Considering a used 35mm

[WarrenInOntario]

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I'm considering this Summilux 35 f/1.4 as my first purchase toward a new to me M10 kit. More experienced eyes on this forum can assist by interpreting the value and benefits in buying this used lens from the attached photo. As a private sale locally he is asking US$2700. Does that seem fair? Looks very clean to me. External shade included - not telescopic as expected? The current alternative is a new Voitlander 35mm Apo Lanthar f/2.0 for less than half the  price. Your thoughts please?

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[jankap]

I have one with an much earlier number. It became the 6-bit code at Leica for around 300 Euro.

Did the former owner use the lens with a rangefinder? I would ask if the distance infinity (measured with the RF)  is at the infinity mark of the lens.

Edited February 25 by jankap

[WarrenInOntario]

1 hour ago, jankap said:

I have one with an much earlier number. It became the 6-bit code at Leica for around 300 Euro.

Did the former owner use the lens with a rangefinder? I would ask if the distance infinity (measured with the RF)  is at the infinity mark of the lens.

Good suggestion jankap. Yes it was used on M rangefinder. Are you happy with your copy?

Edited February 25 by WarrenInOntario

[jankap]

Yes, it is a very good lens. Not large, somewhat heavy. But - for your info - I take pictures, and am not a brick wall artist.

I bought it second hand too. No problems, but I don't use it on M cameras. Sony APS and Sigma FP are my workhorses with it.

The price, that you mentioned, is OK for a good sample. Did you become more pictures of the lens (the glasses)? I know, the decision is difficult. I could examine mine as I bought it in Munich from a private person (30! years ago).

[WarrenInOntario]

3 hours ago, jankap said:

I have one with an much earlier number. It became the 6-bit code at Leica for around 300 Euro.

Did the former owner use the lens with a rangefinder? I would ask if the distance infinity (measured with the RF)  is at the infinity mark of the lens.

Good suggestion jancap. Yes it was used on M rangefinder. Are you happy with your copy?

Thanks so much for your input jankap!

[jankap]

If the lens in your hands, the first thing you could do is a lens centering test. See the blog of Jim Kasson, A not very hard test, but it gives confidence.

I hope, that he still is active. He suffered from a bad accident, not long ago.

Edited February 25 by jankap

[jankap]

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Another advice. As soon as you get the lens, put the lens cap into your safe. A Leitz one costs around 35 Euro, on Ebay you find similar ones for 3.50 Euro. For the lens shade the same procedure holds. Sometime in the future you will sell the lens, and then you need original stuff. 

[WarrenInOntario]

On 2/25/2025 at 11:09 AM, jankap said:

I have one with an much earlier number. It became the 6-bit code at Leica for around 300 Euro.

Did the former owner use the lens with a rangefinder? I would ask if the distance infinity (measured with the RF)  is at the infinity mark of the lens.

Good suggestion jancap. Yes it was used on M rangefinder. Are you happy with your copy?

Thanks so much for your input jankap!

[WarrenInOntario]

Good tip about the lens cap and shade jankap!