2eleven Posted January 7, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 7, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi folks, I'm actually fairly new to this forum, and this is my first post. Lots of great photos and information here though! I have two quick questions. The first is pretty general - I notice on this and other forums that most people obscure the serial numbers of their gear by only listing the first few digits. I've read this is to be safe, but I'm unclear what it makes you safe from! Could anyone explain why this is important? If there's an FAQ I've missed, I apologize. I couldn't find an answer searching past posts, but I might not be searching well enough. My second question has to do with one of my lenses. It's an older Mandler lens which I just figured out is the first serial number for the mechanical revision of the lens (a mechanical revision which went on for many years). I'm keeping things vague until my first question is answered. My question about this lens is that I use it all the time, and I was going to get it CLA'd and possibly 6-bit coded, but now I'm worried that it might be historically significant or something. I'm not sure if I should do anything to it at all, but it's one of my favorite lenses and it could really use a CLA about now. It's not mint or anything, so I wouldn't be tarnishing a prefect collectible (I don't collect though, so maybe someone who knows better can set me straight). Should I: -CLA the lens and keep using it (almost every day)? -CLA and 6-bit the lens and keep using it? -Put the lens in a museum and buy another similar lens to use? I realize the above questions probably can't really be answered without knowing which lens and which revision I'm talking about. I appreciate any input you can offer though. Thanks! John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 Hi 2eleven, Take a look here Questions about serial numbers. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jc_braconi Posted January 7, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 7, 2011 About the s/n some want to keep a certain privacy with their name address and so on so they do not want to post something that can disturb this privacy. with the web and the tools add on you can survey and track a lot of things... As a user - collector I will take the 1st option CLA and use it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 7, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 7, 2011 I must admit I don't understand the paranoia about serial numbers, although thinking about it perhaps someone could claim they onwned lens serial number XXXXXX and it was stolen from them.... As for the lens, I'm with JC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2eleven Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted January 8, 2011 Thanks for the advice guys. The lens is off to Don for CLA but no coding. Cheers, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted January 8, 2011 Share #5 Posted January 8, 2011 Thanks for the advice guys. The lens is off to Don for CLA but no coding. Cheers, John Welcome to the forum !!! I think you did it perfectly : coding is always someway "intrusive"... on old lenses it often means CHANGE the bayonet mount: I admit that I suffer a little of the "mystic of s/n"... ... a "first or last" of a batch (or even more, of a certain variant/series as seems to be for your item) in my opinion is better to be kept as originally manufactured... but I think also is a pity not to be used, of course with a certain care, even if it is the 1st Noctlilux 1,2... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2eleven Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted January 10, 2011 Nope - not a Noctilux 1.2 :-) I take good care of all of my gear, but I suppose I'll try to be extra careful with this lens. Funny, when I bought it, I thought the fact that it was older and not mint would give me the freedom to be a little less careful with it! John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted January 10, 2011 Share #7 Posted January 10, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Well, John... now I think that we deserve to know WHICH lens are you speaking about... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2eleven Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted January 10, 2011 Well, John... now I think that we deserve to know WHICH lens are you speaking about... Hmmm... well, since I can't really figure out the danger in exposing the serial numbers of things, I guess it's probably OK. Plus, if my research is wrong, someone can probably help set me straight! I've got the first serial number of a 1969 50 lux - based on the serial numbers here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/50mm_f/1.4_Summilux-M_II My understanding is that 1969 was the year Leica updated the lens body design from the older one with the scalloped focus ring ribbing to the newer one with continuous focus ring ribbing. It would be useful if someone here could verify that since I couldn't find what I would call "reliable" information on the exact run where Leica started producing the new body. I know that mine is the first of the 1969 run and that it has the new body, but I suppose the new body could have been introduced mid-way through the 1968 run. Does anyone know where to look for these kinds of details? Thanks, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted January 11, 2011 Share #9 Posted January 11, 2011 Hmmm... well, since I can't really figure out the danger in exposing the serial numbers of things, I guess it's probably OK. Plus, if my research is wrong, someone can probably help set me straight! I've got the first serial number of a 1969 50 lux - based on the serial numbers here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/50mm_f/1.4_Summilux-M_II My understanding is that 1969 was the year Leica updated the lens body design from the older one with the scalloped focus ring ribbing to the newer one with continuous focus ring ribbing. It would be useful if someone here could verify that since I couldn't find what I would call "reliable" information on the exact run where Leica started producing the new body. I know that mine is the first of the 1969 run and that it has the new body, but I suppose the new body could have been introduced mid-way through the 1968 run. Does anyone know where to look for these kinds of details? Thanks, John Difficult to have a 100% SURE answer... usually modifications like the above occured from the starting number of a certain batch, but this is not a strict rule (exceptions exist, expecially for lenses with no massive production numbers, where the allocated batch could take years to be fully manufactured); surely if, surfing patiently on the Net, you can find some picture of "1968" items, and they have the "old" scalloped ring, with rather "high" numbers of the batch... this would give a rather strong evidence that yours is really the first... good luck for your chase... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted January 11, 2011 Share #10 Posted January 11, 2011 Oh well, I did my own research, which ended to be rather quick and with a surprising / confusing result... : an item of the 1968 run with the "new" focusing ring, and one of the 1969 run with the "old" focusing ring: both sold at Westlicht Auctions no long time ago (pictures taken from their site www.westlicht-auction.com) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/141118-questions-about-serial-numbers/?do=findComment&comment=1555613'>More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 11, 2011 Share #11 Posted January 11, 2011 Oh well, I did my own research, which ended to be rather quick and with a surprising / confusing result... : an item of the 1968 run with the "new" focusing ring, and one of the 1969 run with the "old" focusing ring: both sold at Westlicht Auctions no long time ago (pictures taken from their site www.westlicht-auction.com) That is was I exposed in my removed post. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2eleven Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted January 11, 2011 Oh well, I did my own research, which ended to be rather quick and with a surprising / confusing result... : an item of the 1968 run with the "new" focusing ring, and one of the 1969 run with the "old" focusing ring: both sold at Westlicht Auctions no long time ago (pictures taken from their site www.westlicht-auction.com) Yeah that's totally confusing. The focus ring isn't the only difference between the two mechanical revisions either - so it's not just an inconsistency with that part. I'm guessing they must have redesigned the lens housing and began fabricating the new parts before they ran out of stock of the old parts. As a result, they could have produced early examples of the new design before they had finished producing the old design. Well, whatever the case, it would seem that my lens is not the first of the mechanical revision, but only the first of the 1969 year/run. That suits me fine. Thanks folks, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2eleven Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted January 11, 2011 Another possible explanation might be that the serial numbers were not used sequentially? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted January 16, 2011 Share #14 Posted January 16, 2011 Another possible explanation might be that the serial numbers were not used sequentially? ... or that they had some semi-finished mounts in their warehouse... they were still healthy times for Leitz... they could afford to keep significant inventories (or spares) for a lens like the famous Summicron 50. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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