Which 50/2 do I have?

[kuchars22]

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Hi, can someone clear up some confusion over what version of 50/2 I have? The box says “11826” but the barcode on the same box says “118260”? I believe it’s a v/4 lens? 

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[kuchars22]

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[kuchars22]

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[Danner]

That is a Version 5 Summicron.  Great lens.

[kuchars22]

Oh! Didn’t realise that - what’s the going rate for such a lens on the used market for my serial range? It’s in Good condition with just a small knick on the aperture ring. I’m in the U.K. but USD is ok with me. 

[Lesslemming]

Indeed a phenomenal lens. One of my favourite and a testament to the golden age of Leica

 

I recently purchased two specimen, so maybe I can jump in.

the first one I purchased was from an older serial number and had the same, old packaging as yours. Condition was good, not great. Like yours. No issues, nor any obvious signs of wear. I paid just a hair under 1.000EUR.

I sold it for the same price a few weeks later and bought a more recent copy (exact same lens, newer packaging design, less old of course) in 100% MINT condition for 1.499€. Your mileage may vary

Edited January 13, 2024 by Lesslemming

[kuchars22]

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1 minute ago, Lesslemming said:

I recently purchased two specimen, so maybe I can jump in.

the first one I purchased was from an older serial number and had the same, old packaging as yours. Condition was good, not great. Like yours. No issues, nor any obvious signs of wear. I paid just a hair under 1.000EUR.

I sold it for the same price a few weeks later and bought a more recent copy (exact same lens, newer packaging design, less old of course) in 100% MINT condition for 1.499€. Your mileage may vary

So this is where I was confused - at some point the box had changed to the newer silver box and 6-bit coding too? Those I believe are upwards of £1200

[spydrxx]

Check completed auctions on Ebay for recent sales prices.

[dpitt]

This is 11826, black version of the Summicron 50 v5
https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/50mm_f/2_Summicron-M

[Lesslemming]

2 hours ago, kuchars22 said:

 

So this is where I was confused - at some point the box had changed to the newer silver box and 6-bit coding too? Those I believe are upwards of £1200

That’s right. What you have is still the Summicron 50mm V5; just the early iteration with old box and indeed no 6-bit coding. These go for a little less, even though the lens is exactly the same. 

[kivis]

I have the newer version with coding. It is on my M10 85% of the time. 

[Jon Warwick]

2 hours ago, kivis said:

I have the newer version with coding. It is on my M10 85% of the time. 

Same here, and one of my most frequently used lenses, in my case on an M11.

I've got modern APO lenses too, etc, but there is something lovely about the rendering of the 50mm v5 that i keep coming back to.

The field curvature requires some understanding but can be very effective for many shots too (ie, by "guiding" one into the photo due to the nearest corners of the image being in focus too).

I think what i most like is the v5's rendering by recording a ton of fine detail, but in a slightly "gentler" and more subtle way than some of the very latest (APO) lenses.

[pippy]

3 hours ago, Jon Warwick said:

...there is something lovely about the rendering of the 50mm v5...

The optical formula of the v5 (which is still a current offering) dates all the way back to 1979 (45 years!) and is, undoubtedly, one of the very greatest of the various lens-formulae designed by Walter Mandler. Truly wonderful performers.

P.

 

 

[adan]

One thing to remember is that the numbers like 11826 are product catalog numbers, not a particular optical design version.

The same essential optical formula from 1979, that pippy mentions, has been sold as:

11819-black (so-called v.4 - separate lens hood) 11826-black, 11825-silver, 11816-silver, 11624-titan(ium color), 11619-silver (S), 11615-silver-50yr (also v.4 barrel and separate hood). And possibly others, as additional "commemorative" cosmetic variations (complete with bodies, in gold, platinum, etc.).

Howver I don't believe Leica bothered to change the numbers again when 6-bit coding was introduced - if that was the only change.