LEICA SUMMICRON-M 50mm f/2 version 5

[kivis]

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Love this lens. What a classic. I have the black anodized finish. My question is this an aluminum body or something else?

 

 

[wizard]

vor 7 Minuten schrieb kivis:

My question is this an aluminum body or something else?

To the best of my knowledge, the mechanical components of this lens are made from aluminum and brass. The outer components are black anodized aluminum (Leica calls it black chromed aluminum), whereas most of the inner components are brass. With the silver chrome version of this lens, the outer parts are made from brass, too, hence the heftier weight of the silver chrome version.

[TomB_tx]

19 minutes ago, wizard said:

To the best of my knowledge, the mechanical components of this lens are made from aluminum and brass. The outer components are black anodized aluminum (Leica calls it black chromed aluminum), whereas most of the inner components are brass. With the silver chrome version of this lens, the outer parts are made from brass, too, hence the heftier weight of the silver chrome version.

I'd call that classic construction: the first Leica lens I bought was in 1968 - a 90 (fat) TeleElmarit - black anodized aluminum outer body with brass helicoids. Still looks and works great.

[kengai]

Which is the Leica number?

[adan]

Here is an actual cutaway of the construction of the preceding (v.3, 1970s) 50mm Summicron. Shows what is brass (yellow-gold metal) and what is aluminum (silvery metal).

The brass forms "the core" of the focus mechanism....the main helix cylinder, and the threaded focus cam that peeps out the bottom. As well as the mounting flange (which is hard-chrome plated, for smoothness and "slippery-ness."

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Here is a schematic cross-section of the v.5 construction (without showing the actual metal colors)

Note that this is for the "standard black" lenses.

As Wizard says, lenses that are chrome-clad externally**, or painted shiny-black or titanium-colored, use brass on the outside as well, and weigh about 40% more.

_______________
** in some cases - Leica figured out how to make a light-weight "silver-clad" 28mm Summicron for a while, that was NOT heavier than the black-anodized version. The silver Summarits use that process also, I believe.

Edited May 31, 2022 by adan

[NigelG]

6 minutes ago, adan said:

** in some cases - Leica figured out how to make a light-weight "silver-clad" 28mm Summicron for a while, that was NOT heavier than the black-anodized version. The silver Summarits use that process also, I believe.

As are also the current "Silver Anodised" 50 APO-Summicron M, 50 Noctilux, 35 Summilux FLE, 35 Summicron etc and the previously issued limited edition silver 75 APO-Summicron and 28 Summilux...

ie All current silver lenses save the 28 Summaron and the 50 Summilux are silver anodised alumn(i)um with no weight penalty. Unfortunately they don't match the camera body finish which is chromed brass. (This is why all my silver lenses are chromed brass...🙄)

A silver anodised M11 version using an aluminium top plate like the black version would solve that issue (and maybe a silver Visoflex 2) - but I'm wondering if there's a reason Leica haven't produced one?

 

[Adam Bonn]

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15 minutes ago, NigelG said:

A silver anodised M11 version using an aluminium top plate like the black version would solve that issue (and maybe a silver Visoflex 2) - but I'm wondering if there's a reason Leica haven't produced one?

My completely cynical and personal (conspiracy) theory is that the black Ms outsell the silver ones (source: my local Leica dealer) also it seems that M/Leica traditionalists prefer brass....

Therefore make the less popular colour option only in the most popular metal option = genius 😅

[lct]

1 hour ago, kengai said:

Which is the Leica number?

11816 (silver) and 11826 (black)

[MyLeicaWorld]

Is this the v5, latest version of summicron 50mm ? Or is there a V6?

[lct]

1 hour ago, MyLeicaWorld said:

Is this the v5, latest version of summicron 50mm ? Or is there a V6?

Summicron 50/2 v4 (optical version) or v5 (commercial version). There is no v6 but a different lens, the Summicron 50/2 apo.

[a.noctilux]

Whatever the version, they are nice lenses, I keep two silver lenses after, for so many years, using happily the black "light" version ...

very different outside but inside is the same

one in LTM screw mount focus to 1m MFD with almost same body as the M version, sliding hood

the other is 50TH Anniversary of Summicron (just see here no small number for real focal length)

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[RexGig0]

16 hours ago, MyLeicaWorld said:

Is this the v5, latest version of summicron 50mm ? Or is there a V6?

According to Leica, the current version is Version IV. The actual optical formula is the same as the one started in 1979.

Some users have long been using “Version V” for the current lens, because the exterior was changed, with the most notable feature being the sliding hood. Leica does not use “Version V.”

