Anyone have experience of the black chrome 50 Apo (11811)?

[Kiwimac]

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I found one for sale and it’s a beautiful thing - quite exquisite to hold, although all the brass makes it a very dense lens. Even the front and rear caps are brass judging by the weight of them. 
 

I wondered if anyone had one here?

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[jakontil]

1 hour ago, Kiwimac said:

I found one for sale and it’s a beautiful thing - quite exquisite to hold, although all the brass makes it a very dense lens. Even the front and rear caps are brass judging by the weight of them. 
 

I wondered if anyone had one here?

Had one before and parted recently bcoz i got an offer i couldnt refuse 

a great solid lens, still in my profile photo lol, bought it when it was launched

[Kiwimac]

Did you enjoy shooting with it?

All M lenses are things of beauty and feel almost hewn from solid. 
 

However, if a normal lens is a BMW 7 series, this particular one feels like  a Rolls Royce!

I think it’s identical to the LHSA version without the serial engraving and logo although it seems to have been limited to 700 units.

 

[RobW0]

I have the 50mm Summilux black chrome and love the focus feel and handling of that lens. The only downside is the mass. I have the normal 50mm APO and would love to get the black chrome version but have never found on at a price I was willing to pay. 

[evikne]

I also had the 50mm Summilux BC once. I absolutely loved the feel of the scalloped focus ring, it was the best experience I've ever had from a Leica lens. The only thing that annoyed me was not the weight, but the length. The Summicron is slightly shorter, and one of the most beautiful lenses Leica has ever made, in my opinion. If I could freely choose any Leica lens, regardless of price, it would be either this or the 35 APO.

[Ecar]

I have one. Gorgeous lens and outstanding haptics. To me, it is worth the extra weight and bulk (with the hood on). Same goes for the Summilux 50/1.4 BC.

[ELAN]

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22 minutes ago, evikne said:

I also had the 50mm Summilux BC once. I absolutely loved the feel of the scalloped focus ring, it was the best experience I've ever had from a Leica lens. The only thing that annoyed me was not the weight, but the length. The Summicron is slightly shorter, and one of the most beautiful lenses Leica has ever made, in my opinion. If I could freely choose any Leica lens, regardless of price, it would be either this or the 35 APO.

Ernst, the APO 35 and 50 render very differently than the Mandler lenses you currently own and cherish..

[ELAN]

3 hours ago, Kiwimac said:

I found one for sale and it’s a beautiful thing - quite exquisite to hold, although all the brass makes it a very dense lens. Even the front and rear caps are brass judging by the weight of them. 
 

I wondered if anyone had one here?

I have the LHSA version and I love it.  It is indeed heavy and dense and built like a tank, but it's a joy to use.

[evikne]

19 minutes ago, ELAN said:

Ernst, the APO 35 and 50 render very differently than the Mandler lenses you currently own and cherish..

I know, but I would love to have one set of modern lenses and one set of classic lenses, like I had before. Currently I can only afford to have the Mandler lenses.

[Kiwimac]

Thanks for your input. 
 

The one in question is part of a collection which is being sold and which includes a number of interesting collectibles; there is a variety of gold plated Leicas and other special edition sets. 
 

The price is certainly up there but it’s probably the only copy of the lens in New Zealand and it’s so lovely. 
 

Logic suggests I should get the standard serial version in silver to put on the M11-P Safari I’ve ordered, but I find logic tends to take a leave of absence where Leica goodies are concerned! 🤣

[jakontil]

13 hours ago, Kiwimac said:

Did you enjoy shooting with it?

All M lenses are things of beauty and feel almost hewn from solid. 
 

However, if a normal lens is a BMW 7 series, this particular one feels like  a Rolls Royce!

I think it’s identical to the LHSA version without the serial engraving and logo although it seems to have been limited to 700 units.

