Earliest 50mm Summilux?

[jmkelly]

Anyone have an M-mout Summilux with an earlier serial number?

A rep from Leica USA confirmed that this lens was manufactured in 1958.

As I continue to slim down my kit it has come down to this early Summilux or a late Summarit - they may be nearly the same lens, but I'm going with the Summilux.

 

[Rob-F]

I'm sure I would keep the Summilux myself. It's improved over the Summarit. The version you have is one of the prettier lenses they've made, as well. I love that cross-hatched machine work down near the bayonet mount. I have the version after it, in black. I'm sure it's a little bit better, but not as pretty! The one you have seems to hold its value quite well. I'm sure there's a reason for that.

P.S.: I looked up the serial number. Looks like they knocked yours out a few months before the official start of the Summilux!

 

[WoolenMammoth]

john, have you done a close comparison of photos from both lenses? Ive always felt that the summarit has a bit of a finer delicacy to the lines it draws compared to the lux which feels chunkier. The photo you posted looks like a lux photo to me. I see the big difference in women's hair, especially if there is any wind. The summarit seems to resolve finer and has a more delicate feel to it. Wonder if those ideas have any resonance with you. there's always been talk of the two lenses being closely related, which Ive never seen, but since you have such an early lux, some scrutiny would be very interesting. I keep an old lux and a summarit, I dont find the look overlaps. If I had to keep one, that would be really really tough, for me, Id probably kep the summarit.