Can anyone help identify

[Leslie22]

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I have what I thought was a type 2 Leica 50 f2 Rigid summicron. It is silver with the distance scale only in feet.

My question is , with the distance scale only in feet is it the same designation as the version with distance in feet and meters ?

And what year would it be ? 

Many thanks 

 

 

[jaapv]

Serial number?

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Leslie,

Welcome to the Forum.

The 50mm f2 Summicron Rigid came in 2 versions.

The first version had smooth valleys & knurlled peaks going around the focusing ring. It was made with feet or meter markings. But not both.

The second version had knurls in the valleys & smooth peaks. This version was marked with both feet & meters. The changeover took place around 1959. The dividing serial number is around 1680000.

The dates & serial numbers of Leitz/Leica are generally approximate because there are many variations & anomolies.

I think that most of the screw mount 50mm f2 Rigid Summicrons were of the first variety. Regardless of when they were made.

Such as screw mount 50mm f2 Summicron Rigid number 2279578. A number from 1968. But with all of the aspects of a screw mount 50mm f2 Summicron Rigid from the first production group.

Starting around 1960 Leitz began engraving the last 2 digits of the actual focal length of that individual lens to 1/10 of a millimeter (without the "." ) on rangefinder & reflex lenses of 50mm length & longer. But not always.

On the second group of 50mm f2 Summicron Rigid lenses this 2 digit number is usually found under the "eet"of "feet" & to the right of the "M".

These 2 numbers, which may be found at different locations on various lenses, are engaved at a right angle to the other numbers on the barrel.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited July 1 by Michael Geschlecht

[Leslie22]

The lens has smooth valleys , no extra digits that I can find, Feet measurement only. serial number: 1705849 , I hope this helps

[UliWer]

1 hour ago, Leslie22 said:

serial number: 1705849

It should be from 1959, though as Michael explained you cannot be completely sure about this.

Anyway, the optics of all the variants of the rigid Summicron are the same.

Edited July 1 by UliWer

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Leslie,

Smooth valley focusing ring 50mm f2 Summicrons are from the first group. Which only had either feet or meter engravings, not both. And did not have the 2 digit number at a right angle to the other numbers. Is this a screw mount, or a bayonet mount lens? It could also be a screw mount lens with an added bayonet mount adapter. 

All of the possible alternatives are equally nice. And, as UliWer has already mentioned: They all have the same optics.

And they all take most of the same accessories.

The Leica Wiki at the top of this & almost every other page on this Forum writes your lens is most likely a Dual Range lens. (Flat thing on the side of the lens near where it mounts to the camera.).

Or, it might be a screw mount lens.  Possibly with a bayonet mount adapter attached.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited July 2 by Michael Geschlecht

[Michael Geschlecht]

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Hello Again Leslie,

You might want to go to the Leica Wiki at the top of this page.

Click - English

Click - M series lenses

Click - M lenses X focal length

Click - Summicron (I) f = 5cm 1 : 2

And you might find something interesting to read.

After which, please come back here to let us know what you have found & to ask more questions.

We can all learn somethng from this.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited July 2 by Michael Geschlecht

[Leslie22]

Thank you for all help Michael.

 

I’m still a little puzzled. The Wiki entry that covers the serial number: says DR , but mine has no flat platform for the goggles , it’s a bayonet mount with the focus ring having “flat valley” & ridged Hill ?

Also , the top section screws off the lens , is that normal for a rigid 50 ?

Regards

Leslie

 

 

1704001

1709000

Summicron f= 5 cm 1:2 (S-rigid+DR-chrom)

1959

5000

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Leslie,

A bayonet mount 50mm f2 Summicron, marked only in either feet or meters, with no flat part on the side, with smooth valleys is a first version 50mm f2 Summicron Rigid.

It is standard that the lens unit unscrews for use on various close up devices such as Bellows II & Visoflexes II, IIa & III. Or, in a Bellows R on a Leicaflex, etc. These devices are also in the Leica Wiki at the top of the page. Or, you can ask about them here.

It is important to note that ONLY the 2 versions of the Rigid, screw mount or bayonet mount, & the Dual Range lenses. Along with the 11817 & its variants from approximately 1969 to 1979 have lens heads that unscrew for close up work.

The earlier collapsable lenses, both bayonet & screw mount, & the lenses that follow the 11817 do NOT have lens heads that unscrew. 

50mm f2 Summicron lenses are somewhat more difficult to research sometimes because there is sometimes a difference about how a version of the lens is referred to in different refernce sources.

So, sometimes a 50mm f2 Summicron lens descibed as version I in 1 source, might be called a version II in a different source. This is part of the World of Leitz/Leica. With exceptions, anomolies, etc. But, not always.

Do you have the ability to put some photos of the lens in this Thread. It might be interesting to see.

If you are not sure how to do it you might "click" the avatar of any of the people Posting in ANY Thread that have an avatar that says "Moderator". They are all nice & will be glad to help.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited July 2 by Michael Geschlecht