Leica Summar 50mm f/2

Leica Summar 5cm f/2

The Leica Summar 5cm f/2 is an early high-speed standard lens for Leica screw-mount rangefinder cameras and one of the historically important pre-war Leitz lenses. Leica Wiki lists the Summar f=5cm 1:2 as a Leica screw-thread lens produced from 1933 to 1940, with fewer than 127,950 assigned serial-number entries, a 6 elements in 4 groups optical formula, and A36 filter compatibility [1]. It was Leica’s first widely produced f/2 normal lens and belongs in LeicaLensList because it is a native Leica-compatible LTM / M39 rangefinder lens.

The Summar is rangefinder-coupled and was made mainly as a collapsible lens, although early rigid examples are important collector pieces. Its optical design gives a distinctly vintage rendering compared with later Summitar, Summicron, and Summilux lenses. Wide open it is known for lower contrast, glow, flare sensitivity, field curvature, and softer edges, while stopped down it can produce sharper central definition. 35mmc describes the lens as having warmth, gentle glow, and character, but not modern high-contrast performance [4]. Most examples are uncoated unless later coated or post-factory coated, so optical condition and cleaning history matter greatly.

Collectors should separate the common collapsible chrome Summar from the much scarcer rigid and early nickel versions. Leica Wiki lists rigid examples, tropical examples with an extra front element, collapsible versions, nickel finish, chrome finish, black front-ring examples, and both metric and feet-scale versions. The same page also gives conflicting or version-dependent diaphragm information, listing 6-blade and 10-blade types, while some dealer descriptions list 12 blades for specific examples[2]. Because of these differences, aperture blade count, weight, barrel material, coating status, and accessory fit should be verified on the exact lens before buying.

History

Development and Launch

The Summar 5cm f/2 was introduced in the early 1930s as Leica’s faster alternative to the slower Elmar 5cm lenses. Collector references commonly place introduction in 1933, and Leica Wiki lists SUMAR in 1933 and SUMUS in 1934. FilmPhotograph, citing Leica historical literature, describes the Summar as the first Leica lens with a maximum aperture of f/2 and notes that the first version was a rigid mount lens [3]. Its launch marked an important step in Leica’s move toward faster normal lenses for available-light rangefinder photography.

Production Evolution

Production ran through the pre-war period and ended around 1940. Leica Wiki lists a production era of 1933 to 1940 and records serial-number blocks from 1933 through 1939, with a total of 127,950 assigned serial numbers. The lens evolved from rare rigid early types into the much more common collapsible form. Finish and construction also varied, with nickel, chrome, black front-ring, metric-scale, and feet-scale examples documented. Kamerastore notes that examples were made with feet or meter focusing scales and that some used brass barrels while others used aluminum components.

Special Variants

The most important special variants are early rigid Summar lenses, nickel-finish examples, black front-ring examples, tropical examples with an additional front element, and less common scale or export variants. The rigid version is especially collectible because production was much smaller than the collapsible version, with Leica Wiki noting approximately 2,000 rigid examples. No major commemorative edition is widely documented, but early rigid, clean nickel, unusual tropical, and fully accessorized examples can be significantly more desirable than ordinary collapsible chrome lenses.

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify whether the lens is rigid or collapsible, nickel or chrome, metric or feet scale, coated or uncoated, and whether the serial number matches the claimed production period. The Summar is frequently affected by front-element cleaning marks, haze, internal fog, coating wear if coated, fungus, and mechanical looseness in the collapsible mount. Check that the lens locks and collapses correctly, that the rangefinder coupling is accurate, and that the aperture operates smoothly. A36 filters, the SOOMP hood, correct caps, and period cases add value. Because condition varies widely and many examples have been polished, cleaned, coated, repaired, or adapted, users should do their research before buying.