This week I recieved my first Leica M, a used M6 which is in very good condition cosmetically (the frame counter doesn't show the correct number but that's another thread).

My first lens is a Summicron 50. It has the serial number 2407xxx. It is black and has no built in sun-shade, nor does it have a focus tab. When was this lens made, is this the current optical formulation?

Thanks, Peter

PS. I've been photographing with the camera by now in -15 centigrades (+5 Fahrenheit) and the camera and lens are as smooth as in normal room-temperature. Impressive!

-- Peter Olsson (peter.olsson@lulebo.se), November 16, 2001

Answers

The lens was made in 1970. I don't know about it's optical formulation.

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@lsqgroup.com), November 16, 2001.

I have a S'cron 50 with serial 2518xxx, it's of 1969-1979 vintage and therefor not the current optical formulation but the second optical design. The current S'con 50 with built in hood and its predecessor have the third optical design if I'm not mistaken. Did you know you can unscrew the front part of the lens and use it as an macro lens in combintion with a Leica bellows

-- Bert Keuken (bkkn@wanadoo.nl), November 16, 2001.

Your lens is from the last optical formula before the current incarnation It was produced from 1969-1979, with the upgrade coming in 1980. The current version started with a tab and external hood, and was later changed mechanically to the non-tabbed and built in hood, but retaining the same optics.

I have both models, yours and the current model, and I find them to have a similar performance on film when photographing real subjects. I am sure that there is a difference if you wanted to go for measurements that require instrumentation, but for photography your lens should fine assuming no defects.

I would get a hood if you don't have one. Look for model(s) 12585 (same vintage metal) or 12538 (last version plastic). These will offer flare resistance as well as protection of the glass.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), November 16, 2001.

This is the first six element design, in five groups, (latter came the six in four groups).A lent with no tab.

I have seen pictures of HCB using this lens on a just gifted M6.

This was made betwen ī69 and ī79.

Very similar to lattest design, just elements four and five are not cemented, so this goes into five groups intead of four as lattest. Donīt know much about performace, but for sure coments are coming.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), November 16, 2001.

There are four different optical design for the 50/2 Summicron.

1 - 1953-1960 Collapsible 2 - 1960-1968 Rigid and Dr or NF 3 - 1969-1979 your model 4 - 1979-today focusing tab (1979-1994) and built-in hood (1994-today)

-- Lucien (lucien.vd@yahoo.fr), November 16, 2001.

1 - 1953-1960 Collapsible

2 - 1960-1968 Rigid and Dr or NF

3 - 1969-1979 your model

4 - 1979-today focusing tab (1979-1994) and built-in hood (1994-today)

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 16, 2001.

1 - 1953-1960 Collapsible

2 - 1960-1968 Rigid and Dr or NF

3 - 1969-1979 your model

4 - 1979-today focusing tab (1979-1994) and built-in hood (1994-today)

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 16, 2001.

I have used your lens since I bought it new in 1973. Leica designates it as #11817. I always liked it and got great pictures from it. The various 50 Summicrons have been subject of a number of lively opinionated articles and debates through the years. One school says that they have gone downhill since the original rigid and dual range versions. Another avers that the tabbed 4th version is the best cron ever. Here's a reference to an article by Irwin Puts on his testing and preferences. http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/v10/msg00013.html Another guy wrote that the #11817 was the best 50 cron and that the later versions lacked its smoothness and had a 'wiry' look. I have to say I just got a tabbed version #11819 about a month ago so the jury is still out at my house. I'm going to send my #11817 to Golden Touch for a CLA because the dot that the aperture lines up to has been loose for a couple of years. I don't really believe there is a bad 50 summicron, just very slight variations in the look and contrast/sharpness equation. Cheers.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), November 16, 2001.

I own an 11817 (like yours)and the current 50/2 with built-in shade. At f/2 and to a lesser degree at f/2.8 I can detect more contrast in the newer design. The earlier lens is smaller and lighter, and unless I know specifically I'm going to be shooting at the widest apertures, I prefer to have less to carry around. Ditto my sentiments regarding the oft-compared "thin" 90-TE and current 90/2.8.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), November 16, 2001.

My 50mm Summicron is of the same vintage as yours, made sometime between 1969-1979. I purchased it used and sent it off to Leica a little over one year ago to get a good CLA. They did an excellent job. Optically, I find the lens an exceptional performer. One piece of advice; use a filter (UV or colored, depending on which film you are using) and always use a lens shade. Your lens is capable of producing stunning images.I hope you enjoy your new outfit.Best of luck.

-- John Alfred Tropiano (jat18@psu.edu), November 16, 2001.

On the following electronic editions of the Viewfinder (Leica Historical Society of America - LHSA), there papers are about your lens.

-- Lucien (Lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 16, 2001.

A L eica M Summicron 50mm Historical comparison by Erwin Puts

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 16, 2001.

Thank you for all the answers. One reason I asked is because the lens is marked "Lens made in Germany" at the "bottom". I thought it would have been marked "made in West Germany" if made before the 90's.

The lens shade is the plastic one, 12538, and is made in Canada. I will order some filters for the lens for black & white work. I will get the UV-filter too, thanks for that tip. Some color markings have worn off, which makes the depth of field markings difficult to see. I'm thinking of getting some white paint to fill in those markings with a thin brush. The aperture click stops works perfectly and I'm very pleased to note what looks like 10 aperture blades - this makes a nice roundish diaphragm.

-- Peter Olsson (peter.olsson@lulebo.se), November 18, 2001.

I also have both the 69-79 SUmmicron, and the Tabbed version. I find the tabbed version to be very flare-prone. My impression at this point is that the 69-79 is less so; but this will require more experience to really be able to say.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), November 19, 2001.