35mm Summilux vintage

[Robin Harrison]

Apologies if the following query is common knowledge - I'm new to the Leica game!

Is there a source of information on the net regarding lens serial numbers and production series? I've just picked up an M6 with a 35 Summilux and was wondering a little about the history of the lens. Thanks to a great page on CameraQuest I've pinned the body down to 1986, I'm guessing the lens (221420) is of a similar vintage?

Thanks,

Robin.

 

[merciful]

Yeah, there is. Google away.

 

[tom_f77]

Hi Rob.

Any chance your M6 and Summilux have been up K2 unscathed but then dropped off a motorbike?!

I was watching that auction; well done!

By the way, if you're searching for the lens serial number, I think it's actually 222etc - look carefully at the lens pictures.

It looks like a winner to me, anyway; enjoy.

Tom

 

[DwF]

Try Cameraquest or Erwin Puts site for seial numbers. It is a really nice lens, particularly at f2 but quirky in terms of curvature of field. Unless you are doing technical shooting the curvature, visible between f2 and 5.6 as I recall, shouldn't be an issue....was not for me anyway.

These lenses handle beautifully, images are not as contrasty as the 35 asph. I opted to keep my asph when I downsized my gear, but really enjoyed that lens. It is soft wide-open out from center but it is possible to capture some nice pictures at 1.4 and many people write this lens off there (mistakenly imho).....so I say play with wide-open on that lens!

 

[Meleica]

Here is my Leica M lens page - with serial # data

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/a.htm

 

[photodog]

The Summilux that you have is an earlier lens from 1966. I looked up the serial number in my Hove book on Leica lenses.

 

[Robin Harrison]

Yes, you guessed it! The K2 M6! I think a story is worth a few dents!

Thank you all for your help. From Meleica's site I see it is a 'Type 2 ( S7 )'. The clues at CameraQuest ("Black anodized aluminum lenses began to replace the heavier chrome lenses in the early and middle 70's") seems to contradict Cameradog's 1966 estimate. Edwin Puts table entries:

11870 11860 (T) 1.4/35mm Summilux-M - 1966-1995 M42x0.75 12504 - 14143 E41
11869 - 1.4/35mm Summilux-M 2.166.700 1961-1966 M41x0.5 12506 - 14143 E41

imply that it's in the 1966-1995 bracket. Not very specfic but good enough for me. I knew it was pre-aspherical and I guessed it was circa 1986.

Now the wait until it arrives...

 

[Dan Chang]

Here is my Leica M lens page - with serial # data

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/a.htm

you are still alive, I remember back to BCS's BBS, you was there and fight with some people, good memory!

 

[DwF]

lux

lux

I am not looking at serial #s but the some earlier lenses even after the goggled version had the infinity lock. I had had that vintage. There was a coating change shortly thereafter and if interested I can look in an old viewfinder for the serial number that shows that change. Optical formula remained the same as I recall.
df

 

[tom_f77]

Yes, you guessed it! The K2 M6! I think a story is worth a few dents!

I thought so - that's why I was watching. But I just had no excuse; I only just got my M3 so I was just making sure nobody got it for nothing...

Hope you like it.

Tom

 

[photodog]

Here's a link to figuring out the year of manufacture for Leitz lenses:

http://www.forloren.dk/lbf/leica_lens_serial.htm

 

[Nikon Bob]

You could also try http://www.kbcamera.com/lenshoodchart.htm .

Bob