BobPS Posted November 9, 2008 Share #1 Posted November 9, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi guys, In the anticipation of my M6 to be, which will come in December , I've been looking for a lens. Two local stores here don't have any Leica lenses in their stock. So I've been looking for a used one and come across these two Leica lenses: SEKAR Collections: 50mm Summilux f/1.4 SEKAR Collections: 35mm Summicron f/2 My questions are: is this a good one? Is there any way to tell the production year of the lenses? How much is the fair price for either of these lenses? I called the seller, but he doesn't know yet how much the price is going to be. He inherited them from his father and since nobody in th family is using them, they want to sell the lenses. Thanks in advance, Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 9, 2008 Posted November 9, 2008 Hi BobPS, Take a look here 50mm summilux and 35 summicron. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
enboe Posted November 9, 2008 Share #2 Posted November 9, 2008 On production years, I would go to cameraquest.com. Steve used to have a table you could use to look up the serial numbers for the production year. Erwin Putts used to have a free, downloadable version of his lens compendium. It is no longer on his site, but maybe someone here has it. This gives a good narrative on the optical merits of many Leica lenses. Asking opinions here is also a good move. As for price, I would look on ebay at the closed auctions. You are looking for listings of a 50/1.4 summilux from the 1960's and a 35/2.0/8element for the M3. Enjoy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobPS Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted November 9, 2008 Thanks very much enboe. Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 9, 2008 Share #4 Posted November 9, 2008 The 50mm Summilux can be three different lenses: • First version 1959–61. Not terribly good even for that time. • Second version 1962–2004 (first serial no. 1844001). A record run and a very pleasant lens. Good resistance to flare and internal reflexes, but less 'bite' around the edges and corners of the picture than a current Summicron. Two mount versions, first with detachable hood, second with built-in pull-out, but optically identical. A reasonable buy if in good shape and if the price is attractive. • Summilux-M ASPH. 1:1.4/50mm (check the front ring). The current option. Probably the best 50mm lens ever produced, but I don't think this is the one offered you. The 35mm Summicron is probably the v.4, 1959–1996. A reliable warhorse. Very useable wide open, very good a couple of stops down. If the # is below 2974251, it's an earlier version and not really attactive. As for the choice between 50 and 35mm: The diagonal of the 35mm format is 42mm, so that should be the focal length of a standard lens! 35mm and 50mm (actually closer to 52) are nicely positioned around that value, so they can be regarded as a 'short standard' and a 'long standard', respectively. Both are consequently very versatile. Your choice will be dictated by your own shooting habits and your temperament—35 is more extroverted, 50 more introverted ... Classically, most dedicated 35mm photographers owned both, so how can you go wrong? The old man from the Age of the Eight-Element Summicron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobPS Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share #5 Posted November 9, 2008 Lars, Thank you very much for the detailed explanation. The serial number of the 50mm is 1845425, while the 35 mm is 1687619. I don't know what shape they're in cause the seller lives in another city about 800 km away. Frankly, I'm more used to 50mm cause for years (when I shoot film) I shot with 50 mm lenses more than other lenses, but I lean more toward the 35 mm and currently I use a mf nikkor 35 f/2 extensivelly. Take care, Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest breverl Posted November 9, 2008 Share #6 Posted November 9, 2008 The serial number of the 50mm is 1845425, while the 35 mm is 1687619. I this means. the 50 is from 1961 while the 35 is from 1959 regards roland Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 9, 2008 Share #7 Posted November 9, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) this means. the 50 is from 1961 while the 35 is from 1959 regards roland The actual changeover in manufacturing seems to have been done during late 1961, hence the first serial numbers of v.2 were 1961 numbers. Leitz did not advertise the change. The new lens was in a mount that was outwardly the same, and there was no change in ordering number. Leitz did not in fact admit to the change until 1966! The reason for this stealthy behaviour was probably that there were many v.1 lenses 'in the pipeline' and the company did not want these to become unsaleable. But 1844001 was the first v.2 lens; all sources agree on this. So the lens we are discussing is a v.2. It's a good-looking lens in silver chrome and takes 43mm screw-in filters. Questions to ask are: Clean, un-scratched and non-hazy glass? Smooth-working focusing helical? Iris diaphragm working precisely, without any blades out of line? No external signs of abuse? Is there a lens hood? The same old man Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
