Clandrel Posted February 12, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi there, I was so lucky to get an unused (never even put on a camera) Noctilux f1 of the latest version last week. 6 bit coded and all... The serial is 3984... Does anyone know when this lense is produced? It seems like the serial numbers on the Noctiluxes are different than the rest of Leicas line-up. From the serial number it should be produced in 2003, but I guess it must be later since it's 6-bit coded. It even says 6-bit coded on the box. The guy I bought it from says it's one of the last they produced, and he bought it in 2008. Thanks! /c Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 Hi Clandrel, Take a look here Noctilux f1 - Question about production. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted February 12, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 12, 2011 Try to ask Leica about the matter... it's a rather recent lens and maybe can answer you... according to Erwin Puts' list, this number belongs to a batch of 500 , with number ASSIGNED in 2004... but, as you probably know, the Noctilux f1 was made in Canada, in small numbers, in a factory no more owned by Leica, and it wouldn't be surprising that a batch planned in 2004 has taken years to be fullfilled (neither is 100% sure that all the 500 planned items were actually built). I have never owned a Nocti f1, so I can't be sure about, but I think that in the original packaging there could even be some written card which could reveal something about the date in which the lens left the factory. Anyway, if it's coded (99%by sure at the factory, I'd say), the year 2008 the seller spoke of can have a sense. I have a lens for which the number was assigned in 1971, was made in 1987, and the original batch of 350 was "closed" in 1994 with the 109th item...... it happens with some small-numbers items... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 12, 2011 Share #3 Posted February 12, 2011 As it's coded you know it's been assembled (as per Luigi's advice, rather than manufactured!) some time between late 2006 and 2008. If you need to be more precise than that it's probably best to phone Solms, if they keep such records. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C_R Posted February 12, 2011 Share #4 Posted February 12, 2011 AFAIK, this serial no is from 2003 (3 970 748 - 3 999 999) Carsten Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clandrel Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted February 12, 2011 First shot with the new lens... This room was very dark. Almost no light. What a dream lens! /c Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mby Posted February 12, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 12, 2011 It could have been coded later, no big thing... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted February 12, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) It could have been coded later, no big thing... yes, but coding is specified on the box, and this is difficult to be made elsewhere... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vertekijker Posted February 13, 2011 Share #8 Posted February 13, 2011 Mine is 3985xxx. I got it about 3 years ago. I was saw an ad for that fancy, very expensive version in the box and the number was very close to mine - those were advertised as the very last ones, put together after the M8 came out. --------- Frans Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted February 13, 2011 Share #9 Posted February 13, 2011 I believe some dealers who had unsold new Noctiluxes on their shelves sent them to Solms for coding to increase their desirabilty and hence sale prospects. So there's always that possibility. The fact that it's coded is it printed on the box or is it a label that's been stuck onto the box? Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clandrel Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted February 13, 2011 It is painted on the box... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.