Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 M39

Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 M39 11619

The Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 M39 11619 is a rare Leica screw-mount version of the modern rigid Summicron 50mm f/2. It was produced in 1999 in silver chrome finish for the Japanese market, using Leica’s traditional M39 / LTM screw mount rather than the standard Leica M bayonet [1]. Leica Classic Store describes the 11619 as a rare rigid Summicron for Leica screw mount in chrome finish, with only 750 examples produced in 1999.

Optically, the M39 11619 is based on the contemporary Summicron-M 50mm f/2 design. Ken Rockwell describes the 1999 M39 version as having optics and diaphragm identical to the M version, while Leica’s current technical specification for the Summicron-M 50mm f/2 lists a 6-element, 4-group optical formula, E39 filter thread, and built-in telescopic hood [2][3]. Unlike the M version, the M39 screw-mount version focuses only to 1 m, matching the practical rangefinder limit of Leica screw-mount cameras.

For LeicaLensList, this entry should be kept separate from the 1953 collapsible Summicron 5cm f/2 LTM, the 1950s rigid Summicron-M, the Dual Range Summicron, the 1960s rigid LTM SOSTA version, and the standard M-bayonet Summicron-M 50mm f/2. The 11619 is collector-relevant because it combines modern Summicron optical performance with a late Leica screw-mount body, silver chrome brass construction, limited Japan-market production, and compatibility with Barnack Leicas, Leica screw-mount bodies, and M cameras via adapter.

History

Development and Launch

Leica introduced the original Summicron 5cm f/2 in the early 1950s, but the 11619 belongs to a much later special-production period. In 1999, Leica produced a small run of modern 50mm Summicron lenses in M39 screw mount, responding to interest from users of classic Leica screw-mount cameras. Leica Classic Store identifies the 11619 as a 1999 Leica Summicron M39 2/50mm in chrome finish.

Production Evolution

The 11619 was not part of regular long-running M-bayonet Summicron production. It was a special silver chrome M39 / LTM screw-mount version of the modern rigid Summicron 50mm f/2 and was reportedly sold only in Japan. Leica Classic Store states that only 750 examples were produced in 1999, making it substantially rarer than standard M-bayonet Summicron-M versions.

Special Variants

The principal documented variant is order number 11619 in silver chrome with Leica screw mount. No black anodized, titanium, safari, black paint, or standard catalogue color variant of the 11619 M39 version is widely documented. The lens should not be confused with standard M-bayonet order numbers such as 11826 black anodized or 11816 silver chrome, which use Leica M mount rather than LTM / M39.

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify the 11619 order identity, silver chrome finish, M39 screw mount, original box, caps, keeper, papers, serial number, and Japan-market provenance where available. The lens is rangefinder coupled for Leica screw-mount use and focuses to 1 m, not 0.7 m like the M-bayonet version. Important condition checks include smooth focusing, aperture operation, E39 filter thread condition, telescopic hood function, front and rear coating marks, haze, internal dust, and signs of mount modification. Because the 11619 is rare and visually close to M-bayonet Summicron-M lenses, the mount and order-number documentation are especially important.