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1951 LEICA SUMMAREX 85 MM


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Hmmm... that leather case... pity I already have the lens... :o...it's a very appreciable addon ; and rare too, I think...Summarex didn't make big numbers and I don't think the leather case is "shared" with other lenses... no such bulky lenses existed at that times (the Summicron 90 entered well after Summarex end of production)

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Hmmm... that leather case... pity I already have the lens... :o...it's a very appreciable addon ; and rare too, I think...Summarex didn't make big numbers and I don't think the leather case is "shared" with other lenses... no such bulky lenses existed at that times (the Summicron 90 entered well after Summarex end of production)

 

 

Looks a fantastic lens and in totally amazing condition Luigi, why don't you bid/buy it and sell your own lens:D

 

BTW, what does the 'M' mean on the lens (second last photoghraph)?

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m = distance scale in meters (normal in this lens, there is also the "feet" version, but, afaik, no dual scale version)

meters like mine... that anyway is later and a bit different...has the infrared reference and the DOF scale in red... I'd like to bid... :o but wouldn't be surprised if the price will climb significantly around bid's end term...:(

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m = distance scale in meters (normal in this lens, there is also the "feet" version, but, afaik, no dual scale version)

meters like mine... that anyway is later and a bit different...has the infrared reference and the DOF scale in red... I'd like to bid... :o but wouldn't be surprised if the price will climb significantly around bid's end term...:(

 

Thanks for the explaination Luigi.

 

If I were you though, regarding bidding for the lens, I would take into consideration that I have a lens to sell although you may not want to sell your lens however you can raise funds and not be that much out of pocket for a complete lens set such as this one :D

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Guest Ron (Netherlands)
Thanks for the explaination Luigi.

 

If I were you though, regarding bidding for the lens, I would take into consideration that I have a lens to sell although you may not want to sell your lens however you can raise funds and not be that much out of pocket for a complete lens set such as this one :D

 

How does the lens perform? Luigi, would it be possible to show a picture you made with this lens?

Seems a very big lens for a screw-mount Leica though.

 

 

btw already found some pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=summarex Some wild bokeh there!

 

Anybody knows what the original lens price was in those days?

 

and... found this picture also on the internet: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5509004298_578a8c1106_b.jpg (I believe it is from one of our fellow members)

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How does the lens perform? Luigi, would it be possible to show a picture you made with this lens?

Seems a very big lens for a screw-mount Leica though.

 

There is one in "many eyes" first volume ...:) (BW)

 

And this is another (M8, Summarex 85 not wide open... f2 or so)

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It is big, heavy, low contrast wide open, but, in my opinion, better than the 1st Summicron 90. Was the first Leitz lens to be coated, so there is the risk to find items with damaged coating. One of the best "collectible / user" imho (at "normal" f stops it's sharp like a modern 90 (*) ) and a sort of big jewel to handle.

 

(*) This one was made at f 5,6 or 8 if i remember well... (2007)

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Anybody knows what the original lens price was in those days?

 

 

According to Ken Rockwell the original 90mm Summicron was $264 in 1969 or $1,560 at 2010 prices so the Summarex would more than likely be around the same price I would have thought since it was replaced by the Summicron 90mm.

 

The 90mm Elmarit I just bought was $198 in 1969 or $1175 at 2010 prices.

 

LEICA SUMMICRON 90mm f/2 (1958-1980)

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USA pricelist of 1957 :

 

Summarex 85 : 188,4 US$ with hood and caps, 4,32 $ for the leather case

 

The most costly lens of the catalog, apart the Telyt 400 f5 (266 $ without Visoflex), a lot more than the Telyt 200 (103 $, 166 $ complete with Visoflex)

 

The "honest" Elmar 90 f4 went for 52,8 $, the "prestige" Summicron 50 in screwmount went for 91 $, the basic Elmar 50 f 3,5 for 34,8 $.

 

About the prices of the Telyts... it is often reported that there was, in USA, a specific custom duty for the foreign lenses considered as "Tele"... the reason for, initially, the Hektor 125 was announced as a "12 cm" (maybe there was a "rule" based on 5 inches of focal length ?)... fact is that the Hektor in the same pricelist, has a rather reasonable price (98 $ - the Hektor 135 in comparable configuration - short mount for Visoflex - went for 73 $)

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Interesting to compare the prices for a Summarex with those for a contemporary camera+lens:

 

German list 1950:

 

Summarex 850,-DM; Leica IIIc+Summitar: 775,-DM

 

 

1955:

Summarex 785,- DM; Leica IIIf+Summicron 790,- DM; M3+Summicron 1060,- DM

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