pedaes Posted August 31, 2013 Share #1 Â Posted August 31, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Can I ask those with this lens to share some information,please? I have just received a new lens from a UK main dealer with a serial number (4 087 xxx) that dates the lens to 2009 in all the literature (ie 4 years old). The lens is certainly unused, but my inclination is to return it unless I get a very credible explanation, in the knowledge that all lens were in very short supply until recently. Would members with this lens please share their serial numbers, especially anyone who has purchased this year. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 31, 2013 Posted August 31, 2013 Hi pedaes, Take a look here Elmar 3.8/24 -Serial number. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
insomnia Posted August 31, 2013 Share #2 Â Posted August 31, 2013 Tight supply wasn't really an issue with the Elmar, at least not in Germany. I wouldn't be concerned about that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted August 31, 2013 Share #3 Â Posted August 31, 2013 Yes i would have said 2009 as well but the 24/3.8 # 4087862 would be from 2012 according to Summilux.net. Perhaps 2012 is the year of purchase though. FWIW Edit: My 24/3.8 # 40826** has been bought new in 2009. The Leica price was 1800 EUR VAT included then. Now 2100 EUR if i'm not wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpwhite Posted September 1, 2013 Share #4 Â Posted September 1, 2013 Can I ask those with this lens to share some information,please? I have just received a new lens from a UK main dealer with a serial number (4 087 xxx) that dates the lens to 2009 in all the literature (ie 4 years old). The lens is certainly unused, but my inclination is to return it unless I get a very credible explanation, in the knowledge that all lens were in very short supply until recently. Would members with this lens please share their serial numbers, especially anyone who has purchased this year. Thanks. Â My Elmar 24mm, which is just wonderful in all respects, is 4087xxx. I ordered it in March 2012 while I was testing a slightly older piece. The lens came from Leica NJ (USA) at the middle of March 2012. Â I would guess that your lens is from the same era as mine, and if it is as good, , you should definitely hold onto it. And I am not sure how often Leica makes 24 Elmar, given that it is one of their best performers but least sexy.... People buy it to shoot it, not just to have it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted September 1, 2013 Share #5 Â Posted September 1, 2013 Isn't lens numbering similar to the bodies, they have a batch of numbers assigned (in this case to a lens type) and these are chosen in no particular order? It means lenses can be built by individuals without having to keep up with their colleagues, and lenses can leapfrog each other as they are tested and perhaps re-calibrated without the whole production line being held up so they can come out of the factory in strict order. I would have thought the inspection tag if it is dated was a more accurate way to determine age than serial number's, which will only make sense after the lens has gone out of production and after much research. Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 1, 2013 Share #6 Â Posted September 1, 2013 And they are built in batches so any lens, especially the lower-volume selling ones, may well have been sitting in the factory for quite a while. Don't worry, Leica will keep lenses that spoil easily in the fridge to extend the sell-by date Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
insomnia Posted September 1, 2013 Share #7 Â Posted September 1, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) My Elmar 24mm, which is just wonderful in all respects, is 4087xxx. I ordered it in March 2012 while I was testing a slightly older piece. The lens came from Leica NJ (USA) at the middle of March 2012. Â I just checked and mine is 4087* as well, picked up in April 2012. It is a lovely lens, have fun with it! Just make sure it is evenly sharp (centered), the first I tried (three were in store) was a little off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpwhite Posted September 1, 2013 Share #8  Posted September 1, 2013 And they are built in batches so any lens, especially the lower-volume selling ones, may well have been sitting in the factory for quite a while. Don't worry, Leica will keep lenses that spoil easily in the fridge to extend the sell-by date  Jaap, thank you so much for clearing up this important point. I have been fighting a terrible case of Noct 0.95-induced GAS and recently became worried that if I waited too long I might wind up with a spoiled lens. You have put that worry to rest, so now I will need to invent another one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted September 2, 2013 Share #9 Â Posted September 2, 2013 Should I take my 2311*** out of the freezer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FPB Posted September 2, 2013 Share #10  Posted September 2, 2013 Another 4087xxx copy here, from late 2012 and just perfect. Enjoy yours  Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 2, 2013 Share #11 Â Posted September 2, 2013 Should I take my 2311*** out of the freezer Should be a Summaron 35 from 1968 with such a number. Did not stay that long in your fridge hopefully. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted September 4, 2013 Share #12 Â Posted September 4, 2013 I bought mine in October 2011 and the number is 4087xxx. Love the lens, but love my 21/3.4 more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtolusso Posted September 18, 2013 Share #13  Posted September 18, 2013 Hello, I bought a new 24 3,8 this week near Solms ( Germany )in a Leica Store.The Nr.: 40880...  Greetimgs from Germany  Uli Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtolusso Posted September 18, 2013 Share #14 Â Posted September 18, 2013 Last month I bought a apo75 - the number starts with 42...... Â !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ????????????????????? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmx_2 Posted September 18, 2013 Share #15 Â Posted September 18, 2013 Mine is 4081xxxx and from 2009. It's a wonderful lens, one of, if not the, sharpest 24mm lenses ever made! Small, light weight and just stunning performance!! I love it! I've used mine extensively on the M8 which is perfect since you don't need a viewfinder (the M8 is framed for it). It's a wonderful combination! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted September 18, 2013 Share #16  Posted September 18, 2013 And they are built in batches so any lens, especially the lower-volume selling ones, may well have been sitting in the factory for quite a while. Don't worry, Leica will keep lenses that spoil easily in the fridge to extend the sell-by date  Numbers given for certain batches of lens types do not necessarily mean that the lower number is the earlier built lens.  It may happen that they give a sequel of numbers for 100 lenses, but then they decide to build other lenses first and give them later numbers.  So numbers just give you an idea, when a lens was made, but no guarantee for exactness. If someone buys a new lens he should find a small card which states that the lens was controlled and passed. As far as I remember this card shows a date, though I may be wrong - being away from my lens boxes. If it has a date, this should be much more precise for the time of production than any numbering. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share #17 Â Posted September 18, 2013 Numbers given for certain batches of lens types do not necessarily mean that the lower number is the earlier built lens. Â It may happen that they give a sequel of numbers for 100 lenses, but then they decide to build other lenses first and give them later numbers. Â So numbers just give you an idea, when a lens was made, but no guarantee for exactness. If someone buys a new lens he should find a small card which states that the lens was controlled and passed. As far as I remember this card shows a date, though I may be wrong - being away from my lens boxes. If it has a date, this should be much more precise for the time of production than any numbering. Â Unfortunately, the Inspection Card is signed, but not dated - for the obvious reasons discussed here I guess. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted September 18, 2013 Share #18 Â Posted September 18, 2013 I just looked in the lens boxes where I keep those cards: you are right, no dates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted September 19, 2013 Share #19 Â Posted September 19, 2013 Mine is a 4141xxx and I bought it as a used but with a 1 year warranty. I got it about 4 months ago. No date to indicate when it was manufactured. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimofnyc Posted September 20, 2013 Share #20 Â Posted September 20, 2013 Gosh, I hope my 3.8/24mm has not gotten stale, I use it a lot to keep the moss off of it. I purchased it as a factory demo model in late 2011. Its serial number is 40777xx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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