Some users have been using “Version V” to describe the APO-Summicron. Leica does not use “Version V.”

As I see it, if there is no Version V, there cannot be a Version VI. 😉

My favorite is the 50 Jahre Special Edition, as shown in a.noctilux’ post, immediately above this post, with its exterior that somewhat resembles the exterior of the Version III “Rigid” Summicron, but having the 1979 optical formula. The differences are not only cosmetic, as Erwin Puts noted in his blog. He found a mechanical difference that is only visible when one observes the lens mount area, while the lens is not mounted on a camera. I love the ergonomics of this lens, as well as its appearance. Notably, the 50 Jahre/Year refers to the 50th anniversary of the Summicron 50mm.

Edited October 30, 2022 by RexGig0

[lct]

1 hour ago, RexGig0 said:

[...] Some users have been using “Version V” to describe the APO-Summicron. [...]

I have never seen this description so far but i may be missing something. Would you have a link by chance? Just curious. In my book and according to most reviewers AFAIK, "version 5" is the designation the current variant of the Summicron 50 non apo is usually given to distinguish it from the previous variant aka "version 4" with focus tab and sans built-in hood. It is not an optical version, given that both lenses have the same optical design, reason why Leica is giving both the same version number. But they have different Leica code numbers of course: 
• v4 (1979-1994): 11819 (black), 11825 (silver)
• v5 (1994-current): 11826 (black), 11816 (silver), 11615 (silver, 50 jahre), 11619 (silver M39), 11624 (titan)
... and probably others. FWIW.

My v4 (11819) and v5 (11826):

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Edited October 30, 2022 by lct

[darylgo]

2 hours ago, lct said:

v5 (1994-current): 11826 (black), 11816 (silver), 11615 (silver, 50 jahre), 11619 (silver M39), 11624 (titan)
... and probably others.

another:

Safari ( don’t know the number).  
 

… and probably others.

[Ouroboros]

I like green.

My 50mm f2 summicron safari edition (11824), centre, with it's 28mm (11704) and 90mm (11705) Safari edition siblings.

 

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[lct]

Very nice. Black paint too (10317?).

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[RexGig0]

21 hours ago, lct said:

I have never seen this description so far but i may be missing something. Would you have a link by chance? Just curious. In my book and according to most reviewers AFAIK, "version 5" is the designation the current variant of the Summicron 50 non apo is usually given to distinguish it from the previous variant aka "version 4" with focus tab and sans built-in hood. It is not an optical version, given that both lenses have the same optical design, reason why Leica is giving both the same version number. But they have different Leica code numbers of course: 
• v4 (1979-1994): 11819 (black), 11825 (silver)
• v5 (1994-current): 11826 (black), 11816 (silver), 11615 (silver, 50 jahre), 11619 (silver M39), 11624 (titan)
... and probably others. FWIW.

My v4 (11819) and v5 (11826):

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Regarding those referring to the APO as the Version V, no, sorry, I have no links. I have noticed it two or three times, randomly, in various places. Probably, it was at least once at DP Review dot com, and in a long-disremembered blog post, if I remember correctly. “Disremember” is what i say when I have held something in disregard, and have done my best to wipe it from my memory. 😉

You are, of course, correct, in that Version V usually means the 11826, even though Leica, itself, has not adopted the “Version V.”

Personally, I am glad that a classic Mandler-designed 50mm is still available, new, from Leica, whatever users may call it.

Edited October 31, 2022 by RexGig0

[Jon Warwick]

Given the v5 is available new, would manufacturing tolerances (possibly due to better testing technology etc) be better now than (say) 20 years ago for this same lens? In other words, have the chances of getting a “good copy” increased over the years?

Edited October 31, 2022 by Jon Warwick

[lct]

5 hours ago, Jon Warwick said:

Given the v5 is available new, would manufacturing tolerances (possibly due to better testing technology etc) be better now than (say) 20 years ago for this same lens? In other words, have the chances of getting a “good copy” increased over the years?

Not sure if any change has been reported on this lens in 20 years. In a longer period, the lens coating has changed on my German v4 copy from 1988, giving the lens a slightly better resistance to flare compared to my Canadian v4 copy from 1979. Since then, i could not tell which is which when comparing images shot with my v4 from 1988 to my v5 from 2012. Hope this helps. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Jeff S]

FWIW, Erwin Puts includes the 11826, in his Leica Chronicle, under version IV, and the 50 APO Summicron following in 2012 without any version number. 

Jeff