Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I always ask for the serial number to correctly identify a lens that came in many versions, such as the 50 summicron. The seller may be a little nervous about giving you the serial number but as long as you can get everything except for the last two or three digits that should be enough to identify it. A simple book like Ghester Sartorius's "Identifying Leica Lenses" is probably a good investment but as long as you are on this list, you just have to ask and the answers and opinions will come flooding, hopefully helpfully, in! John Collier > From: Denis Boisclair <denis.a.boisclair@lineone.net> > > (i)Although there are Leica lenses, which have been improved upon several > times since they were first introduced( I believe there are at least two > subsequent versions of my 1959 Summicron 'M' 50mm f 2.0 lens) their name > remains unchanged and they are not given any distinguishing reference, as > is the case with a Canon lens which I have and which is designated' Mk > III'. However, when these lenses are advertised, often the number is not > quoted, so that even if a prospective customer has(a)a list of all the > numbers and corresponding years (b)knowledge of when the changes took > place(c) test reports on each version - how are they supposed to know the > exact quality and value for money of the lens in question??!!