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Leitz Canada Sum. 90/2


Adsten

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Hello,

just became a member on this forum and have a few questions about my Leitz Canada Summicron 1:2/90. Tried to browse through some of all the threads here on L-forum, but I didn't find anything. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough. If so please just reply with a link to the thread.

 

How old is it? (serialnr: 2151000)

Is it any good?

What's your opinion of the lens?

 

Also triyng to look for a front lenscap to it. M48??

 

 

Thanks

 

Mats Adsten

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2151000 is a s/n of 1965: in that year, Leitz Canada produced 358 items like yours; btw, you mean yours is EXACTLY 2151000 ? If so, you're lucky... in the Leica collectors market, round numbers or next to (999 - 001) usually are valued slightly more than usual... no rational explanation... simply Leica world has traditionally a sort of feticism for serial numbers:) Its code was SEEOF-M, then SEOOM, then 11123. It was also produced in a version (11124) with a short focusing mount for using on the reflex device Visoflex 2 and 3.

 

The lens is not rare: 358 in one year looks a small amount, but at that times it was a prestigious and costly lens, and your version was produced for many years (1959 to 1979), unchanged in its optics, and thousands were made (there is a first version, 57-59, very rare, with detachable hood, super rare in screw mount, and a third version from 1980 on, common).

Anyway, your lens had some variants during its life... finishing of the rings, moving and fixed aperture index, max close 16 or 22, facility for presetting diaphragm when using the removable lens head on Visoflex, form of the tripod socket... if you like, post a picture of it: I suppose it's black... the chrome version was discontinued, I seem, just in that years around 1965 (re-appeared many years later, in the third version).

 

Filter size is 48mm; the lens cap (14028) was provided with the lens: if you haven't it, is not impossible to find one surfing with patience...

 

It is generally considered an excellent lens, with performances at full aperture that were considered as the top at that times... by today's standards, at f2-f2,8 it looks not too sharp in contrast and definition, but it's surely a fine lens to use, both on film Leicas as well as with the digital M8... on which one (my case) may suffer some problem of focusing at high apertures: I think you'll find some photos taken with it here in the forum, but undoubtly is a lens not so popular with M8 users... it's heavy and the last version (250g less...) is much more commonly used, and I think (haven't it) it's also better in performances when wide open.

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Hi, and welcome to the forum!

 

You don't specify whether your lens is a M or R, but I assume that the 48mm cap means it's an M.

 

I've got an R version of this lens and it's been tremendous lens for all of the 24 years I've had it. It's particularly useful to use with close-up portraits at f2, where the eyes really stand out. The colour transmission is beautiful and subtle, and the bokeh is magnificent - especially when used at night at full aperture when background city lighting is transformed into lovely orbs of colour.

 

Initially, having come to Leica from Nikon and the 105 f2.5 Nikkor, I felt the 'Cron wasn't the improvement in quality that I thought it would be, but when I began to compare Kodachromes taken with the two lenses, I see that the 'Cron is better in every way, although in some areas it's a close call - the 105 is a very good lens!

 

After 24 years, and thousands of photographs, the lens: has never needed any work done to it; is free of fungus and; is still as silky smooth as ever.

 

With best wishes,

 

Ian

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Mats, the lens of which Ian spoke is really a different one : the R version has a 5 elements design (dated 1970) that is rather similar (but not the same) to the 3rd version of the M Summicron 90, but completely different from the 6-elements design of your lens. Leica has always been a great design center... they made several lenses with same name and basic specifications (focal, aperture) but different designs and, consequently, different renderings. We in the forum shall be happy both to see your pictures OF it and your pictures TAKEN with it... that's up to you :) !

And a warm welcome to the forum !!... I forgot to tell you in my previous post, and Ian did it... I was too concerned to exhibit my passion for old lenses... :o

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Luigi sta commincando porta a porta

__________________

regards

JC

 

That means Mr. Vespa is on France TV too?

... I asked my wife to made me a resume ... but she got asleep during the show...

 

 

ROTFLOL!!!!!

(come sarà in italiano?)

 

Edo

PS: Sorry - couldn't resist

 

:) Some time ago I tried to invent an Italian acronym equiv. to ROTFLAMAO... didn't find a satisfactory solution... the final "MAO" is wonderful at the end, unmanegaeable in Italian...:D

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Luigi sta commincando porta a porta

 

That means Mr. Vespa is on France TV too?

... I asked my wife to made me a resume ... but she got asleep during the show...

Yes, I can see RAI channels, keep me tuned in Italian, and the politicals meeting at "porta a porta" are as fun, if not more, as a Feydau theater piece!

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Went yesterday to one of our secondhand photography stores. Asking him if he had a front lenscap to named lens or something just to protect the front lens. He walked away for a half a minute or so. When he came back he said. "-sorry I didn't have any 3:rd party lenscap for your lens. Is it ok with a original......???" It made my day. Once again thanks for all the info.

 

 

Regards

 

 

Mats

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Hi Adsten,

 

I also have the 90/2 M lens. It is a great lens. Enjoy it!

 

I think you are very difficult to find the Leica 48mm original lens cap. Actually for the 90/2, the lens cap is not 48mm!! The Leica metal lens caps are very nice but they are very easy to drop and lose. I usually buy a 3rd party plastic lens cap to protect the front elements/filter when I take them outside. Hopefully you can find a 3rd party one.

 

PS: It is very easy to find a 3rd party plastic lens cap in Hong Kong.

 

 

Cheers

 

Ray

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