Fair price for 1960 Summilux 50mm f1.4

[swmlon]

Hi everyone,

I have recently started shooting with a rangedfinder after many years taking the slr route and know very little about the lineage or quality of the many leica lens that have come out over the years (though i hear they are all good 😉). I am in the process of building my kit (M6, VC 35mm f1.4, Leica ElmarM 50mm f2.8) and looking for a lowlight 50mm. I have recently picked up the canon 50mm f1.4 for cheap but I am not 100% sold on the lens.

anyway, I was in my local leica shop (can't believe my luck of having a decent shop on my doorstep) and saw a used Summilux 50mm f1.4, chrome version 1 dated 1960. The gentleman had the lens on sale for £550 with a slight caveat that there is a very tiny dot on the inside glass element that he cannot quite figure what it is (the dread fungus or air bubble) which he told me wouldnt show up in my pictures, especially if shot at 1.4. Is this correct?

Is £550 a good price for this lens or can I find it cheaper? Or should I hold out and get a slightly later version?

I shoot only B&W if that has any impact on the decision.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Shac]

Go for a V2 and look for one cheaper - this price seems high to me unless mint. If it's a bubble it should have no effect - a magnifying glass (or your Elmar) should determine whether it's a bubble of fungus.