Leica has just announced three “New” [read: make some cosmetic changes to an existing lens and run it as a limited edition while jacking up the price to reflect its scarcity] lenses. First is a black-chrome Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH, (shown above), made to resemble the classic Type 2 lens from the 1950s with the scalloped focus ring, all brass hood and cap, edition of 700, priced $1,600 dollars more than the standard 50mm f2 ASPH.
To put this in perspective, you can buy 4 copies of the 50mm 1.1 7Artisans lens in M Mount, give 3 of them away as gifts, keep the remainder and then also buy the standard Leica 50mm f2 ASPH, all for the same price as this lens.
- Leica M 50/2 Dual Range Summicron. Unlike most Leica rangefinder 50mm lenses, the lens head of the Dual Range unscrews for use for close-ups on the Leica Visoflex system. Some dual range lenses have the lens head serial numbers engraved on the inside of the focusing helical.
- This is the list of Leitz and Leica lens serial numbers (not cameras) and which year that lens was approximately produced. Also visit the Leica Lens Compendium and the Leica Camera Compendium. For detailed reading and a complete range of serial numbers you may find the Leica Compendium by Erwin Puts helpful.
50mm Summicron Serial Number
Next is the Leica Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6 in matte black paint with matching hood, edition of 500, $400 more than the silver version.
Summicron R 50mm Serial Numbers
50mm f/2 Summicron-R (2-cam.chrom) 1963: 9: 2001000: 50mm f/2 Summicron-R (1-cam.chrom) 1963: 9: 2004000: 50mm f/2 Summicron-R (1-cam.chrom) 1963: 20: 2034000: 50mm f/2 Summicron-R: 1964: 10: 2039700: 50mm f/2 Summicron-R: 1964: 10: 2080500: 50mm f/2 Summicron-R: 1965: 20: 2113800: 50mm f/2 Summicron-R (1-cam.black) 1965: 3000.
Finally, the Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH. in silver, edition of 300, an extra $400 more than the black version.