the M lens we all want (but only one of us can have!)

[bags27]

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https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEICA-35MM-SUMMILUX-M-F1-4-AA-SILVER-CHROME-ASPHERICAL-PROTOTYPE-11873-LENS-1-1/292998067890

shipping is free!

Edited March 25, 2019 by bags27

[SMAL]

What a hilarious price tag.

[mmradman]

For that kind of money you could approach Leica to dust off old design and make you a set in different finishes.

[Torontoamateur]

Alex does seem to have gone a bit too far.

[LichtUndDunkelheit]

Talk about huge anti-climax.

I dont even care that lens exists, and why would I.

 

[pkwok]

Leica rumors casts doubt on its validity. Any idea?

 

[jdlaing]

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A rumor site questioning validity. That’s rich.

[TomB_tx]

A price like this let’s collectors know they have the item, but no one will buy at that price, so the listing ends without having to pay the auction fees. After that the seller can negotiate directly with inquiries.

[jdlaing]

Don’t give up ALL the secrets Tom.

[Del-Uks]

My guess... money laundering. 

[adan]

Some thoughts:

- plain vanilla black production "Asphericals" now sell for over $20,000 (back around 2003 they were $5,000-6,000 - couldn't afford one then, either).

- I'm not aware of any production "Aspherical" in chrome - the production run was so limited Leica never got past making black ones. (Of course, my lack on knowledge in this case might fill a warehouse ). Leica did not re-introduce the "chrome option" for other production lenses until the mid-1990s.

- the "Aspherical" was introduced for sale in 1990 - this one's SN is from 1988. Argues in favor of it being a very early sample - although we do know that Leica SNs can be "approximate" as to year, especially with low-volume, exotic lenses.

- the "Panda" construction (black focus tab and screws on a chrome lens) also argues for a one-off experimental.

It does look like an one-of-a-kind, from several perspectives. But to pay that price, or even 1/3rd of it (if I was a collector, and could) I'd want one heck of a lot of "provenance" - exactly how and when did it get out of Leica's hands, and where has it been ever since? Does it come with any Leica design lab paperwork that records the SN?

As to "why care" - I did actually get to shoot an Aspherical vs. the ASPH - once. I rather preferred its rendering, which was a bit closer to a Mandler design than the ASPH (yellower color, subtly sharper in the center while softer in the corners at f/1.4.) If I ran across an "Aspherical" in a cave somewhere for $4500, I'd grab it (and for use, not resale). Ah, fantasies!

[padam]

I don't want it.

[rsolomon]

That price is crazy, no way would I spend more than 70k for that!,

[Herr Barnack]

The price is way too low - it should have been at least $100 million. 

[cafecacao]

Maybe, owner confused currency

[scott kirkpatrick]

I like the idea of getting it for only $749,950.  Of course the credit card which offers this vital discount will probably not cover that much.

[mmradman]

7 hours ago, Herr Barnack said:

The price is way too low - it should have been at least $100 million. 

It could be that doctor Evil woke up from deep freeze, maybe he should have asked for 100 Billion.

 

Hopefully not breaching much copyright  😁

 

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Alex strikes again. He is getting dominant on ebay for pushing Leica gear as his retirement plan.

[steamboat]

Probably just me but it seems pricey.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[pico]

8 minutes ago, steamboat said:

Probably just me but it seems pricey.

Imagine the person who would by it, perhaps someone living in a penthouse with private security. I hope he sucks-up rare stuff to remove them from reality. Beside boring his company to tears with his glass housed collection what does he have except a strange posthumous evaluation of disinterested persons. "Cameras? Gimmie a break."

Of course there are still the oil barons who can buy and bury the stuff. I would.

Edited March 30, 2019 by pico