Up for sale is this Canadian copy of the 35mm 2.0 Summicron made in 1964. Highly regarded and still sought after, this is the first version of this lens featuring an eight-element design and wearing the auxiliary optics for use on the M3. Naturally, this lens works on any Leica M-Mount camera from the M2 all the way to the modern M-240, calling up the 50mm frameline and modifying it to the 35mm field of view ((there was a url link here which no longer exists)). One advantage that this lens has over it's non-bespectacled brethren is that it focuses a full 10cm closer to .6 meters. I've founds its use on my M4 to be thoroughly enjoyable - it modifies the .72 finder to .58 or thereabouts. It lives up to its reputation of being fantastically sharp with less contrast/softer in the corners wide open than later iterations - it's been one of my go-to lenses for B/W. The build quality is something to behold.
This copy is very clean - with very few signs of cosmetic wear and what I would call excellent optics.
The barrel of the lens itself is excellent - no bright marks or anything like that. On the auxiliary optics there is a small impression (>1mm) on the inward side of the chrome bevel on the main window. There is also a small rub mark on the bottom of the round window. Both of these are very slight. There is a more pronounced bit of wear on the back side of the auxiliary optics where the would have been contract with the self timer on the body. There is also some natural wear on the lens mount. The crinkle-black finish on viewfinder is in nice shape.
The optics are very clean for a lens pushing 50 years old - there is a light, even haze throughout in both the lens and the viewfinder. It is only visible under a strong light, and is quite typical for Leica optics in my experience. I've used an LED light in one of the pictures to highlight it. There are a few slight cleaning wisps up front and behind, as well as some dust, but other than that the glass is in excellent shape.
Mechanically, the lens focuses smoothly and evenly throughout it's range - the aperture clicks are even, solid, and move at the touch of a finger. The aperture blades themselves are free from oil, but do show some wear at the smaller settings. The one thing that I did notice in use on my M3 was that the RF image was marginally off vertically - this is something that would have to be adjusted by a tech and it never hampered my use. It's aligned horizontally, and I haven't been able to discern it on my M4. The lens will come with a the front and rear caps that accompanied it to me - I'm not sure if they are original.
I've listed a lot of points about this lens - but I feel for the price that I'm asking that I just wish to be as thorough as I can be. Speaking of which !
Asking $1,100 - Payment is via PayPal and the price includes the fee. Shipping, fully insured, will be calculated at the time of sale depending on the destination. I will only ship to registered PayPal addresses once the funds transfer to my account.
I really hate to see it go - unfortunately the dentist calls and I really do better work with the 50mm =D. Feel free to ask and questions - I will also entertain reasonable offers. I am not really looking to trade at this time, but it never hurts to ask!
This copy is very clean - with very few signs of cosmetic wear and what I would call excellent optics.
The barrel of the lens itself is excellent - no bright marks or anything like that. On the auxiliary optics there is a small impression (>1mm) on the inward side of the chrome bevel on the main window. There is also a small rub mark on the bottom of the round window. Both of these are very slight. There is a more pronounced bit of wear on the back side of the auxiliary optics where the would have been contract with the self timer on the body. There is also some natural wear on the lens mount. The crinkle-black finish on viewfinder is in nice shape.
The optics are very clean for a lens pushing 50 years old - there is a light, even haze throughout in both the lens and the viewfinder. It is only visible under a strong light, and is quite typical for Leica optics in my experience. I've used an LED light in one of the pictures to highlight it. There are a few slight cleaning wisps up front and behind, as well as some dust, but other than that the glass is in excellent shape.
Mechanically, the lens focuses smoothly and evenly throughout it's range - the aperture clicks are even, solid, and move at the touch of a finger. The aperture blades themselves are free from oil, but do show some wear at the smaller settings. The one thing that I did notice in use on my M3 was that the RF image was marginally off vertically - this is something that would have to be adjusted by a tech and it never hampered my use. It's aligned horizontally, and I haven't been able to discern it on my M4. The lens will come with a the front and rear caps that accompanied it to me - I'm not sure if they are original.
I've listed a lot of points about this lens - but I feel for the price that I'm asking that I just wish to be as thorough as I can be. Speaking of which !
Asking $1,100 - Payment is via PayPal and the price includes the fee. Shipping, fully insured, will be calculated at the time of sale depending on the destination. I will only ship to registered PayPal addresses once the funds transfer to my account.
I really hate to see it go - unfortunately the dentist calls and I really do better work with the 50mm =D. Feel free to ask and questions - I will also entertain reasonable offers. I am not really looking to trade at this time, but it never hurts to ask!