Xenons and Summarits

[Dralowid]

This is not a post about the relative merits, qualities or opinions of these lenses.

My five questions are:

The Leitz Xenon was manufactured under license from Schneider. The brand name is and remains Schneider's. Yes/No?

Taylor and Hobson were the designers of the lens and since exports to UK and US fell under the laws of those countries they needed to be named on export lenses and marked with the relevant 'territorial' patent number. Yes/No?

The patent number on export Summarits is the same as that on the export Xenon? Yes/No?

The Summarit is optically the same design but coated and presumably using newer glass formulae. Yes/No?

(This is a bit confusing because it would appear that production overlapped.)

Is there such a thing as a factory coated Xenon? Yes/No?

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I recall reading all 6190 Leitz Xenon lenses were produced between 1936 en 1939, the serial numbers were added as the batches were sold off. The last batch was sold in 1948.
The Summarit 50 f/1.5 was introduced in 1949 I think.
So I don't think production overlapped, but the sales might have.

 

[Dralowid]

So I don't think production overlapped, but the sales might have.

I think you may be right.

Taking the whole thing one stage further there seems to be very little difference in the optical design of the Summarit and the Summilux.

Michael

 

[Erik van Straten]

there seems to be very little difference in the optical design of the Summarit and the Summilux.

The Summilux is a bit faster of course. The Nokton 50mm f/1.1 is of a similar design.

Erik.

 

[sanmich]

[deleted - I misread the OP]

 

[Dralowid]

The Summilux is a bit faster of course. The Nokton 50mm f/1.1 is of a similar design.

Erik.

Yes and I guess the Summilux's extra speed is mostly due to improved glass etc.

Michael

 

[sanmich]

Yes and I guess the Summilux's extra speed is mostly due to improved glass etc.

Michael

1.4 vs 1.5, and better light transmission through so many glass air surfaces?