Summilux 50mm f/1.4 first version.

[Erik van Straten]

This is my camera.

On the right side (seen from above), in two "hills" of the focusing ring, a hole is made on the same place DDD had a focusing stick on his Summilux (v2). Has anybody seen holes like this before on a black Summilux v1?

Erik.

This is the camera of David Douglas Duncan.

 

[Paulbe]

Beautiful lens! You'll have fun with this one!
Paul

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Here it is:
David Douglas Duncan’s Leica MP, 1955: sold for 2.19M at auction in 2012-2
Pictures like this has to be with the link to original.

https://lhsa.org/2019/05/famous-photographers-leicas/#myaccount

 

[raid]

When did you buy this lens, Erik?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Kostja, everybody knows this picture of Duncans camera. Mine is a v1, Duncans is a v2.

Paulbe, thank you, here she is:
Leica MP, Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v1, 400-2TMY/Adox MCC 110.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

When did you buy this lens, Erik?

Raid, I got it this morning.

Erik.

 

[raid]

WOW! I looked for one but I could not find a good buy. Congrats.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Wonderful Erik!

 

[Paulbe]

Erik--looks like it works! Of course, all your pix are excellent....thanks for posting.
Paul

 

[Erik van Straten]

I now have two of them, a chrome one nr. 1702441 and a black one nr. 1703963. Both are in extremely good condition.

For candid shots the black one is better: less noticeable.

There are interesting differences: the chrome one has diaphragm blades made of steel and the black one has blades made of brass. No rust on brass, so the black one is really a more professional lens.

The black one is one gram lighter and weights 322 grams.

Coatings are also different: purple, blue and yellow for the chrome one and orange and red, violet for the black one.

Erik.

 

[Rayt]

I had a 50 Summilux v1 in original LTM once and it was so soft I sold it. If I had known anything about Leica lens rarity I would have kept it and tried to fix it. I knew these lenses couldn’t have been designed to be so soft.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I had a 50 Summilux v1 in original LTM once and it was so soft I sold it. If I had known anything about Leica lens rarity I would have kept it and tried to fix it. I knew these lenses couldn’t have been designed to be so soft.

Could have been haze. I have a rigid Summicron 50mm that became suddenly very hazy, someone cleaned it for me, but the lens was never as good as before.

The Summiluxes in LTM are extremely rare.

Erik.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If you know it, it doesn't mean everybody knows. I have to google it every time.
And here is on-line etiquette to post the link to original source of the photo you didn't took. But it is not something everyone knows 🙂.

 

[Erik van Straten]

In the end I discovered why Leitz started producing a second version of the Summilux in 1962. Given the quality of the first version, that was not necessary at all. The design of the first version was based on the Xenon and therefore patents had to be paid. The design of the second version was made by Leitz themselves and therefore no duties had to be paid on production. Taking the second version into production was therefore in fact a cutback measure.

But why in the past many people criticized the first version of the Summilux remains a mystery. Apparently the judgment of these people is not based on their own experiences. I want to name Erwin Puts here, amongst others.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica MP, Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v1 chrome, 400-2TMY/Adox MCC 110.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica MP, Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v1 black, 400-2TMY/Adox MCC 110.

Erik.

 

[RoccCity]

Erik, where did you get that crank on your rewind lever?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Rocc, that is not my camera, but the camera of David Douglas Duncan, sold lately for two million dollars.

I think however that Stephen Gandy sells those rewinders.

Erik.

 

[bob338]

I've had one of these black V1 Summiluxes for a couple years. I think it's a great lens, if a little limited. Never understood the dislike for it.

Are the black ones worth much more than the typical chrome ones, as is usual with Leica gear?

 

[Erik van Straten]

I think it's a great lens, if a little limited.

Limited? Maybe the minimal distance, 1 meter. I never get so close.
I've never seen such a sharpness at full aperture on close distances on such a fast lens. No need for floating elements or aspheric lenses.

Are the black ones worth much more than the typical chrome ones, as is usual with Leica gear?

No, not much more, only about seven times as much. But they are rare, 4% of the total production I guess. About 400-500 were made.

I did some research. There have been two batches: 200 ex. with numbers 1644650/1644850 and 200 ex. with numbers 1703750/1703950, but there are also quite a lot of lonely wolves.

Erik.