{"overview":"The Leitz 35mm f\/4 PA Curtagon-R is a perspective-adjustment (shift) wide-angle lens in Leica R bayonet mount, built for the Leicaflex and R-series SLR bodies. The 'PA' designation denotes its lateral shift mechanism, intended for architectural and product work where converging verticals need to be corrected in-camera. It is a specialist optic rather than a general-purpose 35mm.","market_narrative":"At UK auction in recent years, hammer results for this lens have ranged from roughly £180 to £300, with a median around £188 — wholesale saleroom levels rather than dealer retail. The small sample and long span between results (2001 to 2015) means today's value for a clean, fully-functioning example is best anchored to the upper end of that range; cosmetically tired copies or ones with stiff shift mechanisms sell for noticeably less. As of 2026 the lens remains a niche collector's item, so what a PA Curtagon-R is worth depends heavily on the state of its shift tracks and glass.","buying_guide":"Inspect the glass carefully for fungus, haze and cleaning marks on the coating, and check the aperture blades for oil migration, which is common on R-mount lenses of this era. Because this is a shift lens, work the perspective-adjustment mechanism through its full travel in both directions — it should move smoothly without grit, binding or play, and lock cleanly. Also check the focus helicoid for even resistance and look for any signs of separation at cemented element edges.","specs":"A Leica R-mount shift lens of 35mm focal length with a maximum aperture of f\/4; further specifications are not documented in the data provided.","faq":[{"q":"What is a Leitz 35mm f\/4 PA Curtagon-R worth today?","a":"UK auction hammer prices have run between about £180 and £300, so a clean working example typically sells for around £250–£300 at saleroom level, before buyer's premium."},{"q":"How much does a 35mm PA Curtagon-R sell for at auction?","a":"The median hammer price in the recorded UK sales is £188, with the best result at £300 for a tidier copy."},{"q":"What does the 'PA' in PA Curtagon-R mean?","a":"PA stands for Perspective Adjustment — the lens has a lateral shift mechanism used to control converging verticals, particularly for architecture."},{"q":"Will the PA Curtagon-R fit a Leica M camera?","a":"No. It is a Leica R bayonet lens for the reflex SLR bodies and is not compatible with the M rangefinder mount."}],"confidence":40,"reasoning":"Only three sales records spanning 2001–2015 and no SPECS or variant data supplied, so pricing guidance and technical detail are necessarily limited."}