,013,651): The second version: the optics were left alone and the mount redesigned. Leitz's 1982 catalogue (pages dated 4/81) lists it as 11212 from code no. 3,013,651: 39°, six elements in five components, E55 or Series 7 through adapter 14225, internal thread M 55 × 0.75, f/22, infinity to 27 cm with 15 cm free working distance, a built-on hood, 62.3 mm from the flange, 67.5 mm across and 0.39 kg. The 1:1 adapter is now the Macro-Adapter-R 14256, 30 mm long, 62 mm across and 0.13 kg, which gives 27 to 24 cm at a free working distance of 16 to 10 cm and works with automatic and manual exposure on the R bodies. Kamerastore sold an 11212 as Type II, 3-cam, 390 g and 68 × 62 mm, saying a 3-cam lens fits all Leicaflex and R cameras. Flashback Camera has sold 3-cam E55 lenses dated 1982 and 1983.
• R-only (11253, from No. 3,335,501): Leica's December 1989 handbook catalogues the lens only as 11253, "for LEICA R models (all modes)", with the same specification as the 11212 (0.390 kg, 62.3 × 67.5 mm, E55, built-on hood) and the Macro-Adapter-R 14256, which it says cannot be modified for the Leicaflex, SL or SL2. Its conversion table says lenses from serial 3,335,501 no longer fit the Leicaflex bodies and can be equipped with cams for the SL and SL2; the footnote on the lens's own page says Leica service can modify it for all Leicaflex cameras. The table prints the name as "MACRO-ELMAR-R f/2.8". Flashback Camera has sold an R-only lens in the 3.42 million range, which it dates to 1987, describing it as R-only for the R3 and later but giving its order number as 11212.
• ROM from the factory (11347): Leica's 2000/2001 handbook lists the lens only as 11347, "for LEICA R models (all modes)", in a soft leather case: 39°, six elements in five components, E55, f/22, a parallel-guided focusing mount, a black anodized finish, a built-in hood, 62.3 mm long, 67.5 mm across and 0.400 kg. Its bayonet gives mechanical exposure compensation on the R3 to R8 and, through the contacts, additional electronic compensation on the R8. A footnote says modification for use on the Leicaflex is possible on request to Leica customer service. The matching Macro-Adapter-R is now 14299, which carries the data through to the camera; lenses with the Leicaflex meter cams cannot be used on it. The handbook does not date the change to ROM.
• Earlier lens converted to ROM by Leica service: Leica's 2000/2001 handbook lists ROM modification as possible for all three earlier order numbers, 11205, 11212 and 11253, and not possible for either of the older 1:1 adapters, 14198 and 14256. It says Leicaflex cams, if present, must be removed when the contacts are fitted, so a converted lens fits only the R bodies. No converted lens has been found in a dealer or auction record.

Specifications

Formula

Six elements in five components (Leitz catalogues 1978 and 1982, Leica handbooks 1989 and 2000/2001); Photoethnography calls it a modified Gauss

Construction

6 elements / 5 groups

Aperture range

f/2.8–f/22

Diaphragm blades

6

Min. focus

0.27 m

Dimensions

67.5 × 62.3 mm

Weight

390 g

Filter

60 mm, Series VIII held in the separate hood 12514; internal thread M 60 × 0.75 (2-cam, Series VIII front (11205; 11203 with the 1:1 adapter 14198), 3-cam, Series VIII front (11205, to No. 3,013,650), 2-cam lens given the R-cam by Leitz service) · 55 mm (0.75 mm pitch), E55 screw-in; Series VII through adapter 14225 (First version converted by Leitz to the E55 front, 3-cam, E55 with built-on hood (11212, from No. 3,013,651), R-only (11253, from No. 3,335,501), ROM from the factory (11347), Earlier lens converted to ROM by Leica service)

Years manufactured

1972–2009

Country

Germany (no Leitz Canada example is recorded)

Material

Black finished metal barrel (Leitz 1978 and 1982); 'black anodized' in the 2000/2001 handbook

What reviewers say

• Photoethnography (blog) — Bought to go with an R6, it is in the author's words a wonderful all-round lens if you can live with an f/2.8 maximum aperture, and good for daytime street photography because it lets you photograph anything from small found objects to impromptu portraits. single source, unconfirmed

History

This history is AI-written, from the sources listed at the foot of the page. Where the record is silent it says so rather than filling the gap — but no human wrote these sentences.

Example photos

Sample photo wanted — shot with a Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8? We'd love to feature it (with credit).

Live listings

• Leitz Nahgeräte Zur Leicaflex Und Macro Elmarit-R 1:2,8/60mm — €2.00 · eBay
• Leitz Leica 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R f/2.8 Leicaflex Lens folder 1974 — $12.99 · eBay NEW
• LEITZ MACRORING FÜR MACRO-ELMARIT-R 2,8/60 - SHC Art.761146/N — €79.00 · eBay
• 【For repair】Leica Elmarit-R 60mm F2.8 Macro R-Only Lens From JAPAN #532 — $217.63 · eBay · likely R-only
• Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8 Lens E55 Haze/Dust - Read — £190.00 · eBay
• LEITZ MACRO-ELMARIT-R 2,8/60 , 3-CAM, - SHC Art.763357 — €229.00 · eBay
• LEICA 60mm F2.8 R macro elmarit Lens l10 — €230.00 · eBay NEW
• LEICA Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2,8 - SNr: 3207803 — €249.00 · eBay
• Leica R Leitz Wetzlar Macro-Elmarit-R 2,8/60 2.8 60mm 1:2.8 60 mm Objektiv — €249.00 · eBay
• LEITZ MACRO-ELMARIT-R 2,8/60 , 3-CAM, - SHC Art.764371 — €249.00 · eBay
• Leitz Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2,8 Objektiv für Leica R Manuellfokus — €250.00 · eBay NEW
• Pre-Owned Leica 60mm f2.8 Macro-Elmarit-R #2497952 — $299.00 · KameraHaus
• Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm F/2.8 3cam Objektiv — €275.00 · eBay
• Leica Macro Elmarit R 60mm f2.8 3CAM Objektiv Lens Leitz 99285 — €285.00 · eBay
• Leitz Objektiv Wetzlar Macro-Elmarit-R 60 mm 1:2,8 für Leica — €285.00 · eBay
• Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm F/2.8 2cam — €289.00 · eBay
• Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8 – geprüft – stark gebraucht – voll funktionsfäh — €290.00 · eBay
• [Exc+3]Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f2.8 3-Cam Lens From JAPAN #a14012 — $336.98 · eBay
• Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm F/2.8 2cam Extender 2x — €309.00 · eBay
• Leitz Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8 3-Cam Lens — £269.00 · eBay

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