different glass batches for 50 summilux?

[gwelland]

I saw a lens for sale on eBay (referenced in this forum link) that referred to being a "rare 1st batch" with original glass formulation.

Does anyone know what changes occurred with the Summilux lenses? I'm curious because I've never seen reference to this before (I have a recent coded lens so I assume mine is later).

Anyone know anything about this?

[budrichard]

Sounds like BS to me. Collectors focus on all manner of trvia to drive prices up. In most cases its BS. Just find a good example from a reputable seller and you will happy.-Dick

[gwelland]

This is what my BS detector tells me too ...

[ho_co]

Graham, you might want to check Puts on the history of the lens. (A good start is his Leica-approved "Leica M-Lenses - Their Soul and Secrets_en.pdf" at a number of sites including http://test.leicakijkers.nl/Download...Secrets_en.pdf.)

The claim is totally meaningless as stated. You can't change glasses without changing design. They might just mean "first version."

[Runkel]

Neither Puts's "Soul and Secrets" nor his "Compendium" covers the 50mm Summilux-M ASPH since it came out after they were written. Puts discusses it here: Summilux1.4/50 asph There is discussion of glass, but I see no suggestion of a change in the glass (note also that the eBay listing doesn't refer to a change in glass either).

The 50mm Summilux-M ASPH is a very recent addition to the M lens line, so there seems little possibility that it has been changed already.

[ho_co]

Originally Posted by Runkel

Neither Puts's "Soul and Secrets" nor his "Compendium" covers the 50mm Summilux-M ASPH since it came out after they were written. ... I see no suggestion of a change in the glass (note also that the eBay listing doesn't refer to a change in glass either).

Thanks for the correction, Runkel. Obviously I didn't follow the eBay link, but just read "Summilux" without "ASPH" in the opening post. And that post says "with original glass formulation." Where did that come from if not eBay?

Sorry to have served up a red herring.

[gwelland]

What it said was:

*** This is the RARE 1st BATCH (original formula) of 50mm Summilux-M ASPH ***
Ser. 397xxxx (original non 6-bit)

I assumed it referred to glass rather than lens construction. I was just curious what this meant if anything.

[ho_co]

Graham--
The problem is mine for not following the eBay link. The statement is certainly ambiguous at the least. I would have taken it for glass as well. I don't know of any other aspect of a lens that has a 'formula.'

[abrewer]

This is information passed on second-hand

Take it FWIW

Supposedly the 50 ASPH was conceived and executed for and with a reserved quantity of "old glass" from the Leitz stores; glass that had been set aside for some future super-lens many years ago

Wherefore the reference to the materials in the ad

Maybe it's BS--I don't know

I do know the 50 ASPH is a sweet lens and I wouldn't give mine (SN 398XXXX, non 6-bit) up without a fight!

[gwelland]

I figured that if anyone would know then they're probably here (or the German forum). Purely academic interest on my part anyway.

[leicar7]

Whether or not one or more elements of the said lens may be different from the initial formulation is immaterial to its functioning to specifications. Many times for many lenses, often more than once for some lenses, Leica has changed or had to change the glass used for an element. A very common reason for having to effect such a change is that the glass may become no longer available on the market. Leica has not formulated all of its own glass for years, if ever.

Whenever an element's glass is changed, the engineers assure that the performance specifications continue to meet the original. One lens that had several changes of elements' glasses over several decades of production is the 24R lens. The MTF curves for the most recent ones are identical to the originals.

Don't sweat the load. Enjoy the lens. It'll do just fine.

[doubice]

There is only one version of the Asph Summilux 1.4/50mm. The mention of a '1st version' in the eBay listing is, as mentioned in previous posts, utter rubbish. The seller is probably trying to imply that the 50mm Asph 'lux also had a 'first version', like the Asph 35mm 'lux did.

The Asph 1.4/35mm Summilux's 1st version indeed existed and is prized among collectors. To suggest that the 1st version of the 50mm Asph 'lux should be different or 'special' is rubbish.

Best,

Jan

[ho_co]

Originally Posted by leicar7

... Leica has not formulated all of its own glass for years, if ever. ...

Correct. For years, Leitz had the luxury of the Leitz Glaslabor.

Where possible, they purchased glass on the open market. When the specification they needed wasn't available, they could turn to their glass lab for the product.

And, as you know, the Leica Glass Laboratory was closed 20 years or so ago.