Glass Bodies a variant-level encyclopedia of vintage lenses and cameras by iwillpat

Telyt-R 250mm f/4 (II)

Leica · Leica R · 1980 · Telephoto, seven elements in six components

Also known as: Telyt-R 250mm f/4 II · Telyt-R 250mm f4 II · Telyt-R 250mm f4 Type II · Telyt-R 250mm f/4 Type II · Telyt-R 250mm f/4 second version · Telyt-R 250mm f4 2nd version · Telyt-R 250mm f4 E67 · Telyt-R 250mm f/4 · Telyt-R 250mm f4 · Telyt-R 4/250 · Telyt-R 4/250mm · Telyt-R 1:4/250 · Telyt-R 250mm 1:4 · Telyt R 250mm f4 · Telyt R 250mm f/4 · Telyt R 250/4 · Telyt-R 250/4 · 250/4 Telyt-R · Telyt R 4/250 · 250mm f4 Telyt-R · 250mm f/4 Telyt-R · 250 Telyt f4 · Leica R 250mm f4 Telyt · Telyt-R 11925 · Telyt R 4/250 11925 · Leica 11925 · Telyt 250mm f4 Leica R · テリートR 250mm F4 · ライカ テリートR 250mm · ライカ テリート 250mm F4

Variants & identification

Variant Mount Years Serial ranges Production
3-cam (11925) Leica R, 3-cam (every R body in all modes; Leicaflex SL and SL2, and the original Leicaflex through the first cam) 1980 — —
11925 converted to ROM by Leica service Leica R, ROM (R3 and later; not the Leicaflex bodies) — — —
  1. Specification from Leitz's July 1982 handbook (page dated 4/81) and Leica's December 1989 handbook, p.2-27, which agree: angle of view 10°, seven elements in six components, E67 filter in an M 67 × 0.75 internal thread, fully automatic preset diaphragm with click stops including half values, f/22, combined metre/feet scale, focusing ∞ to 1.7 m, smallest object field 124 × 186 mm (about 1:5.2), rubber-covered focusing ring, non-rotating focusing mount, built-on extensible hood, ¼-inch tripod thread tilting for upright and horizontal format with click stops, leather case, 75 mm lens cap, 195 mm from the bayonet flange, 75 mm across, 1.230 kg. The 1989 handbook adds that the lens can be focused beyond ∞. Apotelyt and Kamerastore give the same 7/6, 1.7 m, 75 × 195 mm and 1,230 g.
  2. Two small misprints in the Leitz texts: the 1982 specification page names Series 8 adapter 14164, while the filter tables of the same handbook and of the 1989 handbook give 14264; and the 1989 page gives 1.70 m as 12 ft 6 in, where the 1982 page has 5 ft 8 in. The tables and the metric figure are used here.
  3. Eight diaphragm blades are Kamerastore's figure, not a Leitz one.
  4. Dates: Kamerastore says Leica introduced this lens in 1980, and its first serial falls in the 1980 band of the general year list. It is in the lens range of Leica's December 1989 handbook and absent from the range of the Handbook 2000/2001, which mentions it only in the ROM conversion table. No document consulted gives the year it was dropped, so no end year is given.
  5. Where it was made is not settled. Apotelyt's R-lens table lists it as Leitz Canada; Kamerastore's heading reads 'Leitz Wetzlar/Canada'; Classic Connection's example is engraved LEITZ WETZLAR on the barrel and the dealer calls it made in Germany. Its tripod foot is engraved LENS MADE IN GERMANY, but one example does not settle the factory for the whole run. The first version, 11920, is engraved LEITZ CANADA on every example seen.
  6. Body fit. Leica's December 1989 handbook heads this lens's page for the R bodies in all modes and for the Leicaflex SL and SL2, and does not name the original Leicaflex, although it does name 'LEICAFLEX models' for some other lenses. The 3-cam mount keeps the first sloped cam that the original Leicaflex reads, and Kamerastore calls the lens compatible with all Leicaflex and R-series cameras. No document consulted says anything about the rear of this lens reaching the mirror of any body.
  7. Extenders: Leitz's 1982 handbook and Leica's 1989 handbook give the Extender-R 2x (11236) as suitable for focal lengths of 50 mm and longer, with automatic diaphragm and aperture priority or manual. The 1989 handbook notes slight vignetting 'from 400 mm focal length upwards', the 1982 handbook 'from 560 mm upwards', neither saying whether the lens or the combination is meant. With this lens it makes a 500mm f/8. The 1982 handbook lists a separate Extender-R 2x for the Leicaflex SL/SL2 (11237). The 1989 handbook offers the APO-Extender-R 1.4x (11249) only for the 280mm APO-Telyt-R f/2.8. No document consulted rates the combination.
  8. Market prices seen in 2026, all dealer asking prices for used lenses, not list prices: Classic Connection (Fairfield, Connecticut) US$699, reduced from US$999, for a near-mint 3-cam example with case, still listed in November 2026, free US shipping over US$500, tax not stated; Kamerastore €349 on its general Type II product page, sold out in November 2026. Apotelyt's R-lens table puts used prices at US$400–800, against US$300–600 for the 11920. No period list price in DM or dollars was found.
  9. Classic Connection's SKU for its example is 3050601, the first number of Leitz's block for this lens. The listing does not say whether that is the lens's serial.
  10. ⁰ The editor's numbering: version I is the Series 8 lens, 11920, of 1970, which has its own page; version II this E67 lens, 11925, of 1980.
How to tell them apart (expand)
  • The first version, 11920 of 1970, is the lens to tell it from. Leitz's 1978 catalogue gives the 11920 six elements in five, a Series 8 front through adapter 14165 in an M 72 thread, 4 m close focus (4.5 m on some scales), a tripod thread with no tilting or click stops listed, 154 mm and 1.41 kg. The 11925 has an E67 thread, 1.7 m close focus, a rubber-covered focusing ring, a turning tripod mount with click stops, and is 195 mm long and 1.23 kg
  • Serial number: every 11925 is numbered 3,050,601 or higher, every 11920 3,050,600 or lower (Leitz handbooks of 1982, 1989 and 2000/2001)
  • Not the 280mm APO-Telyt-R lenses, the 180mm Elmarit-R or the Leitz Canada / Elcan 4/250 prototypes of about 1972 (formula C137). The 2-cam R prototype 137-0004, offered at Leitz Auction 30 and 44, has LEITZ CANADA on the front ring, a scale to 4.5 m and a fixed tripod boss in its photographs; 137-0001 is in M39 screw mount

