1955 Leitz/Leica Screwmount Collapsible Summicron 50 f/2 + caps + UV v. Clean

This is a 1955 Leitz Collapsible Summicron 50/2 in M39/Leica Screwmount in very good condition. This is an early example of the type - overall production having started in 1953 - but not early enough to be one of the "radioactive" collapsibles below s/n 1050000 or so. Nevertheless, a fine example of the lens, having lived on my Leica M4 (via adapter) for some time as a daily driver. The lens is very clean particularly considering its age. The front elements of old collapsibles are often rough with cleaning marks - supposedly due to the relatively soft coatings on these lenses - but this example seems to have avoided much of that fate.

The front element is very clean, with few light marks, and the coating is fully intact. The rear element has one or two small marks, quite difficult to catch on camera, and I've provided some close-up views through the lens to try and illustrate the overall condition of the optics.

There is a light haze on one internal element that I can detect using the "flashlight test", and I've provided some images that reflect this testing for your review. Capturing the effect on camera was actually quite difficult due to the intensity of the light required to do so. It's hard to see, but it's there. In my experience older lenses often reveal light haze under flashlight illumination that's invisible under normal inspection.

Properly done, such testing also inevitably reveals specs of dust on and around the front and rear elements, and you can see some of this clearly in the beam of the flashlight. In practice - and in regular use - I've not seen the effect of haze on my images i.

Unexpected flare, veiling, contrast loss, etc. In my experience, the result is a very sharp lens, a standout from most of its 1950s competitors.

To the best of my ability to inspect, there are no major visible optical flaws inside the lens, no fungus or separation to speak of. I can see - and you can see in the images - there are some light spots around the periphery of the internal elements, not in the optical path. I've always understood these to be the effect of the loss of internal edge blackening over time, where the elements are held in their mounts. In large-format circles, this is often called "schneideritis", and is not known to have any significant optical effect.

You can look it up! Also visible in the through-lens images is some minor loss of the edge-blackening of the rear element.

This is a factory paint application to the periphery of the elements outside the optical path, and ostensibly is one of the measures taken to avoid flare. My impression from use is that this paint loss is mainly cosmetic, as I have encountered no detrimental effect to the images produced by the lens. As an example, I've included an image taken with this lens under unusual lightning conditions to illustrate low-light performance with off-center illumination sources. Mechanical function of the lens is very good.

Focus is smooth, well-damped but not tight. Blades are clean and dry. The infinity lock is intact and works fine - but it's never been my favorite feature of these older lenses! The overall cosmetic condition of this 65-year-old lens is good, with some age- and use-related brassing to the threads, the locking surfaces of the lens tube, and the sliding surfaces of the tube itself. The lens includes a metal UV filter from Walz, which appears to be somewhat period-correct, if it matters.

This filter has always been on this lens during my decade of ownership, which I'm sure is one of the reasons for the unusually good condition of the front element. Also included is a Leica E39 clip-on cap, model 14038, for modern Summicron-M 50/2s.

It fits nicely on the Walz filter as well as the lens itself. For a rear cap, you'll have to accept my makeshift converted vitamin bottle, a suggestion from a forum thread. Original Leitz rear caps for screwmount collapsibles are somewhat rare and dear. Considering the age, value, and importance of this lens, I've tried to be very explicit in my documentation and explanation of its condition, perhaps at the risk of being too explicit. All in all, I've been very happy to own this grand old lens, and it's time for someone else to enjoy it.

I hope you find it to be a good fit for your needs and in good condition besides. If you have any questions about it, or wan to see additional details, don't hesitate to let me know. The item "1955 Leitz/Leica Screwmount Collapsible Summicron 50 f/2 + caps + UV v. Clean" is in sale since Sunday, January 24, 2021. This item is in the category "Cameras & Photo\Lenses & Filters\Lenses".

The seller is "planet_joe" and is located in Alhambra, California. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Montserrat, Turks and caicos islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Uruguay.

Maximum Aperture: 2.0
Brand: Leitz
Year Manufactured: 1955
Exterior Material: Brass
Focus Type: Manual
Compatible Filter Size: 39 mm
Type: Standard
Compatible Lens Front: 39 mm
Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
Focal Length: 50mm
Series: Leica Screwmount
Compatible Brand: For Leica
Mount: M39