I've come across a 50mm summicron and can't seem to find any information on the lens. The lens is the one before the current version. It has a focusing tab, a separate hood but is a CHROME version. The owner's asking price is 500$. Is this a fair deal ? Thanks a lot.

-- H. Gurung (hgurung@libertysurf.fr), April 04, 2002

Answers

If it's in good condition, don't hesitate. I have the same lens and like it a lot.

-- Frederik Boone (frederik.boone@harol.be), April 04, 2002.

Yes, it's a fair deal. I just gave $600 for one a month ago. Check it over carefully for haze on the inner lens surface with a bright flashlight. It's one of my favourite lenses.

-- Ben Hughes (ben@hughesbros.com), April 04, 2002.

Do you guys have the chrome version ? I've see some informations on the black version but no mentions on the chrome version. Thank you again for your infos. Salut.

-- H. Gurung (hgurung@libertysurf.fr), April 04, 2002.

The chrome 11819 (with clip-on hood and focusing tab)was sold for a realtively short time along with the chrome pre-ASPH 35/2. I believe the 50 was released in '93 and the redesigned (current) appeared in '94. I'm not positive of the dates though.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 04, 2002.

Optically, the current 50 Summicron and the previous 50 with tab and seperate hood are identical.

-- Bud (budcook@attglobal.net), April 04, 2002.

I have that exact same lens... in Chrome with the focus tab. i have one of the latest versions of it, which was made in Germany. $500 for a good condition version of this lens is a GREAT price. I ended up paying $680 on ebay, where 4 seperate people bid over $650... but then again, this one was really mint... i must say, i wish i had a black one, simply due to the lighter weight, but i like the lens a lot.

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

The posters above are correct. It is a fine lens and $500 is a very good price, especially if hood and caps come with it. Very different in effects (sharper with much more contrast than the 40+ year old DR I have), but I find each has its place in my photography.

I got mine about 2-3 years ago in response to an e-mail to Leica USA. They found one NOS on the back shelves. Shipped it to my local dealer where I was able to parley a "Leica Day" sale with the $150 new lens rebates at that time. With taxes it was around $700 I recall.

Enjoy it!

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), April 04, 2002.

Like Matthew, I have one of the Made in Germany versions of this chrome tabbed 50 Summicron which I bought when new in 1994. It is the best "feeling" lens I own. Exudes quality of construction. Imaging is top notch. Fantastic Bokeh, IMHO.

Its a steal at $500. Buy it now.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 04, 2002.

H: I wouldn't exactly say it's a steal, but it is a favorable price. I paid over $600 for mine, in Chicago, but of course that was before the Leica price drop. Jefferson camera in St. Louis has one now for $475.00. They are generally a bit below national prices, which would make $500 a very reasonable, fair price in general.

BTW, does the one you're contemplating have a convex or concave finger-grip surface on the tab? Mine has the convex, which always feels odd to me. I expect tabs to be concave.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), April 04, 2002.

Thank you everyone for the reponses. This forum is really a fantastic place to be. Merci encore.

-- H. Gurung (hgurung@libertysurf.fr), April 05, 2002.

H., the lens you want (11819) is the same I wanted too and I bought it second hand but mint for $500 which is (IMO) a really fair deal. The best thing (IMO) is the concave tab. The first issues of this series having S/N 2915801 onwards (1979-1982) had convex tabs, whereas those of S/N 3098901 and later (1982-1994) had concave tabs. Some people here on our forum love tabs, and some people hate tabs. I myself love tabs and I prefer the concave form. Buy it.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), April 05, 2002.