35mm Summilux v1 - is this price real?

[anoldsock]

...so I was scanning eBay, as I usually do when I get bored which gets me into trouble sometimes cause I get GAS attack and tempted to "accidentally" hit the bid button, and came across a 35mm Summilux v1. Then I realized that it went for over 3 grand, I always thought the prices for this lens would hover around $1600ish (give or take a hundred or so)....is this price for real, or was some yahoo just bidding up the prices and not intending to pay for the item?

Here's a similar one that sold for $1850. Why is there such a huge variance between the prices?

 

[maddoc]

I think the non-googled version (sold for $3000) is even more rare and "collectible" than the googled version that sold cheaper (similar to the googled and non-googled Summaron-M lenses). I heard the 1st version of the 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH is even softer than the later one .... on the other hand a vs 1 35mm Summilux Asph is very interesting 🙂

 

[anoldsock]

Ah, ok...so I guess I'm looking at two different versions? I thought that maybe the serial numbers were close enough that they'd be the same version, no? I guess I always assumed that the googles were removable, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Boy, is my face red.

 

[mirrored]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67174

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I hate to say it, but if that's what the bidding went for, then the buyer thought it was a good price to pay for it.

"Normal" 35mm pre-asph Summilux lenses do hover around the $1,600 mark. The condition and "rarity" (i.e. chrome vs. black, mountable on an M8 or not, etc.) makes the price higher.

 

[cam]

.... on the other hand a vs 1 35mm Summilux Asph is very interesting 🙂

i have decided you are my evil twin 😛

 

[bob338]

i just got a V1 M3 summilux in an auction i won($500 for an m3, 35 lux and a 50 rigid) and think it's a pretty amazing lens. it's soft wide open, but i like the look. i read somewhere on stevens site about the amazing build quality of this lens and he's right, it is a marvel. maybe the nicest quality leica lens i've handled. the lens came with the hood and the proper front cap which i've read can be very difficult to find. is it really worth $3k, or even $2k? hard to say...

this is christmas with ektar 100 and tri-x.

bob

 

[cam]

congratulations, bob!

wow, what a deal! the v.1 version i'm sure is superb. i have a Cron from the same era and it's built like a tank. exquisite tonality as well. still, i'm a Lux lover at heart so i envy you. enjoy!

 

[bob338]

congratulations, bob!

wow, what a deal! the v.1 version i'm sure is superb. i have a Cron from the same era and it's built like a tank. exquisite tonality as well. still, i'm a Lux lover at heart so i envy you. enjoy!

i have the V1 summicron in M3 form too and it actually feels flimsy next to this thing! it is what you think of when you think 'leica .' i'm thinking about doing another 35mm shootout soon now that i have the 'lux. should be interesting...

bob

 

[Al Kaplan]

I picked up a goggled version in 1971 and couldn't wait to get rid of it! I think that it was the softest lens Leitz ever made after the Thambar.

 

[peter_n]

I use a v.1 Summicron from the end of the run and made in Wetzlar. I had it CLA'd by Steve Choi and it is a wonderful lens, a wee bit soft wide open but renders images with a nice old fashioned look. So different from my 35 Summicron ASPH!

 

[cam]

I use a v.1 Summicron from the end of the run and made in Wetzlar. I had it CLA'd by Steve Choi and it is a wonderful lens, a wee bit soft wide open but renders images with a nice old fashioned look. So different from my 35 Summicron ASPH!

we must have twins! chrome???

 

[peter_n]

The v.1 is chrome, the ASPH is black paint. 🙂