Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 ASPH M39

Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 ASPH M39

The Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 ASPH M39, product code 11608, is a rare screw-mount version of the aspherical 35mm Summicron design. It was produced as a special M39 lens for the Japanese market, where interest in Leica screw-mount cameras remained strong. Leica Classic describes the lens as originally designed for M, but made with an M39 screw mount and supplied with an M mount adapter, pouch, caps and original box [1].

A second Leica Classic listing describes the silver 11608 version as a very rare optic made in only 800 pieces between 1999 and 2000 [2]. The lens should therefore be treated as a distinct collector entry rather than simply as a normal Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH. The optical design is closely related to the regular M-mount Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH, but the mount, focusing range, finish and collector context are different.

This entry covers the Leica M39 / LTM screw-mount special edition. It should be kept separate from the standard Leica M-mount Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH, the earlier pre-ASPH Summicron 35mm versions, and the later APO-Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH.

Optical qualities

Rendering

The Summicron 35mm f/2 ASPH M39 uses the same modern aspherical 35mm Summicron optical family as the M-mount version. Leica’s technical data for the Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH describes excellent sharpness, high contrast and strong resolving power already at full aperture, with maximum resolving power and contrast when stopped down modestly to f/4 [3].

Sharpness

The optical formula is 7 elements in 5 groups with one aspherical surface. Ken Rockwell also lists the Summicron 35mm f/2 ASPH as a 7 element, 5 group lens and notes the aspherical surface [4]. The lens is generally regarded as one of Leica’s strongest compact 35mm designs from the pre-APO era.

Contrast and color

The ASPH design gives the lens a modern, high-contrast Leica rendering. Leica’s own technical sheet emphasizes high contrast and strong resolving power across the focusing range [3]. Compared with earlier pre-ASPH 35mm Summicron lenses, the ASPH version is more corrected, cleaner and less soft at wider apertures.

Distortion and vignetting

Leica describes the regular Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH as having virtually no distortion [3]. Ken Rockwell similarly notes no visible distortion in normal use, though he reports a tiny residual pincushion amount when measured carefully [4]. Vignetting is present wide open, as expected for a compact fast 35mm rangefinder lens, but is not usually the defining characteristic of the design.

Bokeh and transitions

The lens has 8 aperture blades according to Kamerastore’s 11608 listing [5]. As a 35mm f/2 lens, it can separate subjects at close range, but it is better known for compactness, sharpness and overall correction than for dramatic background blur.

Handling

The M39 version differs from the regular M-mount version in practical handling. Ken Rockwell notes that the M39 screw-mount version focuses only to 1m, rather than 0.7m like the M version [4]. Kamerastore lists the 11608 as a silver metal-bodied LTM / M39 lens with E39 filter size, 53 x 35mm size and 340g weight [5].

Digital use

The lens can be used on Leica M bodies with an L39-to-M adapter and on mirrorless bodies with suitable adapters. Because it is a screw-mount lens with a 1m closest focusing distance, users should not expect the same close-focus behavior as the regular M-mount Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH. Rangefinder coupling and adapter accuracy should be checked on the exact camera body.

History

Development and Launch

The M39 version was released in 1999 as a special screw-mount version of Leica’s modern 35mm Summicron ASPH design. Leica Classic states that it was made for the Japanese market to recognise the growing popularity of Leica screw-mount cameras [1]. Ken Rockwell also notes that the M39 screw-mount version was made only in 1999 and sold new only in Japan [4].

Production Evolution

The key production identity is product code 11608. Leica Classic lists the 11608 M39 lens as a 1999 M39 lens, while another Leica Classic listing describes 800 pieces made between 1999 and 2000 [1] [2]. Public sources do not clearly document additional optical revisions for the 11608, so the model should be treated as a limited screw-mount special edition rather than a separate optical generation.

Special Editions/Variants

The 11608 itself is the special edition. It is known in silver / chrome finish and was supplied with an M adapter for use on Leica M cameras. Complete sets with original box, adapter, pouch, caps and documentation are especially important to collectors [1] [2].

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify the 11608 product code, M39 screw mount, silver / chrome finish, serial number, original M adapter, box, pouch and caps. The lens should not be listed as a normal Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH because it is a screw-mount version. It also should not be titled “Summicron-M39” as one word in the main model name unless preserving exact seller wording. A cleaner database title is “Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 ASPH M39.”

Special editions

The M39 11608 version is itself a confirmed special edition.

Known collector-relevant variants and related versions include:

• Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 ASPH M39, product code 11608, silver / chrome, Japanese-market screw-mount special edition.
• Complete 11608 set with original box, M adapter, pouch and caps.
• Standard Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH M-mount version, optically related but separate.
• Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH silver M-mount versions, related finish variants but not the M39 special edition.
• Leica APO-Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH, later separate optical generation.

Sources

• [1] Leica Classic. Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 ASPH M39 11608. https://classic.leica-camera.com/en/Leica-Summicron-35mm-f-2-ASPH-M39-11608/11608SH-3880827
• [2] Leica Classic. Leica SUMMICRON-M39 2/35mm ASPH silver 11608. https://classic.leica-camera.com/en/Leica-SUMMICRON-M39-2-35mm-ASPH-silver-11608/11608SH-3880861
• [3] Leica Camera AG. Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH Technical Data. https://leica-camera.com/sites/default/files/pm-55616-Datenblatt_Summicron-M%202_35mm_e_0.pdf
• [4] Ken Rockwell. Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH. https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/35mm-f2-asph.htm
• [5] Kamerastore. Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH. 11608, LTM / M39. https://kamerastore.com/en-fi/products/leica-35mm-f2-summicron-asph-11608-ltm-m39