35 Summilux ASPH identification

[horosu]

A bit of advice needed for a newbie:

I have the opportunity to buy a 35/1.4 ASPH lens in decent shape at a great price. However, the lens has no serial number engraved on the barrel, only "Leica Summilux-M 35/1.4 ASPH E46"

Was this customary for earlier versions of this lens? How could I know the approximate age of the lens?

Thanks, Horea

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Check the aperture ring. If it is half knurled (that is to say, has a series of small ridges) with the values on the clean or smooth area of the ring itself, then it's an old aspherical lens, from a batch introduced in 1995 (IIRC). If the values are above the ring, and the ring itself is entirely knurled, then it's the second, newer version from the late 90s or early 2000s.

 

[peter_n]

Horea I'm looking at mine here and the only engraving on the top of the barrel is "Leica Summilux-M 1:1.4/35 ASPH. E 46 3921xxx". The last being the serial number. The link below is a resource for dating lenses but Leica stopped publishing the information in the mid-90's.

http://www.kbcamera.com/lensdates.htm

 

[horosu]

The aperture ring is entirely kurled. I presume this to be the second version of this lens, however, I am puzzled by the lack of a serial number on the filter ring.

Could this be an internal demo?

 

[peter_n]

If it says ASPH on the lens and the whole circumference of the aperture ring is knurled then you are definitely looking at the second version which started manufacturing in 1994.

Have you seen the lens or just a photo? If a photo I would be leery because maybe the serial nr. has been blacked out (stolen?). If it has no serial nr. at all maybe it is worth a fortune to a collector if it is a production lens or maybe it is worth nothing to a user because it is a prototype (although I think Leica assign numbers to their prototypes).

 

[horosu]

I saw only photos of the lens. I'll try to upload a photo so you can judge by yourselves.

 

[Rayt]

I saw only photos of the lens. I'll try to upload a photo so you can judge by yourselves.

A lot of sellers don't want to divulge the serial numbers and this one looks like it was Photoshop'ed out.

 

[peter_n]

Agree with Ray, its easy to Photoshop the number out. Send an email to the seller and ask for the serial nr. If they refuse to send it run, the lens is almost certainly stolen. My lens' number is 3921xxx and it is about 2-3 years old. Good luck! 🙂

 

[Kim Coxon]

Peter,
You haven't divulged the full serial number of your lens. Does that mean that you stole it? 😉 I know many reputable sellers who blank off the last part of the serial number for the same reason you do. Providing the seller has a reasonable reputation and is happy to supply the first part of the number, I would not be too concerned about it being stolen. Feedback history etc yields up a lot of info. Dealer websites are slightly different. Someone could tell the lens had been sold but not who bought it.

Kim

Agree with Ray, its easy to Photoshop the number out. Send an email to the seller and ask for the serial nr. If they refuse to send it run, the lens is almost certainly stolen. My lens' number is 3921xxx and it is about 2-3 years old. Good luck! 🙂

 

[peter_n]

Kim, my seller divulged completely to me! 😉 I think if you're buying off someone you don't know it is part of due diligence to check the sale from any angle, including looking the lens up in Leica's own database or the one over on PN. I was lucky, nothing came up, seller was in the next-door state (Rhode Island) so I drove down there and visited in his studio where he showed me some pictures the lens had taken. It was a great deal and I love the lens! 🙂

Will provide the full serial nr. tonight if you would like Kim!

 

[Kim Coxon]

No problems. I am not compiling a database of everyone's camera gear. I just hate blanket statements such as If they refuse to send it run, the lens is almost certainly stolen. That would mean that I have been selling stolen equipment in my last few listings on the forum. 🙄

Everyone should be careful especially on places such as eBay. There are scammers and out and out crooks operating there. There are also some that have questionable morals. "I think it works but I don't have a film/battery/time/etc to test it" or worse still "It was in fully working order a short while ago" (ie when it left the factory 😱 ) However, I do think that the majority are honest people who may make a mistake through ignorance. My mother who was very wise, once told me that if you looked for the ill in a person, you would find it. If you kept an open mind or better still looked for the good, you are more likely to find their true mettle and live a richer life.

Anyway sorry if it was taken the wrong way. I might be feeling a little grumpy. I'll go and get back in my box now.

Kim

Will provide the full serial nr. tonight if you would like Kim!