Difference between Rokkor 40/2 for CL and CLE

gertf

Established
Local time
4:15 AM
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
170
I just put down my money for a CL kit with 40mm Rokkor and 90mm Leica on eBay (Here)

I was under the impression that the Rokkor is multicoated, and the Summicron-C is single coated. However, someone just told me that the Rokkor manufactured for the CLE was multicoated, and the other Rokkor was single coated.

Is there a difference between the two Rokkor's and how can you tell?

Thanks
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI...m=270196397011&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017
 
The 40mm Rokkor that was made for the japanese market version of the Leica CL (the Leitz Minolta CL) was exactly the same optically as the 40mm Summicron, including the single coating. The CLE's 40mm Rokkor was indeed multicoated (although otherwise they seem to be the same as the previous version).

You can tell the two versions apart by looking at the location of the serial number – if it's on the front bezzel it's a Leitz Minolta CL version (single coat), if it's on the lens barrel it's the CLE multi-coated version. Looks like yours is the former.

As for visible differences between the two, I can't comment since I've never owned either (unfortunately).
 
The Rokkor in the auction is the first version for the Leitz Minolta CL. It is not multicoated like the CLE version but it is still an excellent lens. In real terms the CLE Rokkor does have slightly more contrast but one doesn't appear to flare more than the other. The first version also has the steeper cam design of the Summicron C and is actually slightly more compact than the CLE Rokkor. All are good lenses so I wouldnt worry too much. Strange it ended up on a Leica CL but in 30 years things get moved about I guess.
 
Substantially, are the same lens: the main difference is the filter thread. In the Summicron C 40 mm f/ 2 is Series 5.5 (aka 39x0,75 mm) while, in the M-Rokkor 40 mm f/ 2, is a more common 40,5 mm. In the case of the Summicron C 40 mm f/ 2, i suggest you the B+W stepping ring adapter "15b" (40,5 EI - 39x0,75 EA). Both Summcron C 40 mm f/ 2 and M-Rokkor 40 mm f/ 2 are great performer. I own the Summicron, that i use on the Leica CL.
Ciao.
Vincenzo
 
Back
Top Bottom