[Leica] Assistance in identifying a Leica M lens

["James Symington" <jhsymington@hotmail.com>]

I apologise in advance for this rather uninformed mail but I was wondering 
if anyone on the list could help. I am new to the Leica M world having 
recently bought an M6 with the 35mm Summicron and the 50mm Summilux. I would 
also like to get a 90mm lens and the dealer I go to doesn't have any in 
stock at the moment of either type. He has let me try out an older 90mm lens 
he has though.

The only reference book I have is Erwin Puts' lens compendium which isn't 
wholly helpful in identifying which particular lens it is. It is a Canadian 
90mm f2 Summicron which must be 6 inches long before pulling out the built 
in lens hood (which itself is in two stages). It also has a built in tripod 
socket at the base. The serial number is 2792XXX.

I can only imagine that it is the 1963 Midland version. That said this lens 
is in new condition a far as I can tell. The asking price is ITL 2,000,000 
which is approximately USD 950; is that fair?

I must say that I have my reservations about going for this one as it is 
remarkably big and heavy. Given that for a bit less money I could get a very 
good used Elmarit or for a couple of hundred dollars more a good used APO 
Summicron I am not sure what to make of this lens. The APO lens strikes me 
as being roughly the same weight although more compact, the Elmarit being 
smaller and lighter of course. Puts' book is pretty vague about what it is 
really like so I would be very grateful if someone could tell me if this is 
worth going for or should I be patient and wait for one of the current 
versions.

I might add that I am reasonably indifferent to that one stop difference 
between the two versions.

Sorry for going on so long.

Thanks,

James

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