 

I enjoyed it every bit of it.. yes like the LHSA only in black chrome

Almost my go to lens in 50 world apart from a noctilux 0.95.. love the results especially in BW, swapped it with another 50 

[dkmoore]

15 hours ago, Kiwimac said:

I found one for sale and it’s a beautiful thing - quite exquisite to hold, although all the brass makes it a very dense lens. Even the front and rear caps are brass judging by the weight of them. 
 

I wondered if anyone had one here?

If the price is high, shoot me a DM. 
 

My Leica guy is amazing. He has two of these in mint condition for very good prices and I can help you make contact. 
 

I’ve bought at least $200k Leica gear from him and it’s always been perfect. If you don’t want to, no offense taken. 
 

It’s a beautiful lens. Focus is so smooth with brass lenses. I find the regular 50 APO to be preferred because it’s Far lighter and hood is more convenient but damn it’s beautiful lens. 
 

happy to help if you want it. 

[Kiwimac]

1 hour ago, dkmoore said:

If the price is high, shoot me a DM. 
 

My Leica guy is amazing. He has two of these in mint condition for very good prices and I can help you make contact. 
 

I’ve bought at least $200k Leica gear from him and it’s always been perfect. If you don’t want to, no offense taken. 
 

It’s a beautiful lens. Focus is so smooth with brass lenses. I find the regular 50 APO to be preferred because it’s Far lighter and hood is more convenient but damn it’s beautiful lens. 
 

happy to help if you want it. 

It’s the equivalent of US$10,000. It’s as near to mint as makes no difference. I’m not even convinced the owner ever put it on a camera. Full boxes and papers. 
 

Looking overseas on EBay and such like it seems like a good and fair price to me. What do you think?

 

[dkmoore]

6 hours ago, Kiwimac said:

It’s the equivalent of US$10,000. It’s as near to mint as makes no difference. I’m not even convinced the owner ever put it on a camera. Full boxes and papers. 
 

Looking overseas on EBay and such like it seems like a good and fair price to me. What do you think?

 

The copies my guy is selling are for $8,500-$8800 USD. $10k isn’t bad unless you have to pay tax and any other fees to purchase. 

Edited May 10 by dkmoore

[Kiwimac]

1 hour ago, dkmoore said:

The copies my guy is selling are for $8,500-$8800 USD. $10k isn’t bad unless you have to pay tax and any other fees to purchase. 

I do but here we include it in the price rather than adding it at the checkout. 15%. 
 

If I order it from overseas, Customs will hold it at the border until I’ve paid the tab and duty account they would send me. 
 

The best way is to tee up the purchase overseas and go there on holiday to collect it then (if you’re really paranoid) send the empty boxes to yourself at a nominal value which is below the tax threshold. Or so I’ve been told. Allegedly. 
 

On offer also is a 28 Lux in mint order which, plus the M11 Safari, would clean me out of cash for top tier level gear for a year or two!

 I’d possibly scrounge up enough to get a 35 Summicron over the next year just for a smaller lighter option on the days you want that. 

[Kiwimac]

I know that the black chrome cameras were plated with nickel before the black chrome was applied. 
 

Is it the same for this black chrome lens or is it plated with the chrome straight on the brass?

I decided to buy it. 

[Kiwimac]

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[T25UFO]

On 5/9/2025 at 12:16 PM, Kiwimac said:

I found one for sale and it’s a beautiful thing - quite exquisite to hold, although all the brass makes it a very dense lens. Even the front and rear caps are brass judging by the weight of them. 
 

I wondered if anyone had one here?

Bought one new some years ago and recently sold it for the same price, so it definitely holds its value.  I was using the 35mm APO far more than the 50mm APO and my preferred 50mm is now the Noctilux f1.2 reissue.  Used some of the money from the 50mm APO to buy the recent Classic 50mm f1.4 and banked the rest!

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[Kiwimac]

The Apo 35 is excellent. I probably would have got that (again) had the 11811 version of the 50 was not sitting on a shelf making eyes at me. It was barely above the cost of the standard lens.