3-cam (11925):

  • Order number 11925; serial from 3,050,601 (Leitz's own break between the versions)
  • Seen from the back, two sloped Leicaflex cams plus the stepped R-cam, and no row of gold ROM contacts
  • Name ring TELYT-R 1:4/250 at the base of the hood, above a wide ribbed rubber focusing ring; the distance scale ends at 1.7 m (Kamerastore and Classic Connection photographs)
  • LEITZ WETZLAR engraved on the barrel and LENS MADE IN GERMANY and E 67 on the tripod foot of the Classic Connection example; no example engraved LEITZ CANADA or LEICA has been photographed here

11925 converted to ROM by Leica service:

  • An E67 lens with the rubber focusing ring and 1.7 m scale, and a strip of ROM contacts at the back of the mount where the first sloped cam was
  • There is no factory ROM order number for this lens, so a ROM 11925 is always a service conversion

Serial-range notes

from 3050601
Leitz's own start for this lens: the July 1982 handbook's filter table gives the TELYT-R 4/250 11925 "Code No. 3 050 601" onwards, and Leica's December 1989 handbook repeats it ("from No. 3 050 601"). On the general Leitz year list (camera-wiki) 3,050,601 falls in the 1980 band, 3,013,651–3,087,000. Leitz reserved numbers in blocks, so later lenses in the run need not follow on from it.
the seven-digit number on the lens
Leitz numbered every lens from one shared sequence, so a number dates a lens only roughly against the general year list. No individual 11925 serial has been read from a photograph here.

Specifications

Formula
Telephoto, seven elements in six components
Construction
7 elements / 6 groups
Aperture range
f/4–f/22
Diaphragm blades
8
Min. focus
1.7 m
Dimensions
75 × 195 mm
Weight
1230 g
Filter
67 mm (0.75 mm pitch), E67 (M 67 × 0.75); Series 8 through adapter 14264 (Leitz tables, 1982 and 1989)
Years manufactured
1980
Country
Not settled: Apotelyt lists it as Leitz Canada, Kamerastore as Leitz Wetzlar/Canada, and the one example photographed here (Classic Connection) is engraved LEITZ WETZLAR on the barrel and LENS MADE IN GERMANY on the tripod foot, and is described by the dealer as made in Germany
Material
Black finished barrel with built-on telescopic hood, rubber-covered focusing ring and a tripod mount that turns for upright and horizontal pictures

