Leica LTM super-rarity

[rolleistef]

I found on the electronic bay an incredibly rare Zunow 50 1.1 in LTM. About a few hundreds of those lenses were made in the 50s by the inventor of the modern SLR. Anyone's interested?
http://cgi.ebay.fr/RARE-ZUNOW-Opt-5...ageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m122
More info on Pacific Rim : http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/zunow/rflenses.htm
I perfectly suits a black III don't you think?
(and also its contax mount version if anyone's got 6500$ to spend - it's time Europe benefits of the $ drop!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Teikoku-Kogaku-...638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

 

[Vickko]

Yes, they come up occassionnally. I'd love to have one, but not for the price.

What do you know of the optical performance?

vick

 

[raid]

I would never enjoy such a lens; it is too pretty and expensive to be useful to me. It would be similar to owning a $5000 lamp shade.

 

[charjohncarter]

Pretty cool though.

 

[raid]

Pretty cool though.

Yes, just like a cool $5000 lamp shade.

 

[Hacker]

Does anyone know the filter size of the lens?

 

[David Murphy]

I would never enjoy such a lens; it is too pretty and expensive to be useful to me. It would be similar to owning a $5000 lamp shade.

I'd buy one in a flash if I had a spare 5K - which I doubt I will in this life! I'd use it too. On the other hand, I understand your reluctance to use it --- I've got a boxed Bessaflex TM that I feel the same way about.

 

[John Shriver]

Photo Arsenal is not the place to buy it. Yeah, they have lots of really rare stuff, including de-accessioned items from Leica's museum. But condition often looks a little iffy or worse, and prices are generally way higher than Kevin Li of Kevin Cameras.

A much nicer specimen of this lens was recently sold by Westlicht Auction, who are a class act, for 2640 Euros including the buyer's premium. Item 410 on this page.