Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/02/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Congratulations, you got one of the rarest Leica M lenses (worth perhaps a hefty amount of $?). Almost all original (ie 1960's, not the later commemorative reissues) denominated "black paint" 50mm Summicron/lux and Summicron 90mm were a mix of black enamel and black anodized parts. I do not know if also the 35mm were this fashion, as I have never had one. As to the manufacturing year, do not believe blindly in Leitz serial number lists. I have had two early (chrome) Summilux 50mm whose serial numbers preceded theoretically by one year the official market launch date. There were ranges of serial numbers that weren't used immediately and then reassigned to a later piece of production. best Ed Albesi El 22/02/2006, a las 06:51, Lucien vD escribi?: John, AFAIK, the Summilux and the Summicron 50mm were never fully black painted. The focusing ring was always black chromed (or anodized). Only the recent black painted 50mm were fully black painted (since 2000). Lucien Le 21 f?vr. 2006 ? 19:57, John Black a ?crit : > I need some information from the collectors on the list. I just > acquired a > box of Leica materials from the estate of a deceased gentleman (I > got it > from his grandchildren) and, among other things, it contains a lens > that is > a puzzle to me. It is a very early (1959) M 50 Summilux, ser # > 170XXXX, in > Ex+ condition. The problem is, that it is black anodized finish over > aluminum and the first band next to the mount is black enamel. The > design > of the focusing helix is the first version (heavy knurled grip). > According > to my limited literature, which is ambiguous at best, the first > version > Summilux was not made in black anodized, especially in 1959. The > lens was > apparently bought new in the early 60s by the grandfather but his > family > knows nothing else about it. Of course I can't tell which optical > version > it is because the versions were so similar. From the serial # it > should be > the first version (1959-1962). > > Can anyone shed some light on it for me? Is it a parts piece made > up from > odd year parts or something different? > > TIA > > JB _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information