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. 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. Ken Rockwell similarly notes no visible distortion in normal use, though he reports a tiny residual pincushion amount when measured carefully. 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. Kamerastore lists the 11608 as a silver metal-bodied LTM / M39 lens with E39 filter size, 53 x 35mm size and 340g weight.

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. Ken Rockwell also notes that the M39 screw-mount version was made only in 1999 and sold new only in Japan.

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. 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.

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.