Leitz Telyt M 8/400mm prototype

For the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, Leitz developed a new lightweight 400mm telephoto lens with high performance. Just one achromatic element was the solution for the Telyt 400 f/8. 25 prototype lenses were completed with serial numbers from 0000684 to 0000708 and went into field testing by accredited Leica photographers. The judgements regarding optical performance were generally positive, but ultimately the lens never went into commercial production – most probably because of it was not fast enough. Only after four years was a similar design with an f/6.8 aperture introduced.

Provenance: estate of Willi Stein, Leitz chief designer and “father“ of the Leica M3.

Literature: Paul-Henry van Hasbroeck (ed.), Rare und unusual ‘M‘-series cameras and -accessories, 1978, p. 47-48.

Photo credit: © WestLicht Photographica Auction