What reviewers say

History

The second Telyt-R 250mm f/4, order number 11925, replaced the Series 8 lens of 1970 in 1980 (Kamerastore), and Leitz started its numbers at 3,050,601. It is a new lens, not a revision. Leitz’s July 1982 handbook gives it seven elements in six components against the six in five of the 11920, an E67 front in place of the Series 8 adapter, a close focus of 1.7 m instead of 4 m, a rubber-covered focusing ring and a tripod mount that turns, with click stops, for upright and horizontal pictures. It is longer, 195 mm against 154 mm from the flange, and lighter, 1.23 kg against 1.41 kg. The angle of view (10°), the f/22 stop, the automatic preset diaphragm and the built-on telescopic hood stay the same. The short close focus is the practical gain: Leitz gives the smallest field as 124 × 186 mm, about 1:5.2, where the 11920 at 4 m covered 318 × 477 mm.

Erwin Puts does not separate the two versions. In his survey of the long R lenses he says the 250s offered good performance without arousing real enthusiasm. In his view Leitz’s early attempts at the focal length could not resolve the pull between performance, weight and close focus, and the class changed only with the 280mm APO of 1984. The 11925 was still in Leica’s December 1989 lens range. It is gone from the range in the Handbook 2000/2001, which mentions it only as a lens that can be converted to ROM. No document consulted gives the year it was dropped. Where it was made is also open. Apotelyt lists it as Leitz Canada, the maker of the first version. Kamerastore writes “Leitz Wetzlar/Canada”. The one example photographed for sale here, at Classic Connection, is engraved LEITZ WETZLAR on the barrel and LENS MADE IN GERMANY on the tripod foot, and the dealer calls it made in Germany.

Every 11925 left the factory with a 3-cam mount, which is the main practical difference from the earlier lens. Leitz’s 1982 handbook and Leica’s 1989 handbook restrict the 11920, up to serial 3,050,600, to aperture priority and manual on the R4 and R5. The 1989 handbook heads the 11925’s page “for LEICA R models (all modes)”, so shutter priority and program work too. The same heading names the Leicaflex SL and SL2 but not the original Leicaflex. The lens keeps the first sloped cam, which is all the original Leicaflex reads, and Kamerastore calls it compatible with every Leicaflex and R body, but the handbook does not say so. Leica’s Handbook 2000/2001 lists the 11925 as convertible to ROM. A converted lens has contacts where the first cam was, fits only R bodies from the R3 on, and tells an R8 or R9 its focal length. Both handbooks give the Extender-R 2x as suitable for lenses of 50 mm and longer, which makes this a 500mm f/8, and they recommend the universal handgrip with shoulder stock for it. The 1989 handbook offers the APO-Extender-R 1.4x only for the 280mm APO-Telyt-R f/2.8.

When buying, check the serial first. A number of 3,050,601 or higher, an E67 thread and a scale ending at 1.7 m mean this lens. A Series 8 front and a scale stopping at 4 or 4.5 m mean the 11920. Then turn the lens over: three cams and no contacts is the lens as made, and contacts mean a later conversion that rules out the Leicaflex bodies. Make sure the built-on hood slides out and stays put, that the tripod mount turns and clicks, and that the rubber focusing ring has not perished. Leitz Auction has twice offered a 2-cam Elcan Telyt-R 4/250 prototype of about 1972 (formula C137, number 137-0004), unsold both times, and once a screw-mount one. The R prototype is engraved LEITZ CANADA and has a 4.5 m scale and a fixed tripod boss, and should not be confused with this lens. In November 2026 dealers were asking US$699 (Classic Connection, reduced from US$999) for a used example, and Kamerastore’s product page showed €349, sold out. Apotelyt puts used prices at US$400–800, against US$300–600 for the 11920.

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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

More sample photos elsewhere

These photographers keep all rights to their work — enjoy it at the source.

Sample photo wanted — shot with a Telyt-R 250mm f/4 (II)? We'd love to feature it (with credit).

Live listings

Asking price, USD: a median of $750 across 8 fixed-price listings on 2026-11-10 (middle half $680–$950). First day tracked.

Asking prices from the listings scanned, not sales; junk-flagged rows and auction lots excluded; other currencies are not converted.

Listings updated 2026-11-10. Links go to the shop or marketplace that carries the item.

Related: Telyt-R 250mm f/4 (I) · APO-Telyt-R 280mm f/4 · APO-Telyt-R 280mm f/2.8 · Telyt-R 350mm f/4.8 · Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2

Sources (12)

Every page here is assembled from public sources, and the gaps are real ones. If you own this lens, know a serial number I'm missing, or can see where I have it wrong, tell me — corrections, serials and sample photos are all worth having.