50 mm Summicron IV (11819 ) History of changes?

[Antonio Russell]

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Hi,

 

I am interested in finding out the different changes to the 50 mm Summicron IV (11819) which was produced between 1979 and 1994 (I think).

 

Does anyone know what changes there were to the design, front markings and production location over its lifetime?

 

For example I think it started in Canada and was later made in Germany, but when? Also, some lenses say Leica Mad in Canada, others just say Leitz, and others say Leica... Which is which? Some have concave focus tab, others convex...

[lct]

The Summicron 11819 is the smallest 50/2 Leica ever made. It had a convex focus tab ("tiger claw") in the first time, then a concave one and was made mainly in Canada, then in Germany when Leica settled in Solms. The 11819 is black anodized but had a silver version in 1992, the "Colombo", which was used in 1993 for the LHSA 25th Anniversary Special Edition. The 11819 was sold with the plastic vented hood 12538, a cheaper version of the well known metal hood 12585.

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[pico]

If I may, I have a 50mm Summicron (Serial # 23315**), black, no '50' marking, made in 1969 by Leitz Wetzlar, which has no focusing tab and that is the only thing I find at fault. What was Leica thinking? I cannot understand. 1969 is the year of my black M4, too.

 

If any of our readers have the same concern, SK Grimes has a very good add-on tab (according to their literature) and I have ordered one. If anyone wishes I will post a follow-up when I receive it.

 

 

 

Many thanks to lct for posting his images.

.

Edited February 7, 2015 by pico

[lct]

Not everybody appreciated the focus tab of the 50/2 v4 when it appeared in 1979 or so. Some photogs still preferred the sans tab v3 then and the current version has no focus tab either. The 50/2 apo has one though.

[Antonio Russell]

So does anyone have any details info about the version IV, where it was made (dates), when the different changes were made?

[lct]

So does anyone have any details info about the version IV, where it was made (dates), when the different changes were made?

Only official change was the normal focus tab IINW. Was around 1983 but i'm not sure of that. You will see other dates here.

[Antonio Russell]

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Thanks.

 

I found the following over at Photo.net:

 

The M 2/50s all had/have the same optics, at least since the start of the bayonet's "second version" (11819 in black, 11825 in chrome) which was issued 1979-1994 (starting with S/N 2915801). Here, there were tabs and detachable hoods. The tabs were first convex (yes, as you say roundedness towards the outside). There then came a new issue of this version in 1982 which started with improved bayonet mechanics (as of 3098901) soon to be implemented with the tab-form being concave (roundedness towards the inside, as in todays wide-angles' tabs). Finally, a third "improvement issue" again with even better improved bayonet form (but with a remaining concave tab-form) started in 1983 (3261401) and last issued in 1994. Those improvements were all mechanical hand-moveability perfections, but the optics remained unchanged.

 

So it seems there were several changes:

 

1. Focus tab (convex/concave)

 

2. Improved bayonet mechanics (improved twice)

 

4. Production location

 

5. Front letering, 3 versions (Made in Canada, Leitz, Leica)

 

 

Anyone know precise dates for these? When they started production in Germany for example? When the front lettering changed?

Edited February 7, 2015 by A Aparicio

[lct]

No idea sorry. If you don't find more details here, you may wish to ask your questions on the Leica Collectors & Historica forum.

[semi-ambivalent]

3448xxx

Wiki says 1987,

has:

'Leitz' on 2-notch retaining ring

Concave focus tab

Yellow 50

'Lens made in Germany' engraved on lens base

followed by 'E39' infilled in white.

 

If I had the nerve I'd buy another.

 

s-a

[vdeckerv]

Thank you for the information, I was surprised to see there was a special LHSA silver edition. Must be very sought after.