Re: [Leica] 35 f1.4 Aspherical/ASPH/Ein Stuck

[WILLIAM CALDWELL <sneeker@erols.com>]

Frank, 

I am enclosing Dan Cardish's definitive post in response to your
inquiry.  Alf Breull's later post also stated that his "Ein Stuck Leica"
instruction booklet for the 35mm f/1.4 Summilux identified the lens as
an one element aspherical (version 2).  There are only the two versions
to my knowledge and according to my written authorities.  Dennis Laney's
Leica Camera and Lens Pocket Book (6th Ed. 1996), at page 75A, shows the
two designs, Version 1 and Version 2.  Those photographs of the two
versions show the exterior differences.   Dan's conclusion that the "Ein
Stuck Leica" 35mm f/1.4 Summilux is the second version is well supported
by the exterior physical characteristics of the "Ein Stuck Leica" lens
barrel, the serial numbers, and the literature.

Best Regards,
Bil Caldwell

Dan's message follows:

I am not sure why everyone seems to be getting all worked up over the
number of concave elements in these lenses.  Perhaps everyone is
filtering
out my comments to the trash, but for those of you still reading:

I have issue 6.94E of Leica Fotographie International in front of me,
where
on page 24 is a diagram of the newer ASPH lens.  I also have in front of
me
a xerox of an article  taken from LeicaView, which announced the
original
'aspherical' version and shows a similar cross-sectional diagram.  BOTH
diagrams look almost identical.  BOTH lenses have fron and rear elements
which dip into the lens (and thus are concave?, I forget the meaning of
convex, concave).   Again, why is this important?  My Minolta 100/2.8
macro
lens has a concave front element.  Big deal!

The older lens has an aspheric surface on the front of the third element
into the lens, counting the outermost, and another one on the rear of
the
second element in from the back of the lens, counting the rear element.

The newer ASPH lens has only one aspherical surface, on the front of the
5th element in from the front of the lens.  

I repeat, from visually looking at the lens, the optics will look
identical, apart from the differences in the focusing ring machining and
the name spelled out on the front of the lens.  

The Ein Stuck lens is the newer 1 aspheric surface ASPH lens, not the
older
2 aspheric surface 'aspherical' lens.

Can this be any clearer?


SNIP --

Frank Filippone wrote:
> 
> Bill... I need simplification....and a bit of help....
> 
> The lenses on the Ein Stuck have 2 concave elements.  I have established
> that on 3 samples.
> 
> I was not an LHSA member at the time of the VF article you noted.  I can
> not refer to any other characteristic of the lens than that I have noted to
> discriminate differences.  However, I assure you, the lenses noted use
> concave F+R elements.
> 
> Everyone seem to want to say that these lenses were NOT the rare versions,
> but apparently there are only 2 versions of the 35 F1.4 lens... the
> Aspherical with 2 concave elements, and the ASPH with 1 concave element.
> 
> Repeating the first sentence, above, my conclusion is that the Ein Stuick
> lenses, at least on the samples noted, using F+R concave optical elements,
> are the rarer Aspherical lenses.
> 
> Now the help......Are you saying there is a third version with concave F+R
> elements, but is an ASPH version?
> How is that lens different from the other 2, noting we are talking about
> optical design and physical properties, and to a much different degree,
> although important, the markings on the lens?
> 
> If you will be kind enough to answer, I will check the 2 samples I have
> access to.  Maybe we can definitively put this discussion to bed.
> 
> Thank You
> Remove "ZZ" form auto reply address or
> please reply to address below:
> 
> Frank Filippone
> red735i@worldnet.att.net
> 
> ----------
> > From: WILLIAM CALDWELL <sneeker@erols.com>
> > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> > Cc: red735i@worldnet.att.net
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] 35 f1.4 Aspherical/ASPH/Ein Stuck
> > Date: Thursday, February 19, 1998 9:59 PM
> >
> > SNIP --
> >
> > Frank Filippone wrote:
> > >
> > > As a piece of trivia, the 35 Aspherical Summilux on the Ein Stuck are >
> the early model with the 2 concave elements.  The same version that is
> > > considerd so rare.....among the non Ein Stuck crowd.
> >
> > SNIP --
> >
> > Frank,
> >
> > The 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical Summilux lens ("version 1") is reported to be
> > a limited run of 2000 lenses.  The serial number range for version 1  --
> > the Aspherical -- is in the lower 346xxxx.  The 35 f/1.4 ASPH Summilux
> > lens marked or engraved "ASPH" and "Ein Stuck Leica" and furnished with
> > the "Ein Stuck Leica" M6 bodies is in the serial number range of
> > 3758xxx.  996 serial numbers (September 1996 or 9/96 the month and year
> > of Leica's public stock offering) were allocated by Solms for these
> > lenses.   The ASPHs on "Ein Stuck Leica" are the later "version 2"
> > lenses, and may be distinguished by the characteristics given in earlier
> > LUG postings.  A brief description and comparison of the two versions,
> > Aspherical and ASPH, is found in the Viewfinder, Vol. 30, No. 1 (LHSA
> > First Quarter 1997) at pp. 14-15.
> >
> > Respectfully,
> > Bill Caldwell