Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/05/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I am trying out a 90 Summicron-M. But I'm having trouble identifying it. The lens fits Stephen Gandy's (www.cameraquest.com) description of the first run of the 5-element version that was produced from 1980-82. - - The front ring is marked Summicron-M. - - The lens hood obscures the aperture dial when retracted. - - It is marked "90" on the barrel. - - It's smaller and lighter than the old 680-gram Summicron. - - No tripod socket or removable lens head. BUT: - - It takes 49mm filters rather than 55mm. - - The focus ring is a little further up the barrel than the E55 version's. - - The serial number is on the underside of the aperture ring. - - The serial number is 2,814,3xx. I believe that serial number is from 1977, And both Stephen Gandy's site and Erwin's book says that the 5-element version started in 1980 with serial numbers a bit over 3,000,000. I'm confused. Is this lens the 6-element 90 Summicron (Generation II) or the 5-element Summicron-M (Generation III)? I'm a shooter, not a collector, so I don't have copies of Lager, Sartorius and Nostradamus on hand :-) I've read that the later version is supposed to be a bit better wide open. Can anybody tell me more about this particular variety of 90 Summicron? Has anyone compared its performance to other 90 Summicrons? Thanks, - --Peter - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html