piero Posted November 9, 2008 Share #8 Posted November 9, 2008 The 50mm Summilux can be three different lenses: ... Second version 1962–2004 (first serial no. 1844001). .... A reasonable buy if in good shape and if the price is attractive. ... hi there Lars ! what, in your opinion, would be a reasonable and attractive price for a second version in good shape? Thanks! Piero Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
piero Posted November 9, 2008 Share #9 Posted November 9, 2008 ...—35 is more extroverted, 50 more introverted ... ... very interesting definition I happen to agree with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 10, 2008 Share #10 Posted November 10, 2008 My suspicion is that a clean specimen of that age, with the XOOIM hood, will fetch around 750 euro. The old man Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 10, 2008 Share #11 Posted November 10, 2008 Hey, Leicashop in Vienna (http://www.leicashop.com) has one at that price! The same Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
piero Posted November 10, 2008 Share #12 Posted November 10, 2008 Yes, but is rather old. The one I have seen saturday sells for €1150 and is a pre Asph in terms of production time, just before the Asph came out. It is probably sold already. And I would have negotiated a bit... Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
piero Posted November 10, 2008 Share #13 Posted November 10, 2008 1.4 1/90th sec. In color is rather hard to work if left uncoded. Is a 36xxxx lens one year old more or less. Good shape, a bit of crumbs or leather bits around the front element. € 1150 how much would it cost to send to Solms to have it coded? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/67882-50mm-summilux-and-35-summicron/?do=findComment&comment=711450'>More sharing options...
piero Posted November 10, 2008 Share #14 Posted November 10, 2008 f2 daisy is indeed green. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/67882-50mm-summilux-and-35-summicron/?do=findComment&comment=711467'>More sharing options...
wizard Posted November 11, 2008 Share #15 Posted November 11, 2008 Is a 36xxxx lens one year old more or less. A lens with serial number 36xxxxx is from roughly 1995, so the lens will be around 13 years old by now. Cheers, Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 11, 2008 Share #16 Posted November 11, 2008 I would have a look here; they have a number of attractively priced 50-ies in stock. I can vouch for their reliability and guarantee and return policies. https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted November 11, 2008 Share #17 Posted November 11, 2008 I have no connection with Ffordes but would also second what Jaap says -- I have bought from them and soldwith them extremely satisfactorily over recent years. Theor pricing also seems very fair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
piero Posted November 11, 2008 Share #18 Posted November 11, 2008 A lens with serial number 36xxxxx is from roughly 1995, so the lens will be around 13 years old by now. Cheers, Andy that's what I thought too. although I have been told the lens was sold new to the first owner about a year ago. is it possible that it had been sitting in stock for so long? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted November 11, 2008 Share #19 Posted November 11, 2008 ...is it possible that it had been sitting in stock for so long? Could be. I have seen lenses sit at a dealer for some years. But there is no doubt, if the lens in question really has 36xxxxx as serial number (and not 396xxxx), then it will be from 1994 or 1995. Should not be a problem though, as there were no changes to this lens from 1993 to the end of production. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
piero Posted November 11, 2008 Share #20 Posted November 11, 2008 I am trying to remember, but I am pretty sure it was 36xxx not 39. on second thoughts, I tend to appreciate better f2. Probably my own visual limit due to years seeking sharpness working with view cameras. At that point a new Summicron would probably be a better choice. The new Summilux Asph is what I would probably like best, but price is way too high for me at the moment. How much does it cost to code a lens in Solms? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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