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35mm Summilux Pre-ASPH Help


film_god

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Hey Everyone! This is my first post here but I've been shooting Leica for the better part of a decade, now. 

I've just acquired a 35mm Summilux Pre-ASPH but I cant seem to get a concrete answer to what it is, exactly, that I have. The lens is SPOTLESS and came from an estate. It takes series VII filter BUT it has a chrome infinity lock. I was under the impression that only the version 1 on this lens had the infinity lock but the serial number, from what i've read, would mean its a v2 (#234+). It's a beautiful lens that came with the box and hood for almost "nothing". I really just want to know what it is that i've got and if it's anything special. 

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S/N (cross-checked in three sources) is from 1969.

 

However, Leica lens serial numbers are notoriously - unreliable - in that 1) they were assigned in blocks of 1000 or 2000 before production, which for a more exotic lens like a 35 f/1.4 might mean the numbers assigned in, say, 1969, might appear on lenses produced over several subsequent years (if it takes several years to sell 1000 or 2000 lenses of that type) - and 2) might spill over onto a revised model of the lens, if the model change occurred while unused S/Ns were still "in the hopper" waiting to be used.

 

Leica really was not especially concerned about what number a lens received, so long as it got some number from the block, that was not a duplicate. Nor all that worried about "versions" (that's a collectors' issue). Wouldn't surprise me at all if they found a barrel floating around from 1966 with the infinity lock, and tossed it into the 1969 production flow, so it got mated with a 1969 number (which is on a separate ring). And the 35 lux was made in both the Canadian and Wetzlar factories - which may have had rather different procedures or production volumes.

 

My 1980 90mm Summicron has a serial number which (by the lists) is from 1977 - go figure. ;)

Edited by adan
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S/N (cross-checked in three sources) is from 1969.

 

However, Leica lens serial numbers are notoriously - unreliable - in that 1) they were assigned in blocks of 1000 or 2000 before production, which for a more exotic lens like a 35 f/1.4 might mean the numbers assigned in, say, 1969, might appear on lenses produced over several subsequent years (if it takes several years to sell 1000 or 2000 lenses of that type) - and 2) might spill over onto a revised model of the lens, if the model change occurred while unused S/Ns were still "in the hopper" waiting to be used.

 

Leica really was not especially concerned about what number a lens received, so long as it got some number from the block, that was not a duplicate. Nor all that worried about "versions" (that's a collectors' issue). Wouldn't surprise me at all if they found a barrel floating around from 1966 with the infinity lock, and tossed it into the 1969 production flow, so it got mated with a 1969 number (which is on a separate ring). And the 35 lux was made in both the Canadian and Wetzlar factories - which may have had rather different procedures or production volumes.

 

My 1980 90mm Summicron has a serial number which (by the lists) is from 1977 - go figure. ;)

I've noticed the Leica is weird about serial numbers. I'm not a collector by any means but I do want to know what I've got. I thought this lens was weird because I've seen quite a few with goggles and such. Steel rims, certain hoods, infinity lock, etc. Working at a camera store has it's advantages in that I get my hands on some pretty wild stuff but when I see prices on EBay, I get tempted to sell sell sell (like my Safari R3 with matching 50mm Summilux.) I'll post pictures of my lens when I get to work tomorrow. 

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My 35mm Summilux is # 2289xxx and has an infinity lock, no steel rim.

No optical difference, no worries.

Optically, mine is spectacular. Almost on par with my 35mm APSH but with a littler more character. I mean, if you're going to use the lens, it's neither here nor there. Use it and be happy! 

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Optically, mine is spectacular. Almost on par with my 35mm APSH but with a littler more character. I mean, if you're going to use the lens, it's neither here nor there. Use it and be happy! 

 

I am on my third or forth 35mm Summilux ƒ1.4, the others were damaged on the job, urban daily newspaper, and I just love it. At 1.4 it has a character and speed I like and stopped down it is like a Summicron - two lenses in one!

Edited by pico
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I regret selling mine now and will probably wind up with another eventually, but I would actually love to find one that has the earlier style tab rather than the later one (which is somewhat prone to breakage).

 

I agree though it was (and remains) indeed a special lens!

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Soooo basically, these serial numbers are all over the place and any of these lenses could have any number of variations, huh? I've never cared about the value or "special edition" or anything like that- at least, not before I started working at a camera store. Now, I look up everything that comes into my store because you never know if something is a limited "this" or super rare "that". When I first picked up my 35 'lux, I was actually shocked to see the locking focusing tab because every other Canadian copy that I had seen in person had the plastic tab. When I searched eBay, I saw copies that looked like mine but with all black tabs instead of chrome like the one I've got. Then there were certain "special" hoods and steel rims and... well, finally my head stated to spin trying to figure it all out lol. I've got a 21mm super angulon that apparently is pretty special by itelf but even more so with this certain hood? This rabbit hole is apparently never ending.  :blink:

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No, the numbers are not "all over the place", but it is just as adan described it in his answer.

 

There is another factor involved: is your assumption right that only examples of a certain version of a lens up to a certain serial number have a certain characteristic?

 

I'd be careful with these assumptions. It is not uncommon, that changements in minor parts do not take place at an exact date which could be seen from a certain number - even if this number was precise as date of production is concerned (which it isn't).

 

There are often overlapping changements in minor parts, so that the items have some characteristics of the new version and some of the old. If one wanted to list them all one had to introduce a much more subtle system of Versions: not just v. 1, 2, 3 but perhaps v. 1,1a,b,2,2a,3 etc. 

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There are often overlapping changements in minor parts, so that the items have some characteristics of the new version and some of the old. If one wanted to list them all one had to introduce a much more subtle system of Versions: not just v. 1, 2, 3 but perhaps v. 1,1a,b,2,2a,3 etc. 

THAT makes perfect sense. 

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@film_god, very nice!

 

 

I regret selling mine now and will probably wind up with another eventually, but I would actually love to find one that has the earlier style tab rather than the later one (which is somewhat prone to breakage).

 

I agree though it was (and remains) indeed a special lens!

 

 

You can always replace the focus tab with a custom one... (see the link in my signature)

 

It is a special lens, despite its quirks and because of them. I think I'll probably end up with another one too, but not yet.

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You can always replace the focus tab with a custom one... (see the link in my signature)

 

It is a special lens, despite its quirks and because of them. I think I'll probably end up with another one too, but not yet.

 

I like that tab. Especially with the black paint and slight wear. This lens is going to spend a lot of time on the front of my camera. 

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