Leica Summarex 85mm f/1.5

Leica Summarex 85mm f/1.5

The Leica Summarex 85mm f/1.5, originally marked as the Leitz Summarex f=8.5cm 1:1.5, is one of the most distinctive fast telephoto lenses made for the Leica screw-mount rangefinder system. It was produced as a high-speed portrait and press lens at a time when available light photography required very large apertures, especially for theatre, reportage, and low-light subject work. Leica Wiki records the lens under the Leitz code SOOCX, with Leica screw-thread and M-bayonet references, 7 elements in 5 groups, a 17-blade diaphragm, E58 filter size, and a 1m closest focusing distance [1].

The lens uses a large brass-bodied construction with rangefinder coupling, a prominent tripod foot, and dedicated accessories such as the SGOOD 8.5cm finder and ORQPO hood. Kamerastore lists the Summarex as an LTM/M39 manual-focus rangefinder lens with 7 elements in 5 groups, 17 aperture blades, 90 x 60mm dimensions, and 800g weight [2]. Japan Camera Hunter also describes the lens as a heavy brass-and-glass Leica telephoto and lists the same 7 element, 5 group design, 17 blades, 58mm screw filter, and ORQPO / 12525 hood, but gives a lower body weight of 700g and 770g with hood [3]. Because weight data differs between sources, collectors should verify the exact lens configuration, hood, caps, and adapter when comparing examples.

Important collector differences include early black lacquer lenses, later chrome lenses, hood changes, coating color changes, barrel detail changes, and the rare prototype background of the 9cm f/1.5 Summarex. Leica Wiki lists black, chrome two-band, chrome three-band, and all-chrome variants. Summichronica documents the early black lacquer SOOCX series beginning at serial number 593001, early B-coated examples, red-dot aperture markings on early lenses, later barrel changes, and multiple chrome version groups with differences in plating, rear barrel construction, depth-of-field markings, infrared index markings, and coating color [4].

Optical qualities

Rendering

The Summarex 85mm f/1.5 is widely associated with a soft, vintage portrait rendering at full aperture, especially compared with later Leica telephoto lenses. Japan Camera Hunter describes the lens as producing a dreamy vintage look and notes its special-purpose portrait character rather than broad everyday practicality. Street Silhouettes reports visibly soft edge and corner performance wide open, low contrast, and a distinctive background rendering when used for close portrait work with cluttered backgrounds [5]. These comments should be treated as user-review evidence, not laboratory MTF data.

Sharpness

Reported sharpness is strongly aperture and field-position dependent. User reviews consistently emphasize that the lens is not a modern high-correction telephoto at f/1.5. Street Silhouettes notes that the center can be useful for portraiture while the edges and corners are very soft wide open. Stopped-down performance is better documented anecdotally than by modern bench testing.

Contrast and color

The lens belongs to the early coated Leica era. Summichronica notes early anti-reflection coating practice, wartime B-coating references, and later coating color changes from light blue to magenta in later production. Lower contrast and flare sensitivity are recurring practical observations in modern user reports, especially when compared with later Leica M lenses.

Bokeh and transitions

The 17-blade diaphragm supports a near-round aperture shape when stopped down, and modern reviews often discuss the lens for its portrait blur and background texture. These observations are subjective, but they are consistent with its large f/1.5 aperture, long 85mm focal length, and early fast telephoto design.

Digital use

The lens can be used on Leica M bodies through LTM to M adapters and on mirrorless cameras through appropriate adapters. It is not six-bit coded. Modern users should expect critical focusing at f/1.5, rangefinder calibration sensitivity, possible focus errors when recomposing, and increased usefulness with live view or EVF focusing on digital bodies.

History

Development and Launch

The Summarex design traces back to pre-war Leitz optical work. Summichronica states that Max Berek developed a symmetrical 7-element modified Gauss design and that the 8.5cm f/1.5 Summarex was code-named SOOCX. Leica Wiki records Max Berek as designer and lists the lens production era as 1943 to 1960. Japan Camera Hunter states that the lens was announced in the Leitz catalogue in 1943 and became publicly available after the Second World War, with the early production context tied to press and low-light photography.

Production Evolution

Leica Wiki lists 276 black lenses and 4066 chrome units, with variants described as black, chrome two-band, chrome three-band, and all-chrome. Its serial-number table records assigned batches beginning with 593001 in 1943 and later chrome batches in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, and 1954. Summichronica gives more detailed variant notes, including early black lacquer SOOCX lenses, wartime coating references, later two-part rear barrel construction, the first chrome lens at serial number 593350, several chrome version groups, coating color changes, and late examples associated with SOOCX-ISBOO adapter use.

Special Editions/Variants

No commemorative factory special edition is widely documented for the Summarex 85mm f/1.5. Collector-relevant variants instead include early black lacquer SOOCX lenses, early B-coated examples, first chrome lenses, later chrome barrel variants, all-chrome examples, lenses with factory or later M adaptation, and the rare earlier 9cm f/1.5 prototype lineage. The Leica Classic 11025 reference should be treated as a modern Leica Classic product/reference number for a listed used example, not as the original Leitz optical code [6].

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify serial number, finish, engraving style, aperture index markings, coating color, hood type, cap type, finder, tripod foot, rangefinder coupling, and whether the lens remains in original LTM mount or has been adapted to M. Early black lacquer lenses and first chrome lenses carry significant collector interest. Haze, cleaning marks, coating wear, stiff focus, aperture oil, non-original repainting, incorrect hoods, missing SGOOD finder, and undocumented M conversions can materially affect value. Leica Classic’s 11025 listing shows a 1950 example with serial number 823652 sold with original hood, front cap, and 8.5cm finder with pouch, illustrating how accessories can matter for collector completeness.

Special editions

• No confirmed commemorative Leica special edition is widely documented for the Summarex 85mm f/1.5.
• SOOCX, black lacquer, early production, highly collectible, Leica Wiki records 276 black examples.
• SOOCX, chrome two-band, chrome three-band, and all-chrome variants are documented collector variants.
• 11025, Leica Classic product/reference number seen on a used Leica Classic listing for a Summarex 85mm f/1.5 example.
• 9cm f/1.5 Summarex prototypes are historically related but should be treated as separate prototype entries, not as the standard 85mm production lens.