Identifying versions by serial no

[Big John]

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Hi all,

 

Am looking around the used lens market and note how lenses are advertised with first digits of the serial numbers such as #4123xxx. How can I use that information to determine version and approximate age?

 

Thanks

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[cp995]

For older lenses this may help:

http://www.antiquecameras.net/leicamlenses.html

[pop]

And then, there's http://summilux.net/numeros/

[adan]

A caveat, however. Especially in the Leitz era (prior to 1985), serial numbers were pre-assigned for a lens type in blocks of 1000-2000.

 

As an example (not real numbers) Leitz might, in 1976, set aside the numbers 2772001-2774000 for the next 2000 "90mm Summicrons" to be built. But it might take 5 years to sell 2000 90mm Summicrons, so a 1981 lens may have a number that appears to be from 1976. (Leica didn't build 2000 90 f/2s all at once - they built 400 a year to match the sales volume, giving them numbers out of the pre-assigned block).

 

And as it happens, Leica changed the version of the 90mm Summicron with a new design in 1980, and in fact I have owned two very early** 1980-version lenses that both had serial numbers (277xxxx) that appear on the "lists" as numbers from 1976.

 

Serial numbers can get one in the ballpark for dating, but unless one checks the detailed history for a specific lens type, they can produce - surprises. Especially for slower-selling, more exotic lenses. Last time I bought one of those 90s, I specifically asked the dealer whether it was a late version of the pre-1980 large "stovepipe" 90, or an early version of the much more compact 1980 lens (which it was).

______

**These had 1980-1998 optics, but a slightly smaller barrel, a tad less weight, and most noticeably, an integral lens hood that covered the aperture ring when retracted. Barrel design (but not glass) revised c. 1982.

[cp995]

And then, there's http://summilux.net/numeros/

 

Yes, I would have linked this before, but the TO was asking for a partialy hidden s/n and in this case this link will not help!

[pico]

Hi all,

 

Am looking around the used lens market and note how lenses are advertised with first digits of the serial numbers such as #4123xxx. How can I use that information to determine version and approximate age?

 

Thanks

 

I use http://www.summilux.net/numeros/ and when the last numbers are omitted I run a query twice: once with zeros for the missing digits, and once with nines. That gives the range.

 

Good luck and stay in touch with us.